Italian Sausage Pizza Bites

Recipe from Cristen Clark, Food & Swine

Ingredients

• 1 pound Italian sausage (pork, beef or turkey)
• ½ cup sweet yellow onion, chopped finely
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup bell pepper, chopped
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons pizza seasoning or Italian seasoning
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella or shredded provolone cheese
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup pepperoni pieces, chopped
• Marinara sauce or basil pesto for dipping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add sausage and cook for 5 minutes or until halfway browned. Add onion and continue cooking until browned, drain if needed. Return to heat, add garlic and bell pepper. Cook 1 additional minute.

To a large mixing bowl, add sausage mixture, cream cheese, flour, baking powder, pizza seasoning and eggs. Stir until combined. Fold in mozzarella, Parmesan and pepperoni. Chill dough for 30 minutes to an hour.

Scoop dough balls with a regular-sized cookie scoop onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm with marinara sauce or basil pesto.

Makes 3 dozen bites.