I started making this Easy Mummy Pizza Recipe the first Halloween when my kids were old enough to help in the kitchen, and I haven’t stopped since. There’s something about the goofy little olive eyes peeking out from under cheese “bandages” that gets everyone excited before we even take a bite.
I love that this is one of those rare recipes where the mess is basically the fun part, and cleanup is still a breeze. If you’re after something quick, playful, and genuinely tasty for Halloween night or a themed party, this is the one I keep coming back to.
Cooking Time
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cooking Time: 8 to 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 to 18 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 ciabatta rolls, halved lengthwise — a sturdy roll holds toppings better than soft sandwich bread
- ½ cup pizza sauce — use a thicker sauce so the bread doesn’t turn soggy underneath
- 1 medium zucchini — sliced into thin ribbons with a peeler to mimic mummy bandages
- 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks — pull-apart cheese sticks give the most realistic wrapped look
- 4 black olives, sliced — these become the classic spooky mummy eyes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil — brushed lightly on the bread to help it crisp up in the oven
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano (optional) — a small pinch adds a little extra pizza flavor underneath the toppings
Note: this recipe serves 4, making enough for four mummy pizza halves.
Equipment You Need
- Baking sheet — holds all your pizza halves while they bake evenly
- Vegetable peeler — turns your zucchini into thin, bandage-like ribbons
- Serrated knife — cuts the ciabatta rolls cleanly without crushing them
- Small spoon — spreads the pizza sauce evenly across the bread
- Cutting board — gives you a stable surface for slicing zucchini and olives
How to Make Easy Mummy Pizza Recipe?
This is one of those recipes where the steps matter less than the fun of assembling it together. I like to set everything out on the counter so my kids can build their own mummies. Here’s exactly how I do it every single time.
Prep the Bread and Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F while you slice the ciabatta rolls in half lengthwise. Brush each cut side lightly with olive oil so the bread crisps up nicely in the oven. Arrange the halves cut-side up on your prepared baking sheet.
Spread the Sauce
Spoon the pizza sauce onto each piece of bread and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon. Leave a small border around the edges so the sauce doesn’t spill over while baking. This layer becomes the base your mummy bandages will sit on top of.
Create the Bandages
Peel your zucchini into thin ribbons and lay them across the sauce in random criss-cross patterns. Pull the mozzarella string cheese into similar thin strips and layer them over the zucchini at slightly different angles. The mix of textures is what gives these that classic wrapped mummy look.
Add the Eyes
Place two small olive slices near the top of each pizza half to act as the mummy’s eyes. I like to tuck them just slightly under a strip of cheese so they peek out naturally once everything melts together in the oven.
Bake and Serve
Slide the baking sheet into your preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the edges of the bread turn golden. Let the pizzas cool for a minute or two before serving them warm.
Additional Tips for Making This Recipe Better
I’ve made these enough times now to know exactly what makes them turn out great.
- I always pat my zucchini ribbons dry with a paper towel first, since extra moisture can make the bread soggy.
- I pull the cheese into strips right before baking, not ahead of time, so it doesn’t dry out on the counter.
- I like using kitchen scissors instead of a knife to snip olive slices in half for smaller, neater eyes.
- I brush the bread with olive oil every time now, since it makes a noticeable difference in how crisp the crust turns out.
- I let my kids arrange their own bandages, which makes the whole process more fun and honestly less stressful for me.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- I once skipped drying my zucchini ribbons, and the extra water pooled on the bread and made it soggy in the middle.
- I overloaded one batch with too much cheese, and it slid right off the bread instead of staying in neat bandage strips.
- I used soft sandwich bread once instead of ciabatta, and it turned mushy under the sauce almost immediately.
- I forgot to preheat the oven fully one time, and the bread never got that crisp golden edge I was going for.
- I placed the olive eyes too early, and they burned slightly before the cheese finished melting underneath.
How to Serve Easy Mummy Pizza?
I like arranging these on a big platter lined with parchment paper so they look extra festive for Halloween. A light sprinkle of dried oregano or fresh basil right before serving adds a nice pop of color against all that cheese.
These pair really well with something warm and comforting on the side, and I’ve served them alongside a batch of meal prep breakfast bowls when I want a heartier spread for a Halloween morning gathering. Set them out with extra sauce in little cups for dipping, and they’ll disappear fast at any spooky party table.
Variations
- Swap ciabatta for English muffin halves if you want to try english muffin halloween pizzas instead
- Use refrigerated crescent or pizza dough cut into strips for a fun mummy pizza rolls version
- Try a dairy-free mozzarella alternative to keep this friendly for lactose-sensitive guests
- Wrap the whole thing in a tortilla first for a fun twist that leans more into mummy pizza wraps
- Add cooked, crumbled sausage or turkey pepperoni under the cheese for extra protein
- Use pillsbury halloween pizza dough as a shortcut base if you’re short on time
Nutritional Information
Here’s a rough estimate per serving, though this will vary slightly depending on your exact ingredients and portion sizes.
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Protein: 13 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fat: 11 g
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prep the zucchini ribbons and pull apart your cheese sticks up to a day ahead, storing both separately in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.
Leftover baked mummy pizzas keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days, though the texture is always best fresh out of the oven.
To reheat, pop them in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes rather than the microwave, which helps the bread crisp back up instead of turning rubbery.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
This recipe has become a Halloween staple in my house, and here’s exactly why I think it deserves a spot on your table too.
- It’s ready in minutes: With just 15 to 18 minutes start to finish, this comes together faster than ordering delivery.
- It’s genuinely fun to make: Kids love helping arrange the bandages and eyes, which makes it a great activity as much as a meal.
- It’s easy to customize: From gluten-free bread to dairy-free cheese, this base recipe bends to fit almost any dietary need.
- It works for more than Halloween: I’ve made these for regular weeknight dinners too, since honestly, who doesn’t love good pizza great pizza flavor any time of year.
FAQs
Can I make this into mummy dogs with pizza dough instead?
Yes, you can wrap strips of pizza dough around hot dogs for a mummy dogs version, then bake until the dough turns golden, which makes a fun variation on the same theme.
What if I don’t have ciabatta rolls?
English muffins, French bread, or even flatbread all work fine as substitutes, just adjust your baking time slightly based on thickness.
How do I keep the bread from getting soggy?
Pat your zucchini dry before layering it on, and don’t overload the sauce, since too much moisture is usually the culprit behind a soggy base.
Can I make mummy toes recipe style bites instead of full pizzas?
Definitely, just cut your bread into smaller individual pieces before topping, which makes bite-sized versions perfect for a party spread.
Are these good for a school Halloween party?
Yes, these travel well once cooled and can be served at room temperature, making them a solid choice for a classroom celebration. If you’re planning a bigger spread of finger foods for the occasion, they pair nicely next to a plate of crispy air fryer chicken nuggets for guests who want something heartier alongside the pizza.
Easy Mummy Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F while you slice the ciabatta rolls in half lengthwise. Brush each cut side lightly with olive oil so the bread crisps up nicely in the oven. Arrange the halves cut-side up on your prepared baking sheet.
- Spoon the pizza sauce onto each piece of bread and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon. Leave a small border around the edges so the sauce doesn’t spill over while baking. This layer becomes the base your mummy bandages will sit on top of.
- Peel your zucchini into thin ribbons and lay them across the sauce in random criss-cross patterns. Pull the mozzarella string cheese into similar thin strips and layer them over the zucchini at slightly different angles. The mix of textures is what gives these that classic wrapped mummy look.
- Place two small olive slices near the top of each pizza half to act as the mummy’s eyes. I like to tuck them just slightly under a strip of cheese so they peek out naturally once everything melts together in the oven.
- Slide the baking sheet into your preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the edges of the bread turn golden. Let the pizzas cool for a minute or two before serving them warm.
Notes
- I always pat my zucchini ribbons dry with a paper towel first, since extra moisture can make the bread soggy.
- I pull the cheese into strips right before baking, not ahead of time, so it doesn’t dry out on the counter.
- I like using kitchen scissors instead of a knife to snip olive slices in half for smaller, neater eyes.
- I brush the bread with olive oil every time now, since it makes a noticeable difference in how crisp the crust turns out.
- I let my kids arrange their own bandages, which makes the whole process more fun and honestly less stressful for me.
