Need a quick Halloween lunch, an easy after school snack, or fun party food that kids will actually eat? These English Muffin Pumpkin Pizzas come together in minutes using simple ingredients like English muffins, pizza sauce, cheddar cheese, and a celery stem for the cutest pumpkin finish.
Why You’ll Love This English Muffin Pumpkin Pizza…
They’re perfect for busy weeknights, Halloween classroom parties, or easy family meals throughout the fall. They’re simple to customize, fun for kids to help make, and a great quick snack.
Why You’ll Love It
- Easy to make in big batches for kids parties
- Simple pantry ingredients, nothing complicated or fussy
- Easy to make ahead of time
- Perfect Halloween snack for kids
The English Muffin Base
The English muffins create the perfect personal pizza crust. Their nooks and crannies hold onto the sauce, while a quick toast helps keep every bite crisp instead of soft.
You don’t need anything fancy here. Just toast them until they’re lightly golden before adding the toppings.
What You’ll Need for the English Muffin Base
- 3 English muffins, split in half to make six mini pizzas.
- Olive oil spray, lightly coats the muffins for extra crispness, optional but delicious.
The Pizza Sauce
A simple tomato based pizza sauce brings everything together with classic pizza flavor. You only need a thin layer since the muffins are smaller than regular pizza crust.
What You’ll Need for the Sauce
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce, smooth and rich with classic Italian seasoning.
- Pinch of garlic powder, optional, for an extra little flavor boost.
The Pumpkin Cheese Topping
Orange cheddar naturally looks like a pumpkin, and cutting small jack o’ lantern faces from extra slices creates an adorable effect.
What You’ll Need for the Cheese
- 6 slices orange cheddar cheese, one for each muffin half.
- Extra cheddar slices, for cutting eyes, noses, and smiling mouths with a small knife or mini cutters.
The Pumpkin Stem
It might be a small detail, but the little green stem is what brings these pumpkin pizzas to life.
Celery adds a nice bit of crunch, but if your kids aren’t fans, don’t worry… a small slice of avocado works just as well and still gives that fun pumpkin look.
What You’ll Need for the Stem
- 1 celery stalk, cut into small pieces for pumpkin stems.
- Sliced avocado, an easy alternative if you want a softer topping or have picky eaters at the table.
How to Make English Muffin Pumpkin Pizza
Add the Sauce
Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce across each muffin half, leaving a little border around the edges.
You want enough sauce for flavor without making the pizzas overly soft.
Create the Pumpkin Faces
Before assembling the pizzas, use a small knife or mini Halloween cookie cutters to cut jack o’ lantern eyes, a nose, and a smile from each slice of cheddar cheese.
Tip: If you are using square cheddar slices, use a large cookie cutter or glass to shape them into circles!
Carefully place the cut cheese slice over the pizza sauce on each English muffin half, making sure the face openings are visible.
It’s a fun step, and no two pumpkins have to look the same. The sillier the expression, the better!
Bake Until Melted
Transfer the pizzas to a 375°F oven and bake for about 4 to 6 minutes, just until the cheese softens and the sauce is hot.
Air Fryer: Toast the English muffin halves at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
Keep an eye on them because you want the pumpkin faces to stay defined instead of melting together, so do not over bake them!!
Add the Pumpkin Stem
Remove the pizzas from the oven and press a small piece of celery into the top of each one while they’re still warm. If your kids HATE celery you could add a piece of avocado instead!
Let them cool for a minute or two before serving because the cheese will be nice and melty.
Easy Ways to Make Them Your Own
One of the best things about these mini pizzas is how easy they are to customize. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters or simply using what’s already in the refrigerator, there are plenty of fun ways to switch things up.
- Swap cheddar for Colby Jack or mild American cheese.
- Add mini pepperoni under the cheese.
- Sprinkle on Italian seasoning before baking.
- Use mozzarella with thin strips of cheddar for the pumpkin color.
- Add sliced black olives for spooky decorations.
- Sprinkle crushed red pepper over the finished pizzas for a little heat.
Storing, Reheating, or Meal Prep
These little pizzas are definitely best enjoyed fresh while the muffins are still crisp and the cheese is gooey.
English Muffin Pumpkin Pizzas
Description
These English Muffin Pumpkin Pizzas are a quick and festive Halloween snack made with toasted English muffins, pizza sauce, cheddar cheese, and a simple pumpkin face design. Perfect for kid-friendly lunches, classroom parties, or easy after school snacks.
Ingredients
Pumpkin Pizzas
Instructions
Toast the English Muffins
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Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the English muffin halves cut side up and lightly coat them with cooking spray or brush with olive oil if using. Toast them in the oven for about 3 to 4 minutes until they are lightly golden around the edges but not fully crisp.
Prepare the Pumpkin Faces
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Using a small knife or mini Halloween cookie cutters, cut jack o’ lantern eyes, noses, and smiles from each slice of cheddar cheese. Set the cheese aside carefully so the face openings stay intact and are ready to place on the pizzas.
Assemble the Pizzas
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Spread about 1 1/2 tbsp of pizza sauce evenly over each toasted English muffin half, leaving a small border around the edge. Place a prepared cheese slice on top of each muffin, making sure the pumpkin face cutouts remain visible.
Bake Until Melted
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Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the cheese is soft and melted and the sauce is warm. The cheese should look smooth and glossy without completely losing the pumpkin face shape.
Add the Pumpkin Stems
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Remove the pizzas from the oven and immediately press a small piece of celery into the top of each one to create a pumpkin stem. Allow the pizzas to cool for 1 to 2 minutes before serving so the cheese can set slightly while remaining warm and melty.
Note
Store leftover pumpkin pizzas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes until warmed through and lightly crisp. Avoid microwaving if possible, as the muffins can become soft.
For children who do not enjoy celery, replace the stems with small slices of avocado or thin strips of green bell pepper.
Do not overbake the pizzas. Removing them as soon as the cheese has melted helps keep the jack o’ lantern faces looking neat and recognizable.
