Cheesy Homemade Pizza Rolls

Every Super Bowl spread needs one appetizer that disappears before halftime, and these cheesy homemade pizza rolls are exactly that dish. Pizza dough gets wrapped around a savory pepperoni and Italian sausage filling, then baked until golden with mozzarella pulling from every slice. Making them from scratch means more filling in every bite than the frozen store version, plus you control exactly how much cheese goes in. They come together in about 40 minutes, so a hot batch can be on the table before kickoff.

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These pizza rolls take everything you love about a pepperoni pizza and shrink it down into a hand-held, party-ready bite. Pizza dough gets rolled thin, layered with a seasoned meat and marinara mixture, then rolled up jelly-roll style and sliced into individual pieces before baking in a muffin tin.

The result is a golden, slightly crisp roll on the outside with a melty pepperoni-and-cheese center. They hold up well on a buffet table, travel easily to a tailgate, and reheat without turning rubbery.

Why this recipe works

Rolling the filling into a log before slicing ensures every piece has an even dough-to-filling ratio, unlike a folded hand pie, where the filling can pool in one spot. Baking the rolls in a muffin tin also keeps them upright while they cook, so the cheese stays inside instead of leaking onto the pan. Pulsing the pepperoni and sausage together in a food processor before assembly distributes the meat evenly throughout every bite, rather than leaving big chunks in some rolls and none in others.

Ingredients you will need

As you can see, you need the same ingredients as if you were making a pepperoni pizza.

• Pepperoni – Chopped and pulsed into the filling for a savory, slightly spicy base flavor.
• Italian sausage – Cooked, drained, and crumbled to add richness and a classic pizza flavor to the meat mixture.
• Parmesan cheese – Shredded and split between the filling and the topping for a salty, nutty finish.
• Scallions – Chopped and pulsed into the filling for a mild onion bite that cuts through the richness.
• Pizza seasoning – Divided between the filling and the topping to season every layer of the roll.
• Mozzarella cheese – Shredded and layered into the dough for the classic melty pizza pull.
• Marinara sauce – Stirred into the meat mixture to bind the filling and add tangy tomato flavor.
• Pizza dough – Rolled thin and wrapped around the filling to form the base of each roll.
• Olive oil – Brushed over the tops before baking to help the rolls turn golden and crisp.

Ingredient Notes

• Store-bought pizza dough works well here and keeps the prep time short. If you prefer homemade, use your favorite pizza dough recipe.
• Look for a marinara sauce that isn’t too thin. A watery sauce can make the filling harder to roll without tearing the dough.

How to Make Pizza Rolls with Pizza Dough

Making this pizza roll recipe takes several simple steps:

1. Using a food processor, pulse together the pepperoni, sausage, scallions, some parmesan, and some seasoning. 

2. Mix in the marinara sauce.

3. Roll out one dough ball to a 10 x 12-inch rectangle.

4. Take half of the meat sauce mixture and spread it across the dough.

5. Sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top.

6. Roll the dough into a log and slice it into pieces.

7. Repeat with the second ball of dough.
8. Place the rolls into greased muffin tins, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and seasoning.

9. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes at 350°F.
10. Remove the pizza rolls from the muffin pans and serve warm.

Tips for Making Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

• If you’re struggling with sticky dough, wet your fingers a little.
• The dough logs will be less sticky when you try to cut them if you chill them in the fridge for 15 minutes first.
• It’s best to use a serrated knife or, even better, a pizza cutter to cut through the dough. A standard kitchen knife tends to compress the dough rather than saw through the filling.
• Don’t overload the rolls with too many ingredients, as this can make the dough difficult to roll and cut.
• When making a log, start with the end of the dough nearest you, then roll it up snugly like a jelly roll around the filling, finishing with the seam side down. Pinch the seal, so the individual rolls won’t fall apart when baking.

Recipe Variations

This recipe uses store-bought pizza dough, though you could make your own homemade pizza dough. 

This homemade pizza rolls recipe is super customizable and super easy to fill with your favorite pizza toppings. Caramelized onions, bacon, ham, olives, mushrooms, pesto, pineapple, bell peppers, and so many other goodies work great!

Here are some pizza roll variations to try based on your favorite pizza:

• Vegetarian: Make these pizza rolls vegetarian by using your preferred veggies – sun-dried tomatoes, bell peppers, grilled zucchini, spinach, etc.
• Pesto: Pesto, pine nuts, and cherry tomatoes.
• Regina: Bacon and mushrooms.
• Hawaiian: Ham and pineapple.
• Greek: Feta, tomatoes, and olives.
• Spicy Chicken: Chicken and jalapeños.

Air Fryer Pizza Rolls

This recipe is a pizza roll baked in the oven recipe, but it’s easy to make them in an air fryer.

Set the temperature to 380°F. Place the rolls in a single layer on parchment paper. Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Note that air fryers cook at different rates, so keep a close eye on your rolls. They will typically cook quicker than in the oven.

How to Serve Homemade Pizza Rolls

These pepperoni pizza rolls can be served hot or cold. They are perfect for taking to parties, eating as an afternoon snack, or even for a quick and easy light dinner meal.

Serve them with a bowl of marinara sauce or alfredo sauce for dipping. Any leftover rolls can be popped into your work lunch. You can even make pizza roll nachos!!

Delicious Dips to Accompany Pizza Rolls

Having too much sauce around pizza rolls is not possible, so here are some perfect dip and sauce recipes.

• Arby’s Sauce
• Outback Blooming Onion Sauce
• Papa John’s Garlic Dipping Sauce
• Raising Cane’s Dipping Sauce
• Sonny’s Barbecue Sauce

What to Eat With Pizza Rolls

This homemade pizza roll recipe is versatile and can be served as a starter or a main dish, paired with a Caesar salad or a garden salad.

Whatever you typically serve with pizza, you can also serve with pizza rolls.

How to Store Pizza Rolls

If you have any leftovers (good luck!), here is how to store them for later munching:

• Refrigerating: Store in an airtight container. They will be good for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can reheat them in the oven for a few minutes to warm up the filling. Note that zapping them in the microwave tends to make them a bit soggy.
• Freezing (Baked): Allow the baked pizza rolls to cool completely. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then freeze the sheet. When the rolls are completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag. To reheat, bake in the oven for about 10 minutes at 425°F.
• Freezing (Unbaked): Freeze them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, then transfer them to an airtight, freezer-safe container. When ready to cook, add a few minutes to the baking time. Frozen pizza rolls make great emergency snacks whenever family and friends come over for a surprise visit.

Love Pizza? Try These Recipes!

• Formaggio Pizza
• Pillsbury Veggie Pizza
• Pizza Burgers
• Pizza Monkey Bread
• Uno Deep Dish Pizza

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Check out more of my easy appetizer recipes and the best game day food here on CopyKat!