This recipe provides instructions for making delicious and easy Cheesy Pizza Rolls, a perfect appetizer, snack, or light meal that captures all the flavors of pizza in a fun, bite-sized format. These rolls feature a soft and slightly chewy dough filled with a savory tomato sauce, your favorite pizza toppings (like pepperoni, sausage, or vegetables), and plenty of melted cheese, all rolled up and baked until golden brown and bubbly. They are a homemade alternative to store-bought pizza rolls and can be customized with a wide variety of fillings to suit individual tastes. The dough for these pizza rolls can be made from scratch using simple ingredients like flour, yeast, sugar, salt, oil, and water, or for convenience, store-bought pizza dough or even crescent roll dough can be used as a shortcut. The filling typically starts with a tomato-based sauce, such as marinara or pizza sauce, which provides the classic pizza flavor. Toppings can include cooked and crumbled meats like pepperoni, sausage, or ground beef, as well as various vegetables like mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, olives, and more. Cheese is essential, and mozzarella is a classic choice for its melty and stringy texture, but other cheeses like cheddar, provolone, or a blend can also be used. The assembly involves rolling out the dough into a rectangle, spreading the tomato sauce evenly over it, layering the chosen toppings and cheese, and then rolling the dough up tightly into a log. The log is then sliced into individual rolls, which are placed on a baking sheet and baked until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. For an extra touch, the tops of the rolls can be brushed with melted garlic butter or sprinkled with Italian herbs before baking. These Cheesy Pizza Rolls are best served warm, allowing the cheese to be gooey and the flavors to be at their peak. They are perfect for dipping in extra marinara sauce, ranch dressing, or any other favorite dipping sauce. Their bite-sized nature makes them ideal for parties and gatherings, and they are always a hit with both kids and adults. The image shows a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, filled with numerous small, round rolls. The rolls are golden brown and have a topping of melted and slightly browned cheese, with some visible sauce underneath. They appear to be soft and slightly puffy.
The texture of Cheesy Pizza Rolls is a delightful combination of a soft and slightly chewy dough that is golden brown on the outside, and a warm, gooey, and melty filling of tomato sauce, savory toppings, and cheese.
The flavor profile is a miniature version of classic pizza, featuring the sweet and tangy taste of tomato sauce, the savory flavors of the chosen toppings (like spicy pepperoni or seasoned sausage), and the rich, melty flavor of the cheese. The baked dough adds a subtle bready taste.
Cheesy Pizza Rolls are small, rolled-up bites of pizza, featuring a dough filled with tomato sauce, pizza toppings (meat, vegetables), and cheese, baked until golden brown and bubbly.
The preparation involves making or buying pizza dough, rolling it out, spreading sauce, layering toppings and cheese, rolling it up, slicing into rolls, baking until golden, and optionally brushing with garlic butter or herbs.
Ingredients:
For the Dough (Option 1: Homemade):
- 1 ¼ cups warm water (105-115°F)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Dough (Option 2: Store-bought):
- 1 pound store-bought pizza dough or 2 cans (8 ounces each) crescent roll dough
For the Filling:
- ½ cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or a blend of your favorite pizza cheeses)
- ½ cup pepperoni slices, quartered (or other cooked and crumbled pizza toppings like sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, olives, etc.)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if using homemade dough)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional, for garlic butter)
Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Clean kitchen towel
- Rolling pin
- Pizza cutter or knife
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil (optional, for lining baking sheet)
- Small bowl (for melted butter, if using)
- Pastry brush (if using garlic butter)
Instructions:
If Using Homemade Dough:
- Activate Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the top and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the flour and salt to the bowl with the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Add the olive oil to the bowl. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Roll Out Dough: Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it out into a rectangle about 12×18 inches.
If Using Store-bought Pizza Dough:
- Prepare Dough: Let the store-bought pizza dough sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes to make it easier to roll out. Roll it out into a rectangle about 12×18 inches on a lightly floured surface.
If Using Crescent Roll Dough:
- Prepare Dough: Unroll the crescent roll dough sheets and press the perforations together to create solid rectangles.
Assemble the Pizza Rolls (for all dough types):
- Spread Sauce: Spread the pizza sauce or marinara sauce evenly over the rolled-out dough, leaving a small border along one of the long edges to help seal the roll.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Distribute the quartered pepperoni (or other desired toppings) over the cheese. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, if using.
- Roll Up the Dough: Starting from one of the long edges, tightly roll up the dough into a log. Pinch the seam to seal it closed.
- Slice into Rolls: Use a pizza cutter or a sharp knife to slice the log into 1 to 1 ½ inch thick rolls. You should get about 12-18 rolls depending on the length of your log.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easier cleanup.
- Arrange Rolls: Place the sliced pizza rolls cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between them.
Bake the Pizza Rolls:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Make Garlic Butter (Optional): In a small bowl, melt the butter and stir in the minced garlic, if using.
- Brush with Garlic Butter (Optional): Brush the tops of the pizza rolls with the melted garlic butter.
- Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve:
- Cool Slightly: Let the Cheesy Pizza Rolls cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve Warm: Serve the pizza rolls warm with extra marinara sauce, ranch dressing, or your favorite dipping sauce on the side.
Enjoy these fun and flavorful Cheesy Pizza Rolls! They are a customizable and crowd-pleasing treat.