Low Carb Pepperoni Cups – a fun, easy-to-make 5-Ingredient party snack to help curb your cravings so you keep your resolution this year.

Pepperoni cups with cheese and olives on a plate.

Pepperoni Cups

The worst part of any diet is the snacks.

Am I right?!

I can deal with light low carb breakfasts. I can deal with salad and protein for lunch. I can even deal with (and often enjoy the challenge of) lean healthy dinners.

However, when it comes to quick snacks, carrot sticks, and raw almonds get old really fast.

Pepperoni pizza cups in the muffin tin after being baked.

Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Cups, AKA Mini Pizzas

If your new year’s resolution was to cut carbs this year, I’ve got a party snack that will help you stay on the straight and narrow, right on through Super Bowl!

Today’s Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Bites require only 5 simple ingredients to make and satisfy serious pizza cravings in one bite.

These Pepperoni Cups are extremely low in carbs and are also gluten-free. Plus, once the cups are baked, drain them on a paper towel to remove extra fat!

You can even make a paleo version by using almond or cashew cheese.

Hand holding pepperoni with 4 small cuts in it.

Pepperoni Cups Ingredients

These keto pizza bites use just a few ingredients that you might already have on hand! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 24 slices pepperoni, “sandwich style” (2+ inches wide)
  • 24 small basil leaves
  • 1 jar pizza sauce/Marinara/tomato sauce (small jar)
  • 24 mini mozzarella cheese balls
  • black olives sliced (optional)
Hand assembling the pepperoni bites in a muffin tin.

How Do You Make Pizza Cups in the Oven?

  • Start with large “sandwich style” pepperoni slices that are at least 2 inches wide. You can find them in the deli section at the grocery store.
  • Snip 4 – 1/2 inch cuts to help the pepperoni fit down into mini muffin pans better. (You can skip this step and just press them down in the muffin pans, but the cups won’t be as nicely shaped and won’t drain as well.)
  • Bake the pepperoni cups for 5 minutes. Cool for a few minutes in the pan so they firm up. Then move the cups to a paper towel to drain off the grease.
Pepperoni Pizza Bites being assembled in a muffin tin.

How Do You Make Mini Pizzas in the Oven? (cont.)

  • The cups can now be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or you can fill them with any filling you like and enjoy right away!
  • For the Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Cups, wipe the grease out of the pan and place the cups back in. Put a small basil leaf in the bottom of each cup, followed by a little bit of pizza sauce, a mini mozzarella ball, and an olive slice.
  • Bake the cups again for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese, then dive in!
Crispy pepperoni cups after being baked and stacked together.

Crispy Pepperoni Cups

You might be tempted to skip the pre-baking and pepperoni cup cooling, and just add all the ingredients into the cups at the beginning.

I encourage you to resist the temptation. Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Cups are much crispier and hold their shape better if you prebake the cups before you fill them.

However, you can drain the cups at the end to save time. It’s up to you.

Pepperoni Cups with basil in a muffin tin.

Perfect for Sharing

5-Ingredient Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Crust Bites are a life-saver during diet season.

Take them to office events, cocktail parties, and of course to your Super Bowl party. They will help you resist the chip bowl all evening long!

Pepperoni Cups with cheese and olives on top before being baked.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Store Pizza Cups?

After the first initial bake to make the cups crispy, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week and make them as you need/want them.

Or you can fill them with any filling you like and enjoy right away!

How Do I Reheat Pizza Bites?

Here’s where it gets a little tricky. In order to reheat them so they are nice and crispy, I recommend reheating them in a warm oven, toaster oven or air fryer! You can also use the microwave but they won’t be as crispy.

Can I Substitute Out the Fresh Basil?

Absolutely! Use any fresh herbs you like, or just omit the basil altogether. Let me know how your customizations turn out in the comments below!

Is There A Paleo Adaptation?

Make a paleo-friendly version using almond or cashew cheese instead of the mozzarella balls.

What Other Pizza Toppings Can I Use?

You can make these as personalized as you want! These pizza dough-free mini pizzas can hold:

  • Onions
  • Ham
  • Peppers
  • Pineapple
  • Spinach
  • Sausage
  • Mushrooms
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Oregano
  • Chicken
  • Provolone Cheese
  • Vegetables
Close up shot of low carb pepperoni cups with cheese and olives in them.

See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Bites. Enjoy!

Other Snacks You Might Like:

Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, and calcium percentages. Make sure to share this recipe on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Cups Recipe - Mini Pizzas
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Low Carb Pepperoni Cups

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Low Carb Mini Pizza Recipe – a fun, easy to make 5-Ingredient party snack to help curb your cravings so you keep your resolution this year. 
Servings: 24 cups

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Using kitchen shears, snip four 1/2 inch cuts around the edges of each pepperoni slice, leaving the center uncut. Each pepperoni should look like a circular cross. (See post image for clarification.)
  • Press each pepperoni down into a mini muffin pan. Bake for 5-6 minutes, until the edges are crispy, but the pepperoni is still red. Let the pepperoni cool in the pans for 5 minutes to crisp, so they hold their shape. Then move the cups to a paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil.
  • Wipe the grease out of the muffin pan with a paper towel, then return the cups to the pan. Place a small basil leaf in the bottom of each cup, followed by 1/2 teaspoon of pizza sauce, a mini mozzarella ball, and an olive slice.
  • Place back in the oven for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese starts to melt. Allow the cups to cool again for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

Paleo Adaptation: Make a paleo friendly version using almond or cashew cheese instead of the mozzarella balls.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 81kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 185mg, Potassium: 96mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 145IU, Vitamin C: 2.1mg, Calcium: 104mg, Iron: 0.3mg
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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