Pepperoni pizza rolls are such a fun way to mix up family pizza night or to serve on game days. They’re ready in under an hour if you use store-bought dough, and are so easy to change up to suit your preferences. I add a simple filling of pepperoni slices and cheese, but you can add your favorite pizza toppings.
I tested these pizza rolls rigorously (my family really enjoyed taste-testing all my experiments) to find the best way to prevent the rolls from sticking to the baking pan. From lining the pan to greasing it, I eventually found a simple solution that many pizza places use— using cornmeal as well as a greased pan!
A reader, Kim, says: “My kids love the classic pepperoni and cheese combo. I made a version with spicy salami and banana peppers for my husband and me, and it was fantastic!” ★★★★★
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love My Recipe
Homemade pizza rolls are such a quick and delicious dinner recipe that the whole family will love!
- Easily Customizable: While I went with a classic cheese and pepperoni filling, you can really add anything you like. Your favorite pizza toppings will work well, like vegetables, different meats, black olives, or pickled peppers.
- Kid-Friendly: Not only do my sons love eating pizza rolls, but they also enjoy helping me make them! Turn pizza night into a fun family activity and have your kids help fill and roll the dough.
- Make-Ahead and Freeze: You can shape, fill, and cut the roll (follow the recipe to the end of Step 4) and freeze the prepared pizza rolls to bake later!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
These are the main ingredients you need to make homemade pizza rolls. You can find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.
Pizza dough — I prefer to use my homemade pizza dough recipe, which adds time, but is so easy to make! For super quick pizza rolls that are ready in a flash, use a fresh ball of store-bought deli pizza dough. The store-bought or homemade dough ball should weigh about 14 to 16 ounces in order to be the correct size for this recipe. Don’t use canned pizza dough, which can yield tough pizza rolls because it doesn’t rise as much in the oven.
Pizza sauce — my easy homemade pizza sauce recipe is ready in 5 minutes flat (really!) and easy to customize, so I recommend trying it for this recipe. But your favorite store-bought pizza sauce will work great as well.
Cheese — shredded mozzarella cheese adds melty, creamy goodness to every bite of these pizza rolls. Use a low-moisture mozzarella, not fresh mozzarella, for this recipe. Fresh has too much moisture and will make the rolls doughy in the center.
Pepperoni — you need about 50 slices of pepperoni, but you can also switch up the meat by using salami or cooked Italian sausage, chicken, or bacon (or in any combination!).
Cornmeal — each unbaked pizza roll gets dipped in yellow cornmeal, which bakes up so crunchy in the oven. Cornmeal is key to preventing the rolls from sticking to the pan. It’s best to use a medium-grind cornmeal for the best texture, but a regular or fine cornmeal will work too—just don’t skip this! You can also use semolina flour instead of cornmeal, if you have it.
Garlic butter — a mixture of melted salted butter and garlic is brushed all over the pizza rolls for extra flavor. You can use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder in place of the fresh clove of garlic. I also like to add ½ teaspoon of dried oregano, basil, or Italian seasoning to the melted butter for added flavor.
Ways To Customize The Pizza Rolls
You can easily turn these pepperoni pizza rolls into any of your favorite pizza flavors!
- Veggie Pizza: Add mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, etc. I recommend lightly cooking the vegetables first to remove some moisture and get them tender.
- Barbecue Pizza: Use barbecue sauce, shredded chicken, and red onions.
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza: Use ranch or buffalo sauce, shredded chicken, blue cheese, and sliced green onions.
Can I Make These Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can make these easy pizza rolls in advance! Shape the rolls and place them on the baking sheet after dipping them in cornmeal (follow the recipe to the end of Step 5). Cover with greased plastic wrap and chill the prepared pizza rolls in the fridge for a few hours before baking. You can skip the second rise and bake as directed once you pull them out of the refrigerator. They will puff a little more in the fridge while they chill.
How to freeze unbaked pizza rolls: Fill, roll, and cut the pizza rolls, then dip each one in cornmeal. Place them on a lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze them for a few hours until solid. (Skip the second rise.) Store the frozen pizza rolls in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw for a few hours at room temperature (or in the fridge overnight) before baking as directed.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
To prevent sticking, dip the bottom of the rolls in cornmeal. I tested this recipe by lining the pan and baking them on foil and greasing the baking sheet only, but the rolls stuck to both. Using the cornmeal was the best method to bake the rolls well without them sticking to the pan. This is also how pizza restaurants keep their pizza dough from sticking to their pans!
Don’t overfill the rolls. Too much sauce or too many toppings can make the rolls too wet inside and prevent the dough from cooking in the center. Stick to the amounts listed in the recipe, and serve the rolls with additional sauce on the side for dipping.
How To Make Pizza Rolls
Below, I’ve highlighted portions of the recipe in step-by-step process images along with instructions for making pepperoni pizza rolls. You can find the full set of instructions in the recipe card below.
1. Place the pizza dough on a floured cutting board and sprinkle a little flour on top. Stretch the dough into a rectangle measuring about 14 inches long by 10 inches tall. You can use a floured rolling pin to gently make the dough even. Make sure one of the long ends of the dough is facing you.
2. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce all over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border on the long side farthest from you. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the pizza sauce.
3. Lay the pepperoni slices in a single layer on top of the cheese.
4. Start with the side closest to you and roll the dough into a tight log (just like you would do if you were making cinnamon rolls!).
5. Use a sharp knife to cut the log into 12 equal pieces with a back-and-forth motion so you don’t smash them.
6. Place the cornmeal on a small plate and dip one cut side of the rolls in the cornmeal. Place the roll, cornmeal side down, onto a greased baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the rolls, and place them about 1 inch apart on the baking tray. Cover with a greased piece of plastic wrap for about 20 minutes, so they puff up. Uncover the puffed pizza rolls and bake at 425°F until they’re golden brown in color and the cheese has melted. While they’re in the oven, make the garlic butter by whisking together melted butter and garlic. When the pepperoni pizza rolls are hot out of the oven, brush the tops and sides with garlic butter. After a few minutes of cooling, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve homemade pizza rolls with pizza sauce or warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Pizza Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- Large baking sheet
- Stand mixer with dough hook
Ingredients
- 1 recipe pizza dough (1 pound, 450g)
- ¼ cup pizza sauce plus more for dipping, (60ml)
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 ounces/170g)
- 3 ounces pepperoni slices (about 50 slices)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
- 3 tablespoons salted butter melted
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Brush a large baking sheet with olive oil or spray with olive oil spray.
- Generously flour a cutting board, place the pizza dough on it, and sprinkle a little bit of flour on top of the dough. Stretch the dough into a rectangular shape, about 14 inches wide by 10 inches tall. Arrange the dough so that one of the long sides is closest to you.
- Spread the sauce in a thin layer all over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border on the long side farthest from you. Sprinkle the cheese all over top. Then lay the pepperoni in a single layer over top, shingling slightly, if necessary.
- Starting with the side closest to you, roll the dough into a tight log (like cinnamon rolls). Brush any excess flour from the outside of the rolls. Slice the log into 12 pieces of equal width, about 1 inch wide. (I found using a sharp knife with a back and forth motion works best to not smash the rolls and cut through the filling.)
- Place the cornmeal on a small plate. Dip a cut side of the rolls in the cornmeal, then place cornmeal side down on the prepared sheet tray. Repeat with the remaining rolls, placing them about 1 inch apart.
- Cover with greased plastic wrap for about 20 minutes, until puffed.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Uncover and bake the rolls for about 15 minutes or until the tops and sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- While the rolls are baking, in a small bowl, whisk to combine the melted butter and garlic.
- Right when they come out of the oven, gently brush the garlic butter all over the tops and sides of the pizza rolls. Let them cool for a few minutes, then top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil, if you like. Serve with more pizza sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Let the rolls cool for a few minutes before serving. This gives time for the cheese to set a bit and prevents you from biting into a piping hot roll and burning your mouth.
- How to serve: Serve the warm pizza rolls with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, like ranch or marinara sauce! This also pairs perfectly with a Caesar salad.
Nutrition
How To Store
Fridge: Once completely cooled to room temperature, transfer leftover pizza rolls to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Store cooled baked pizza rolls in a freezer-safe container in a single layer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What’s the best way to reheat pizza rolls?
You can reheat cold pizza rolls in a 350°F oven, toaster oven, or air fryer for 5 to 8 minutes or until heated through the center.
More Pizza Recipes To Try
I’ve got all your pizza cravings covered! Try one of these delicious recipes next.
My Chicago-style deep-dish pizza has a buttery crust, lots of cheese, meat, and rich tomato sauce. It bakes in a cake pan!
Stromboli is basically what you would get if you didn’t slice the rolled pizza dough in this recipe! It’s perfect for game day or any casual gathering.
No need to only enjoy calzones at restaurants. You can easily make it in the comfort of your own home! My recipe is easily adaptable, so you can add your favorite pizza toppings as a filling.
Air fryer pizza rolls are ready in about 10 minutes, making them the perfect quick snack or easy appetizer to enjoy with a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.
A classic cheese pizza is always welcome on pizza night. You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make my easy recipe.
If you’ve tried this pizza rolls recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
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