Bites Recipe

Prep dough

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly oil a baking sheet or line with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll or stretch the pizza dough into a roughly 12 x 8-inch rectangle (thickness about 1/4 inch). Brush the dough lightly with 1 tsp olive oil to help butter adhere.

Cut and shape

Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the dough into 1 to 1.25-inch squares (about 36 squares from a 1 lb dough). Place the squares on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1/2 inch apart so they will puff and separate slightly.

Make garlic butter

In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter over low heat or in 20-30 second intervals in the microwave. Stir in the minced garlic, granulated garlic (or garlic powder), salt, and black pepper. Remove from heat and add half of the chopped parsley (reserve the rest for garnish). Let the mixture sit 1–2 minutes so garlic infuses the butter.

Brush and top

Brush the garlic butter generously over each dough square, reserving about 1 tbsp of the butter for finishing. Sprinkle the grated Romano evenly over the squares so each piece gets a light coating. If you like extra garlic flavor, spoon small drops of the remaining butter onto a few bites.

Bake

Bake in the preheated 425°F oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the bites are puffed and golden brown and the cheese is lightly toasted. Rotate the pan halfway through baking for even color.

Finish

Remove from oven and immediately brush the reserved garlic butter over the hot bites. Sprinkle remaining chopped parsley on top. Let cool 2–3 minutes on the sheet so they firm slightly but remain warm and tender.

While bites bake, warm the pizza sauce in a small saucepan over low heat until just simmering, about 4–5 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes and dried oregano if using. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Serve the warm garlic Romano bites on a platter with the warmed pizza sauce in a small bowl for dipping.