Hey party people! It’s Darian from County Mama Cooking. I’ve got a fun recipe to share with you all today – homemade Pizza Rolls! These baked little bundles of joy are crispy on the outside, ooey-gooey on the inside, and super fun to eat.
These pizza rolls are a total game changer for my family. My kids Zoey, Scarlette and Dain have a blast helping me assemble them. I love that they can customize their fillings. My husband devours them by the trayful while watching sports. They are the perfect portable handheld snack.
I also appreciate that they are great for parties and potlucks since they can be made ahead of time. Plus, they are just so much fun to eat! The crispy outside gives way to the melty, saucy filling in an explosion of flavors and textures. Let’s chat about how to make them just right, creative serving ideas, FAQs.
Pizza Rolls
Equipment
- oven
- 1 towel
- 1 sharp knife
Ingredients
- 1 cup Pizza sauce
- 1 Pizza dough
- 1½ cups Mozzarella Cheese
- Handful of Pepperoni
Instructions
- First, decide if you’re using store-bought pizza dough or if you’re going to make some yourself. If you are going to make it yourself, then make your dough. Once the dough is made, it’s best to let it sit for 10-15 minutes before using it – just sit it in a greased bowl with a towel over it.
- Pre-heat oven to 425F.
- Now that your dough is ready, lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough. You want to roll it out like you were making cinnamon rolls, as it’s a very similar process.
- Once all rolled out, pour on the pizza sauce (of whichever sauce you’re using), and rub it all around – covering almost all of the dough. Leave about a 1-inch space on the top and the bottom of the dough.
- Sprinkle on your cheese and add on the pepperoni. If you’re adding any other toppings now is the time to add them in.
- Roll up your pizza.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the roll into 12 (1 inch sections). Place the rolls onto a lined baking tray.
- Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15-18 minutes (baking times may vary between appliances).
- Once done, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before enjoying (it’s tempting to eat them right away but they are super hot!).
Video
Notes
- Place the rolled-up pizza into the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes to help make the cuts cleaner
- When you remove it from the oven, try brushing on some garlic butter for an extra kick in flavor
- You can freeze baked pizza rolls. Let them fully cool down, place them into freezer-safe containers or freezer bags for up to 4 months. When it’s time to bake them, just bake from frozen for 20-30 minutes (baking times may vary between appliances).
Tips
While the recipe is simple, here are some tips for pizza roll perfection:
Choosing the Right Dough
- Store-bought crescent roll dough works great for its ease of use. Just separate into triangles and roll up.
- Homemade pizza dough can be used too but requires more effort to stretch and shape.
- If using homemade dough, let it come to room temperature before shaping so it’s easy to work with.
Flavorful Fillings
- Mix and match pizza toppings to create tasty filling combinations. Popular options include pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, bacon, ham, chicken, peppers, onions, mushrooms, black olives, etc.
- Pre-cook any raw meats and vegetables before assembling to remove moisture that could make the rolls soggy.
- Shredded mozzarella or a pizza cheese blend works great as a gooey binding ingredient.
- Don’t overfill! About 1-2 tbsp of filling per roll is plenty.
Sealing and Shaping
- Seal the edges well by pinching and pressing the dough together firmly so filling doesn’t leak out.
- Use a bit of water along the edges if needed to help the dough adhere and seal.
- Make sure to fully encase the filling by rolling and stretching the dough.
- For crescent roll dough, simply roll up starting at the wide end.
- For homemade dough, stretch out into an oval or rectangle before adding filling and rolling up.
Baking to Perfection
- Bake at 400°F on a parchment lined baking sheet until golden brown, about 12-15 minutes.
- Rotate the pan halfway through for even baking.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before eating so filling sets up. Molten hot filling will burn your mouth!
- Brush with melted butter or herbs for extra flavor and sheen when fresh out of the oven.
Enjoy your homemade pizza rolls! Experiment with flavors and make them your own.
Fun Ways to Serve Pizza Rolls
The best thing about pizza rolls is you can serve them in so many creative ways:
- Offer a variety of dipping sauces like marinara, ranch or nacho cheese.
- Skewer them on sticks for a fun appetizer presentation.
- Pile them into subs and hoagies for an Italian-style sandwich.
- Serve on a tray with other snacks at your game day spread.
- Pack them in lunches for an on-the-go meal kids will love.
FAQs
Here are some common pizza roll questions:
How do I make them kid-friendly?
Use milder fillings like cheese and pepperoni.
Can I freeze Pizza Rolls?
Absolutely! Freeze on a baking sheet then transfer to bags. Bake frozen rolls for 20-25 minutes.
How long will they keep?
About 3-5 days in the fridge. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
What’s the best dough to use?
Crescent roll dough is easy, but pizza dough or puff pastry works too.
I hope you’ll give this Pizza Rolls recipe a try soon. They are sure to become a new favorite appetizer in your home! Let me know if you have any other fun foods you’d like me to try making.