Looks Delic
Cheesy saucy goodness inside and crispy crust outside is what these little pepperoni pizza pinwheels lure you in with. Then you taste the sweet tomato basil sauce and hint of spice from the pepperoni and you realize that you’re in pizza appetizer heaven.
These pizza rolls are easy to assemble, kid friendly and look beautiful when they come out of the oven. All you need is 20 minutes and about 5 ingredients, depending on how you “roll” with your pizza. Add this pepperoni pizza pinwheel recipe to your hostess’ menu at your next gathering and guests will thank you.
About the Ingredients
Pizza dough – Pilsburry thin crust pizza dough works great for these. You can check it out on Instacart here.
Pizza sauce – Any marinara you like but if you’re looking for a recommendation I love Classico’s pizza sauce.
Shredded cheese– I used mozzarella but you could use any Italian blend you like. Slices of provolone would probably be delicious.
Pepperoni – If you’re not a pepperoni fan try crumbled sweet sausage, pancetta or just leave the meat out and go the vegetarian route.
Additional toppings – Call me crazy but I like a little green on my pizza so I added arugula for color and for the tiny “bite” it gives the flavor. Add anything your pizza eating heart desires!
Recipe Substitutions & Variations
The wonderful thing about this recipe is that just like regular pizza, it can be changed up a million different ways. Just follow the method and use any combination of sauce, cheese and toppings you like. Here are some ideas:
- Barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, crumbled ground chicken and scallions. Serve with a side of sour cream.
- Pesto sauce, mozzarella cheese, crumbled ground turkey, sautéed mushrooms and a drizzle of white truffle oil. Serve with a side of extra pesto.
- Tomato sauce, provolone cheese, crumbled sausage and sautéed spinach. Serve with extra tomato sauce for dipping.
How to Make Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels
If you’ve never made homemade pizza let me tell you a little secret to working with the pizza dough – let it come to room temperature before stretching it. Don’t try to stretch it cold because it will be a losing a battle.
Start by stretching (or you could use a rolling pin) out the dough to a rectangular shape. Spread the sauce, followed by the cheese and finish it off with your toppings.
Starting on the long edge roll your pizza dough into a log shape. Slice it up into roughly 1 1/2 inch pieces. Then coat an oven safe pan or dish with cooking spray (I used my Le Creuset Cast Iron Skillet) and pop it into the oven to bake until the dough is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
FAQ’s & Expert Tips
- Can I make these in advance? I found that as they sit for awhile they tend to get a little soggy. They are so quick to throw together that I’d recommend doing it right before you serve them.
- Avoid using too much sauce. Like any dough, too much sauce is its worst enemy. Go light on the sauce inside the pinwheel. You can always dip if you need a little more in your bite. Also avoid adding watery cheeses like ricotta to keep the inside crust firm.
- They don’t have to be just an appetizer. Love these little pizza pinwheels to wait for your next get together? Why not make few different variations (one traditional, one bbq and one tuscan?) and serve as a meal with a side salad?! ?
The Recipe for Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels
This recipe and all of the delicious details are available on The Southern Lady Cooks blog at Easy Pepperoni Pizza Rolls. If you test out this recipe be sure to leave a note in the comments below. I’d especially love to hear if you changed up the toppings. Enjoy!
