Easy Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Rolls Appetizer
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Our easy Homemade Pizza Rolls are generously stuffed with shredded mozzarella and zesty pepperoni and basted with a herbed butter sauce for that classic pizza flavor. Roll up and bake until golden brown, then dip in warm marinara sauce — each bite is cheesy and delicious!
Whether hosting a pizza night or planning an epic Super Bowl party, these homemade pepperoni pizza rolls are a guaranteed hit!
Why you’ll love this Pizza Rolls recipe!
Ingredient notes
- Pizza dough | Use a 16-ounce ball of refrigerated pizza dough from the grocery store to give the appetizer that signature crust.
- Marinara sauce | Spread some marinara sauce on the dough and save some for dipping.
- Cheese | Layer shredded mozzarella cheese on the pizza dough and use mozzarella sticks to pack more gooey, melty cheese.
- Pepperoni | Make the classic pepperoni and cheese combo with sliced pepperoni cut in half. If preferred, chop the pepperonis into smaller pieces.
- Butter | Brush the unbaked crust with melted unsalted butter for a beautiful toasted crust.
- Seasoning | Mix Italian seasoning and garlic powder into the melted butter to flavor the crust.
- Parmesan | Sprinkle the pizza crust with grated parmesan cheese and enjoy!
How to make Homemade Pizza Rolls Recipe
You’ll roll these pizza rolls up into a pinwheel (like cinnamon rolls), so for best results, let the refrigerated pizza dough sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes — or even up to an hour — before starting the recipe.
STEP 1 | Roll out the dough
Lightly sprinkle two tablespoons of flour onto a clean work surface, pastry mat, or a sheet of parchment paper, and roll the pizza dough into a large, thin rectangular shape (about 12 x 18 inches) with a rolling pin.
STEP 2 | Add the marinara
Set aside a cup of the marinara sauce for serving, then spread the remaining half cup of sauce on top of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge.
STEP 3 | Layer the cheese
Next, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese in an even layer and add the sliced pepperoni. Arrange the string cheese sticks in a long line along the long edge of the dough.
STEP 4 | Roll the dough
Now, roll the dough just like you would for cinnamon rolls. Starting from the long edge with the string cheese, roll the dough up tightly, seal the seam by pinching the dough together, and place the pinched side down on the surface.
STEP 5 | Brush with butter
Combine the melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Then, use a pastry brush to lightly brush the mixture all over the exposed sides of the roll and save the extra for later.
STEP 6 | Slice and rise
Next, use a serrated knife to carefully cut the roll into 1-inch slices, placing each into a lightly greased cast iron skillet.
Then, allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes on the countertop. While you wait, turn on the oven and preheat it to 400 degrees F.
STEP 7 | Bake and enjoy!
Finally, it’s time to bake the rolls in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until they’re a beautiful golden brown and the cheese is melty.
For extra flavor, brush the outside of the rolls again with the butter mixture and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Lastly, warm the reserved marinara sauce to dip the homemade pepperoni rolls.
tips
- Use nonstick spray, olive oil, or butter to grease the pan. If preferred, you can use a baking sheet instead of a skillet.
- If you use pre-made, refrigerated dough, be sure it is at room temperature. Set it on the countertop for 30 – 60 minutes before starting the recipe.
Who isn’t a pizza fan? Try more of my unique pizza recipes, like Easy Homemade BLT Pizza with Garlic Mayo Sauce, Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza, and creamy Chicken Florentine Pizza.
Variations and substitutions
- Homemade Dough. You may also use your favorite homemade pizza dough recipe instead of the store-bought.
- Hearty Marinara Sauce. Make a batch of homemade marinara instead of jarred sauce for an extra delicious experience.
- Favorite Pizza Toppings. Add all your favorite pizza ingredients to these rolls, like black olives, diced green pepper, bacon bits, ham, or mushrooms. Make it a Hawwain, BBQ, or Buffalo chicken pizza!
- White Pizza. Swap the marinara for a white sauce, like garlic butter or alfredo sauce.
- Garnish the rolls with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil. Ricotta cheese is also a delicious addition!
Storage and reheating tips
- To keep your leftover pizza rolls fresh for later, let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container to be refrigerated for up to four days.
- Then, reheat the rolls at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
This recipe is best hot and fresh from the oven. However, if you’re making homemade dough, you can make it in advance, getting you ahead on the appetizer. Otherwise, you can freeze the unbaked rolls and cook when ready to serve.
Sure! After they cool completely, freeze the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet for an hour. Then, store the frozen rolls in a zip-top bag or airtight container for up to three months.
Looking for more delicious appetizers for the whole family?
Create the best Super Bowl party menu with classics, like Sticky Baked Chicken Wings, Loaded Sweet Potato Skins with BBQ, Bacon, and Cheese, my easy Jalapeno Popper Dip, and this sweet Cookie Dough Dip recipe!
Serving suggestions
If you’re serving this pizza recipe for lunch or as an easy appetizer, add a tossed green salad or this Watermelon Feta Salad on the side for a nice contrast.
Other delicious dipping options include creamy buttermilk ranch, garlic butter sauce, basil pesto, buffalo sauce, and even zesty salsa!
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Easy Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Rolls Appetizer
Ingredients
- 1 16-oz. ball refrigerated pizza dough at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce divided
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni cut in half
- 3 – 4 sticks mozzarella string cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet.
- Lightly sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour onto a clean work surface. Roll the pizza dough into a large rectangle, about 12 x 18 inches.
- Reserve 1 cup of the marinara sauce for serving, then spread the remaining 1/2 cup of sauce on top of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge.
- Next, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese in an even layer and add the pepperoni. Arrange the string cheese sticks in a long line along the long edge of the dough.
- Starting from the long edge with the string cheese, roll the dough up tightly (like a cinnamon roll) and seal the seam by pinching the dough together. Place the pinched side down on the surface.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Use a pastry brush to lightly brush the mixture all over the exposed sides of the roll (you can skip the seam side). Save the extra mixture for later.
- Using a serrated knife, carefully cut the roll into 1-inch slices and place each roll in the prepared cast iron skillet. Allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes on the counter.
- Bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and the cheese is melty. If desired, brush the outside of the rolls again with the butter mixture and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Warm the reserved marinara sauce and serve with the hot pizza rolls.
Notes
- You may also use your favorite homemade pizza dough recipe instead of the store-bought.
- Use nonstick spray, olive oil, or butter to grease the pan. If preferred, you can use a baking sheet instead of a skillet.
- If you use pre-made, refrigerated dough, be sure it is at room temperature. Set it on the countertop for 30 – 60 minutes before starting the recipe.
- To keep your leftover pizza rolls fresh for later, let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container to be refrigerated for up to four days.
- Then, reheat the rolls at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
About Sheila Thigpen
Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer
Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.
