pizza

Pizza Buns (a kid friendly freezer meal)

Cheesy pizza buns are about as kid-friendly a freezer meal as you can get. You’ll be surprised how easy they are to make at home. These can be made as a freezer meal, creating an easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love. My kids love pizza in pretty much any form. In an attempt to keep them fed but not have the same thing every day, I’ve come up with a lot of variations over the years such as our Crock Pot Pizza Casserole, Tater Tot Pizza Casserole, and Pizza Stuffed Chicken.

This recipe can be adapted to include your favorite pizza toppings such as:

pineapple
cooked bacon
cooked chicken
spinach
banana peppers
or whatever you like best.

Pizza Buns Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup ham, cubed
1/4 cup salami, sliced or chopped
1/4 cup pepperoni, sliced or chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
213 mL jar pizza sauce
optional: 10 oz. can mushroom pieces, drained

For cooking day:

buns

Assembly instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and place them in a large resealable freezer bag.
Remove excess air and seal.
Lay flat and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Cut buns in half and place them on a baking sheet.
Spoon mixture on top of each bun half and bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.

Pizza Buns

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pizza buns

Servings: 6

Calories: 485 kcal

Ingredients

2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup ham cubed
1/4 cup salami sliced or chopped
1/4 cup pepperoni sliced or chopped
1/2 cup green pepper chopped
1/2 cup onion chopped
213 mL jar pizza sauce
10 oz. can mushroom pieces drained (optional)

For cooking day:

buns

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and place in a large resealable freezer bag.
Remove excess air and seal.
Lay flat and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Cut buns in half and place on a baking sheet.
Spoon mixture on top of each bun half and bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.

Check out some of our other pizza inspired make-ahead recipes:

Pizza Stuffed Chicken

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole

Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

Slow Cooker Pizza Casserolekid-

Pizza Casserole Crock Pot Freezer Meal

By Sharla

If you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal that kids will actually eat, this is it. Pizza casserole can be made ahead and then cooked in the slow cooker that day. Crockpot pizza casserole is an extremely family-friendly freezer meal. It has the flavors of pizza in a pasta dish. So if your family likes pizza and likes pasta, it’s guaranteed they will be fans of this dish.

I find that with my kids, pretty much anything with “pizza” in the name or that has those flavors is sure to be a hit. That’s why our regular recipes include things like Tater Tot Pizza Casserole, Pizza Stuffed Chicken, Instant Pot Pizza Casserole, and of course this Crockpot Pizza Casserole.

Pizza Casserole Recipe:

2 cups ham, cubed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup Mozza cheese, shredded
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
28 oz. tomato sauce
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 cups small pasta

Assembly instructions:

Cube ham, shred cheese and chop vegetables.
Place the pasta in a medium-sized resealable bag and seal.
Put ham and cheeses into a large resealable freezer bag.
Mix together the other ingredients in a bowl and pour over the ham and cheese.
Seal the bag and staple the pasta bag to it above the seal.
Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Put the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low.
Cook the pasta on the stovetop according to the package direction.
Drain pasta and stir into the casserole before serving.

Pizza casserole variations:

You can add a can of sliced mushrooms if you like mushrooms.

If your family isn’t a fan of ham, you can substitute sliced pizza pepperoni for the cubed ham.

Try this recipe using different shapes of pasta. We often use small shells, but sometimes serve it with rotini, penne, or macaroni noodles.

What to serve with pizza casserole:

tossed green salad and breadsticks or garlic bread
raw vegetables

This recipe as well as others are featured in our Kid-Friendly Freezer Meal Plan which also includes shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels. These plans make getting dinner on the table so easy.

Pizza Casserole

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Instant Pot Pizza Casserole, pasta, pizza

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 283 kcal

Ingredients

2 cups ham cubed
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup onion finely chopped
1/2 cup green pepper chopped
28 oz. tomato sauce
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 cups small pasta

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

Cube ham, grate cheeses, chop vegetables.
Put the pasta in a medium-sized resealable bag.
Put ham and cheeses into a large resealable freezer bag.
Mix together the other ingredients and pour over the ham and cheese.
Seal the bag and staple the pasta bag to it.
Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Put the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low.
Cook the pasta on the stovetop according to the package direction.
Drain pasta and stir into the casserole before serving.

Check out these other kid-friendly freezer meals:

Tater Tot Crockpot Casserole with Beef and Veggies

Taco Sloppy Joes Mini Meatloaves

Make Ahead English Muffin Pizzas

By Sharla

These make-ahead English muffin pizzas are perfect for school lunches. You can customize them for your child’s preferences. I remember making English muffin pizzas with my mom when I was growing up. It’s a tradition that I’ve passed down to my own children. I’ve also discovered that you can make them in large batches ahead of time and freeze them, making them perfect for packing for lunches.

Mini pizzas are so kid-friendly already, but I like to make them even more fun by adding little smiley faces or hearts with the toppings or by inviting my kids to top their own. Involving kids in making their own English muffin pizzas allows them to spend time building their confidence in the kitchen and also makes it more likely that they will actually eat their creations.

Make-Ahead English Muffin Pizzas:

Makes: 12 mini pizzas

Ingredients:

6 English muffins, sliced in half
1 cup pizza sauce
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 large bag shredded mozzarella cheese
additional toppings (see suggestions below)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375° and spray a baking sheet with oil or line the sheet with parchment paper.
Stir the Italian seasoning into the pizza sauce.
Slice each English muffin in half and place each half on the baking sheet. Spoon about 2 Tablespoons of sauce onto each of the English muffin halves before sprinkling with mozzarella cheese over them. Top with any of your favorite toppings.
Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pizzas are golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Once the pizzas are cool, place them into a large resealable freezer bag, removing the excess air before sealing. Freeze.
Take out as many mini pizzas as needed. Reseal the bag and place it back in the freezer. Heat English muffin pizzas in the microwave or eat cold.

English Muffin Pizza Topping Suggestions:

pepperoni
ham
fresh basil
pineapple
black olives
green olives
onions
mushrooms
green peppers
jalapēnos
spinach
cooked bacon
cooked sausage
browned ground beef
cooked chicken
capers

For the sauce, you can substitute pesto sauce or BBQ sauce if you prefer.

Other make-ahead lunch ideas:

Hot Roast Beef or Ham Sandwiches

Make-Ahead Mac and Cheese

Make-Ahead English Muffin Pizzas

Course: Lunch, Side Dish

Keyword: English muffin, pizza

Servings: 12 mini pizzas

Calories: 127 kcal

Ingredients

6 English muffins sliced in half
1 cup pizza sauce
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 large bag shredded mozzarella cheese
additional toppings (pepperoni, pineapple, black olives, green olives, mushrooms, ham, browned ground beef, onions, green peppers, etc.)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375° and spray a baking sheet with oil or line the sheet with parchment paper.
Stir the Italian seasoning into the pizza sauce.
Slice each English muffin in half and place each half on the baking sheet. Spoon about 2 Tablespoons of sauce onto each of the English muffin halves before sprinkling with mozzarella cheese over them. Top with any of your favorite toppings.
Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pizzas are golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Once the pizzas are cool, place them into a large resealable freezer bag, removing the excess air before sealing. Freeze.
Take out as many mini pizzas as needed. Reseal the bag and place them back in the freezer. Heat English muffin pizzas in the microwave or eat cold.

Pizza Stuffed Chicken

By Sharla

This is an easy kid-friendly make-ahead meal that the whole family will love. Most kids’ ears perk up at the word “pizza” so this is a great recipe to get those reluctant chicken eaters on board!

I find that my kids also like food that’s stuffed with something. It’s almost like it contains a surprise so that’s another element of this dish that is appealing to the younger crowd.

As far as being appealing to moms, this dish can be made ahead and frozen until the day you want to serve it. While you’re at it, you might as well assemble several so that you have a few in the freezer ready to go. You’ll be glad you did.

The other thing about this pizza stuffed chicken recipe that appeals to moms is how few ingredients it requires. It’s an easy 5 ingredient meal that’s going to quickly become one of your go-to’s for busy weeknights.

Let’s get this show on the road and get right to the recipe!

Pizza Stuffed Chicken Recipe:

Ingredients:

3 large chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
30 pepperoni slices
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup prepared pizza sauce
salt and pepper

Assembly instructions:

Spritz a 9×13 oven-safe dish or 9×13 foil tray with non-stick cooking spray.
Slice chicken in half horizontally through the thickness of the breast. Pound to ½ an inch thick. You can make this easier by placing chicken between sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper when pounding.
Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. In the middle of the chicken, place four slices of pepperoni and about 1 Tbsp. of shredded mozzarella. Roll the chicken, tucking in the edges, and place in the baking dish or foil tray.
Pour pizza sauce over each chicken breast. Top with remaining mozzarella and pepperoni slices.
Place two layers of aluminum foil over the tray and seal the edges well.
Label and freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

Take the tray out of the oven. Thaw.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Place the tray in the oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (depending on the thickness of the chicken breast) or until a meat thermometer reads 165°.

Serve with a salad and some garlic bread.

Check out these other make-ahead kid friendly freezer meals:

Pizza Tater Tot Casserole

Turkey Sloppy Joes

KFC Style Chicken

Pizza Stuffed Chicken Recipe

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: chicken, pizza

Servings: 6

Calories: 152 kcal

Ingredients

3 large chicken breasts boneless and skinless
30 pepperoni slices
1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1 cup prepared pizza sauce
salt and pepper

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

Spritz a 9x13 oven-safe dish or 9x13 foil tray with non-stick cooking spray.
Slice chicken in half horizontally through the thickness of the breast. Pound to ½ an inch thick. You can make this easier by placing chicken between sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper when pounding.
Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. In the middle of the chicken, place four slices of pepperoni and about 1 Tbsp. of shredded mozzarella. Roll the chicken, tucking in the edges, and place in the baking dish or foil tray.
Pour pizza sauce over each chicken breast. Top with remaining mozzarella and pepperoni slices.
Place two layers of aluminum foil over the tray and seal the edges well.
Label and freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

Take the tray out of the oven. Thaw.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Place the tray in the oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (depending on the thickness of the chicken breast or until a meat thermometer reads 165°.

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole

By Sharla

I love recipes my whole family will eat. Pretty much anything with “pizza” in the title is a sure-fire winner! This Instant Pot Pizza Casserole is no exception. My kids like pizza casserole so much that I make several varieties of it so that I don’t get bored. They never seem to tire of it though!

We started with this crockpot pizza casserole and sometimes vary things with our Tater Tot Pizza Casserole.

One of my daughters prefers this version because of the beef in it. I, of course, like that it combines two of the easiest methods of cooking: freezer meals and the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole Recipe:

2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. butter
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. garlic sausage, sliced
2 tsp. garlic, minced
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup tomato sauce
1 jar pizza sauce
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 cup beef broth
25-30 slices of small pepperoni
8 oz. uncooked pasta
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
salt and pepper to taste

For the day of cooking:

1 cup water

Set your Instant Pot to sauté and add the butter and olive oil.

Add the ground beef and sausage and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until the beef is no longer pink. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up the chunks of beef so that it cooks evenly.

Alternatively, you can brown the beef in a skillet.

Allow the meat to cool slightly. Place the cooked ground beef and sausage in a large resealable freezer bag.

Add the onions, garlic, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, pepperoni, and beef broth to the bag. In a medium-sized bag, add the pasta. Place the shredded cheese in another medium bag.

Take any extra air out of all three bags and close. Staple the bags together above the seal.

On the day of cooking:

Take the meal out of the freezer. Thaw. Place the contents of the large bag into the Instant Pot®. Add the pasta. Stir to make sure the pasta is covered with liquid. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to high pressure for 8 minutes. Release the pressure and wait for the steam to completely stop before opening the lid. Stir in the shredded cheese. Allow it to sit for 1 minute before serving. Serve with garlic bread.

You might also be interested in these recipes:

Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

Pizza Buns

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole Recipe

Course: Main Course

Keyword: Instant Pot Pizza Casserole

Servings: 8

Calories: 560 kcal

Ingredients

2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. butter
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. garlic sausage sliced
2 tsp. garlic minced
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 cup tomato sauce
1 jar pizza sauce
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 cup beef broth
25-30 slices of small pepperoni
8 oz. uncooked pasta
2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
salt and pepper to taste

For day-of cooking:

1 cup water

Instructions

Set your Instant Pot to sauté and add the butter and olive oil. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook about 4-5 minutes or until the beef is no longer pink. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up the chunks of beef so that it cooks evenly.
Alternatively, you can brown the beef in a skillet.
Allow the meat to cool slightly. Place the cooked ground beef and sausage in a large resealable freezer bag.
Add the onions, garlic, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, pepperoni, and beef broth to the bag. In a medium sized bag, add the pasta. Place the shredded cheese in another medium bag.
Take any extra air out of all three bags and close. Staple the bags together above the seal.

On the day of cooking:

Take the meal out of the freezer. Thaw. Place the contents of the large bag into the Instant Pot. Add the pasta. Stir to make sure the pasta is covered with liquid.
Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to high pressure for 8 minutes. Release the pressure and wait for the steam to completely stop before opening the lid. Stir in the shredded cheese. Allow it to sit for 1 minute.