Are you craving a savory, satisfying snack that aligns with your keto lifestyle? Look no further than these keto pepperoni cream cheese bites! These little morsels of cheesy, pepperoni perfection are incredibly easy to make and require just a few simple ingredients. Whether you're following a low-carb diet or simply looking for a delicious appetizer, these bites are sure to be a hit.
Why You'll Love These Keto Pepperoni Cream Cheese Bites
These bites are a regular at many houses for a good reason. They're quick, easy, and incredibly flavorful. Here's what makes them so appealing:
- Low-Carb Friendly: Perfect for those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in minutes with minimal prep time.
- Three Simple Ingredients: Requires only pepperoni, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable with various toppings and dipping sauces.
- Great for Snacking or Appetizers: Ideal for satisfying cravings or serving at parties.
Ingredients You'll Need
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You only need three main ingredients:
- Pepperoni: Choose your favorite brand of pepperoni slices.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese is essential for easy spreading.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, cheesy flavor and helps crisp up the bites.
Two Ways to Make Pepperoni Cheese Bites
There are a couple of options for making these bites. The first option is to use mozzarella string cheese for your cheese. This is the easiest since you start with 6 pieces of string cheese and cut each one into 8 pieces. This gives you 48 total pieces to top your 48 pieces of pepperoni. Since the string cheese pieces are about as tall as they are wide, it takes longer for them to melt. This will give you crispier pepperoni since it will be in the oven longer. It takes about 10-12 minutes baking time for this option. Also, the cheese stays a little thicker with using string cheese and the cheese doesn’t spread out to cover the entire pepperoni, which makes for a very pretty presentation.
The second option for these awesome bites is to start with a 6 ounce block of mozzarella cheese and cut it into 48 square pieces. This will take a little longer since you’re doing more cutting, and you’ll want to try to cut the pieces into similar sizes. But, since the pieces are square and flatter, the cheese will melt faster. It takes about 5-7 minutes to melt the cheese. This also keeps the pepperoni softer since they’re in the oven for less time. The other difference is that the cheese will melt and cover most, if not all, of the pepperoni. Both options create amazingly delicious pepperoni cheese bites.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here's how to make these delicious keto pepperoni cream cheese bites:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
- Prepare the baking sheet: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Arrange the pepperoni: Lay out about 30 pepperoni slices on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they don't overlap.
- Add the cream cheese: Spread about 1 teaspoon of softened cream cheese onto each pepperoni slice.
- Sprinkle with parmesan: Sprinkle a pinch of parmesan cheese over the cream cheese on each slice.
- Top with pepperoni: Top each slice with another slice of pepperoni.
- Bake: Bake for 15 minutes, or until the pepperoni is crispy and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Air Fryer Instructions
For an even quicker and crispier version, try making these bites in the air fryer:
- Assemble the bites: Lay out pepperoni slices, spread with cream cheese, and top with another pepperoni slice, creating a sandwich.
- Air fry: Add the pepperoni bites to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook: Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) for about 4 minutes, or until the pepperoni is crispy and the cream cheese is warm.
- Serve: Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
These keto pepperoni cream cheese bites are delicious on their own, but they can be elevated with the right accompaniments. Here are some serving ideas:
- Dipping Sauces: Marinara sauce, ranch dressing, pesto sauce, or garlic butter sauce.
- Vegetables: Serve with chopped veggies like celery sticks, carrot sticks, or bell pepper slices for a balanced snack.
- Other Keto Snacks: Pair with other low-carb snacks like cheese cubes, olives, or nuts.
Variations and Customizations
One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. Feel free to experiment with different flavors and ingredients to create your own unique version:
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the cream cheese for a spicy kick.
- Italian seasoning: Mix Italian seasoning or garlic powder into the cream cheese for a more complex flavor.
- Different cheeses: Try using other cheeses like cheddar, pepper jack, or mozzarella for a different flavor profile.
- Add toppings: Top the bites with olives, jalapenos, sautéed bell peppers, or fresh basil after baking.
- Microwave Option: If you're short on time, these can be made in the microwave!
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
These keto pepperoni cream cheese bites are great for meal prepping or making ahead of time. Here's how to store them:
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
- Refrigerate: Store baked bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Reheat in the microwave for about 15 seconds or in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for a few minutes until warmed through.
- Freezer: While best fresh, you can freeze them for up to a month.
Homemade Marinara Sauce
To further enhance the flavor of these bites, consider making your own homemade marinara sauce. It's quick, easy, and allows you to control the ingredients and carb count.
Ingredients for Marinara Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon keto granulated sugar (or sweetener of choice)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions for Marinara Sauce:
- Sauté the onion: In a small saucepan, over medium heat, add olive oil. Once hot, sauté the diced onion until softened, about 4 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients: Add tomato paste, water, Italian seasoning, keto granulated sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the saucepan. Whisk to combine.
- Simmer: Decrease heat to medium-low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Using tomato paste and water helps to keep the carb count down. This combination comes out to about 10 net grams of carbs. If we used tomato sauce, it would be about 16 net grams of carbs. The keto sugar balances our flavors well. You can add all your ingredients, cook it for a while, then add salt and pepper to taste.
Nutritional Information (Approximate)
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is calculated with the assistance of a third-party service. Values are approximate, can’t be guaranteed, and should be considered as estimates only. Values differ according to types and brands of foods used. When used in a recipe, erythritol has been removed from the carb count as it is a sugar alcohol.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto