Easy Pizza in a Pinch

Get all the flavor of pizza – without the hassle of making or buying pizza dough. You can split the buns in half along the fold to make appetizer-size portions, or you can leave the buns whole for mini-pizzas. These come together quickly, a bonus when time is short.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 516 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend
• 1 teaspoon garlic granules
• 8 Ball Park® Hot Dog Buns
• 3 teaspoons garlic granules
• 3 teaspoons dried Italian herb blend
• 1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage
• ½ pound pepperoni slices
• 3 sprigs Fresh oregano sprigs

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2

To make the sauce, combine tomato sauce, garlic, 3 teaspoons herbs, paprika, salt and pepper in a sauce pan over medium-high heat.

Step 3

When sauce bubbles, reduce to a low simmer and stir. Cover and allow to simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Crumble Italian sausage in a pan and cook over medium heat until no longer pink, about 15 minutes. Drain over paper towels. Set aside.

Step 5

Mix olive oil, garlic and 1 teaspoon herb blend in a small bowl.

Step 6

Open hot dog buns and arrange on sheet pans covered in foil.

Step 7

Separate buns in halves along the folds if you want to make 16 appetizers; leave whole if you want to make 8 pizzas.

Step 8

Brush the buns with the olive oil mixture.

Step 9

Toast buns in the oven for about 5 minutes, just until edges begin to brown.

Step 10

Remove pan from oven and spread each of the buns with the warm tomato sauce.

Step 11

Top with browned Italian sausage, pepperoni slices, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Step 12

Return pan to the oven and bake at 400 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes or until cheeses are bubbling.

Step 13

Serve garnished with fresh oregano leaves and crushed red pepper, if desired.