Who said pizza isn’t for breakfast? Get ready to dive into this brunch-y pizza, topped with melty mozzarella, savory ham, and adorable mini sunny side up quail eggs.

There’s something about mini foods that just makes them irresistible. Maybe it’s their cute size or the way they seem to pack in even more flavor. Whatever it is, quail eggs have won my heart. They’re the perfect mini version of regular eggs, complete with rich yolks and speckled shells.

This breakfast pizza is a delight, combining all the best breakfast elements into one dish. I had a slight mishap the first time I made it – I forgot to oil my pizza pan, and the pizza stuck to it like glue. But no worries, I had extra dough in the fridge, so a quick redo saved the day. Pro tip: always oil your pan!

Ingredients:

• Oil for the pan
• 12 quail eggs
• 1 ball no-knead pizza dough or pizza dough of choice
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup pizza sauce, depending on how saucy you like your pizza
• 1 – 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella
• 6-8 slices thin deli ham
• Fresh basil, if desired
• Red pepper flakes, if desired

How to Make It:

1. Preheat Oven: Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to its hottest setting, 500°–550°.
2. Cook Quail Eggs: In a non-stick pan, fry quail eggs sunny side up in a touch of oil, 1-2 minutes on medium heat. Set aside.
3. Prepare Dough: Lightly oil a cast iron pan and dust lightly with cornmeal, if desired. Or, lightly oil and dust a baking sheet. Shape dough into a circle, pushing gently until fairly thin.
4. Assemble Pizza: Spread on the sauce almost to the edges. Top generously with the shredded mozzarella and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes. Top with ham.
5. Bake: Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is puffy, crisp, and slightly blistered.
6. Top and Serve: Remove and top with the quail eggs and freshly torn basil. Enjoy immediately with extra red pepper flakes, if desired.

Helpful Hints:

• Pre-cook the Quail Eggs: Cooking the quail eggs beforehand ensures they are perfectly cooked and ready to top the pizza.
• Cornmeal for Texture: Dusting the pan with cornmeal adds a delightful crunch to the pizza crust.
• Fresh Basil: Add fresh basil after baking for a burst of flavor and color.
• Crispy Ham: Thinly sliced deli ham crisps up nicely, adding a delicious savory note to the pizza.