Start your Thanksgiving off right with these Apple, Bacon, and Leek Pizza Bites. They make for a great Fall appetizer and are super easy to prepare!
Uhm.... can someone tell me how the heck it's already the middle of November? Have the last couple of months literally flown by for anyone else?
Gosh, not cool Fall. Not cool at all. Slow down a little bit. I haven't enjoyed nearly enough apple cider yet... and we all know that's top priority on my Fall to-do list.
So I guess Thanksgiving is kinda sorta next week. I can't lie... I'm super excited. I love any excuse to eat, especially an excuse to eat in excess... I just wish wearing sweatpants was socially acceptable. That elastic waistband is totally key to fully enjoying the day.
But you know what my favorite part of Thanksgiving is? Well, besides the whole being together with the family and giving thanks type stuff. It's the apps. It's hanging around, anxiously awaiting the main event, snacking on a few munchies here and there.
And I have a great Thanksgiving appetizer for y'all today. It'll rock yer socks for sure. It's classy. It's sophisticated. And it's totally Fall approved.
We're talking about these Apple, Bacon, and Leek Pizza Bites.
Apple, Bacon, and Leek? Wait a second, didn't I also do that combo to stuff some sweet potatoes the other day?
Yup, busted. But you know what... I'm not sorry. Because this flavor combo is legit.
There's something so right about apples and leeks sauteed up with sage, rosemary, and thyme. And something so right about a creamy cheddar cheese sauce laced with a bit of nutmeg. And something incredibly right with bacon. Enough said.
Listen. People may go a little crazy over these Apple, Bacon, and Leek Pizza Bites. Like, they may totally forget about the gigantic meal that awaits their arrival. So don't blame me if they fill up on apps. You need to ration these suckers out. Make sure everyone gets one or two tops.
And listen, if they fill up on apps, don't fret. That just means more Thanksgiving day leftovers for you. And we all know leftovers are the main reason we cook Thanksgiving in the first place.
Apple, Bacon, and Leek Pizza Bites
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: A lot of pizza bites!
Ingredients
- 1 room temperature Pizza Dough, bought from local pizzeria
- Cheddar Mornay Sauce (recipe below)
- 10 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 leeks, washed, trimmed, and thinly sliced crosswise
- 2 Granny Smith Apples (or other tart apples), peeled and chopped into ½'' pieces
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely minced
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
for the Cheddar Mornay Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup grated white cheddar
- 1 ½ tablespoons sour cream
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium-low heat until crisp and golden brown. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the pan and add apples, leeks, and herbs (rosemary, sage, and thyme) to the skillet. Season with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and begin to caramelize, about 7 minutes. Add the cooked bacon back into the pan and cook for 1 more minute.
- Preheat oven to 450F. Cut pizza dough into tiny balls. Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out each tiny ball of dough into a "pizza bite". Prick each bite with a fork so that it doesn't poof up that much during cooking. Cook on a baking sheet or a pizza stone until dough is cooked through and light golden brown.
- Top each pizza bite with a spoonful of Mornay sauce and then a spoonful of the apple mixture. Serve immediately.
for the Cheddar Mornay Sauce
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring frequently for about 1 minute, until mixture is a bit golden. Whisk in milk until fully incorporated with roux and no clumps remain. Cook, stirring often, until the milk mixture thickens to a runny sauce consistency, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in cheddar cheese until fully melted. Stir in sour cream and a pinch of nutmeg. Season with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
Melanie says
What a rockin' combo for pizza! Love what you've put on these. Perfect little appetizers.
Pinned.
Have an awesome Tuesday!
Chris says
Thanks so much Melanie!
Helen says
You can buy pizza dough from your local pizzeria? Wow, I like that idea! But in the absence of that over here, I sometimes make a large batch of dough (say enough for 6 pizzas) and put them in the freezer until needed - perfect for whipping out and making a batch of these with!
We don't have anything like thanksgiving in the UK of course, but I reckon these would be just as great for Christmas eve or Christmas day.
And you're right, Fall just flew by - I think we're getting older, Chris, that's why time's going so fast!
Chris says
Yea, it's pretty awesome Helen! All the pizza places here in NY will sell you a thing of dough, and it's only like $2-$3. Totally worth it when you want a short cut! And don't say the "older" word! We aren't getting older!!! Noooooooooo.
Christine says
HOW adorbs are these, I'm in love!! The perfectly little appetizer bite, and I'm flipping for that cheddar sauce!! Pinned 🙂
Chris says
Thanks Christine! I'm such a fan of little appetizer bites... that's my type of party!
Kathy says
I love the leek and bacon combination on these pizza bites. Perfect appitizer as well as game day food.
Caralyn says
yum yum and YUM!!
Allie | Baking a Moment says
Umgggh yes! Love all the flavors!!!
Oriana says
Chirs, these little bites looks amazing. The combination of apple bacon and leek sounds perfect. I can't wait to try this recipes.
Chris says
Thanks so much Oriana!
David says
So I've decided what you need is some of those jeans with an elastic waistband. That way you will be totally socially acceptable, but you are welcome to eat as much turkey day noms as you would like. Of course, I will then make fun of you for wearing 'mom jeans' but that's the tradeoff. I think it's totally worth it. Oh, and these pizza bites? Yes! They look amazing! #WolfpackEats
Chris says
Hahahaha that's a great idea... elastic jeans, I like it! Eh, I'm used to being to center of jokes, so I'm cool with that trade off!
marcie says
Things do need to slow down....it's getting out of control that Christmas is almost here, too! This pizza bites look delicious, and I love this combination. Pinned!
Chris says
I know, right Marcie?! I can't believe it's already this time of year...
Shibi says
I didn't know that you could buy pizza dough from the local pizza shop. That's very convenient when you don't have time for the dough to proof and make the pizza. The pizza bites looks appetizing.
Chris says
It's totally a time saver!
Sarah says
Sweatpants may not be socially acceptable, but yoga pants are totally in. Especially the kind with painted on pockets. BOOOM. I solve all your issues - go ahead and eat this entire batch of pizza bites - you've now got the room. 😉 This flavor combo DOES sound legit. Yum.
Chris says
No one wants to see me in yoga pants... I don't even want to see me in yoga pants!
Kelly says
I can't believe how fast November is flying by! Everything needs to slow down so we can enjoy more of these delicious pizza bites! The apple leek flavor combination sounds awesome!