Save to Pinterest These pizza rolls combine golden dough with a hearty blend of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and zesty beef pepperoni. Spread evenly with rich pizza sauce, then rolled and sliced into bite-sized portions, they bake to a bubbly, golden perfection. An easy, flavorful crowd-pleaser perfect for snacks, parties, or quick family meals, finished with olive oil, Italian herbs, and optional Parmesan for added depth.
The smell of baking pizza dough triggers something primal in my brain. I started making these rolls during college when my roommate and I needed something between us and a frozen pizza addiction. Now they are the first thing to vanish at every gathering, golden and bubbling from the oven.
Last Super Bowl, I made four batches because the first tray disappeared in under three minutes. Everyone stood around the kitchen island, grabbing them straight off the cooling rack, cheese stretching between their fingers. Something about that spiral of dough and fillings just works.
Ingredients
- Pizza dough: Room temperature dough is crucial here because cold dough will fight back when you try to roll it thin
- Mozzarella and cheddar blend: The mozzarella melts beautifully while cheddar adds a sharp bite that cuts through the richness
- Beef pepperoni: Quarter the slices so you get pepperoni in almost every bite without overwhelming the balance
- Pizza sauce: Spread it thin and leave a border or the filling will leak out during baking
- Olive oil and Italian herbs: This topping creates that gorgeous golden finish and makes them smell incredible
Instructions
- Preheat and prep:
- Get your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper because the cheese will inevitably bubble over
- Roll the dough:
- On a floured surface, stretch the dough into a 12x16 inch rectangle, working from the center outward to avoid thin spots
- Add the layers:
- Spread sauce first, then cheeses, then pepperoni, leaving a half inch border around all edges
- Roll and seal:
- Roll from the long edge into a tight log and pinch the seam firmly so it does not unravel while cutting
- Slice and arrange:
- Cut into 16 equal pieces and place them cut side up with space for rising and spreading
- Finish and bake:
- Brush with oil, sprinkle with herbs and Parmesan, then bake 1618 minutes until golden and bubbling
Save to Pinterest My daughter now requests these for her birthday dinner instead of cake. Watching her face light up when she pulls apart the warm, cheesy spiral reminds me why I started cooking in the first place.
Make It Your Own
The beauty of these rolls is how easily they adapt to what you have on hand or what your family loves. I have found that thin slices work best for any cured meat you choose.
Timing Is Everything
You can assemble these completely up to four hours before baking and keep them covered in the refrigerator. Let them sit at room temperature for twenty minutes before they go into the oven.
Serving Strategy
Always have extra warm pizza sauce on the side because dipping is nonnegotiable. The sauce should be heated gently so it does not cool down the rolls too quickly.
- Let the rolls rest at least five minutes or the cheese will burn your mouth
- Leftovers reheat beautifully at 350F for about eight minutes
- Freeze unbaked rolls on a tray then transfer to a bag for up to three months
Save to Pinterest There is something deeply satisfying about pulling a tray of these from the oven and watching everyone gravitate toward the kitchen. They are comfort food at its most inviting.
