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These Pepperoni Rolls are soft and fluffy and stuffed with melty cheeses, pepperoni and a sprinkle of seasonings in each bite! Baked until golden and delicious, these rolls are perfect for dipping in warm pizza sauce for an easy dinner, snack or game day treat!
One of my favorite restaurants growing up had the most soft, fluffy, cheesy pepperoni rolls on their appetizer menu and I’ve always wanted to recreate them. After making my Cheesy Garlic Rolls (and them being wildly popular on my Instagram!), I knew I could turn them into Pepperoni Rolls with a little testing and…
You guys. THEY. ARE. PHENOMENAL!!!!! And the best part is it all starts with a loaf of frozen bread dough – easy peasy!!!
Pepperoni Roll Ingredients
- Bread Dough – My preference is using a loaf of frozen bread dough (I use the Rhodes brand) as it turns out to be the most fluffy and has the best flavor. However, I’ve also tried this with refrigerated pizza crust and worked well, too.
- Pepperoni – I use the Hormel pepperoni slices, but any brand will work! You could also use turkey pepperoni if you prefer. If you use large slices from the deli, you’ll want to quarter them so it’s easier to roll up.
- Mozzarella Cheese – I always prefer to shred a block of cheese vs using the pre-shredded cheese in the bags you find at the store as it melts so much more creamy and smooth!
- Grated Parmesan Cheese – The stuff that comes in the plastic canisters you sprinkle on top of pizza! Fine shredded parmesan would work great, too.
- Garlic Powder – I like to keep it simple with garlic powder, but you could add a little Italian seasoning, too.
- Butter – Salted butter is my preference.
- Parsley – Fresh or dried parsley is fine! It adds a little color to these beauties.
- & for serving – You can warm up some pizza sauce and top with crushed red pepper if you’d like!
How to Make Pepperoni Rolls
Start by letting the loaf of bread dough thaw completely. You can find instructions on how to do so on the package. Most times there’s a regular method and a “quick thaw” method.
Once it’s ready to use, roll it out to a large rectangle. It’s easiest if you use a rolling pin.
Cut the dough into 9 even strips using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter.
Arrange the pepperoni slices over the dough then top with mozzarella, parmesan and garlic powder.
Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a square baking pan.
Roll the strips of dough up one at a time and pinch the end together so it doesn’t fall apart while baking. Place the rolls into the baking dish and sprinkle with additional cheese.
OPTIONAL: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the rolls set in a warm place for 30 minutes to rise. This will make them even more fluffy! Be sure to remove the plastic wrap before baking.
Bake until the rolls are golden brown. It took mine about 26 minutes.
When the rolls are out of the oven, melt the butter and stir in the additional parmesan, garlic and parsley. Brush the butter mixture over the rolls….is your mouth watering yet?! Mine sure is…
Serve warm with a side of pizza sauce, if desired!
Pepperoni Roll Variations
- Meaty Pizza Rolls – Add 1/2 pound cooked and crumbled Italian sausage along with the pepperoni to the filling!
- Supreme Pepperoni Rolls – Add diced peppers, onions, and/or cooked mushrooms to the filling. (Use a total of 1/2 cup of veggies so it’s not too full to create nice rolls!).
- Hot Honey Pepperoni Rolls – Add 2 tablespoons of honey and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes to the butter mixture. A sweet & salty combo you didn’t know you needed!!!
Frequently Asked Questions
These are best enjoyed fresh! That being said, you can prepare the rolls then cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake (up to 24 hours). Then, let them rest in a warm place for an hour and bake in a preheated oven! You still get fresh rolls, but have the “hard” part done with when company arrives!
If you’re lucky enough to have pepperoni rolls (I never do!)…store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them (but be sure to let them thaw completely before heating them back up).
The quickest way to do so is to microwave them. However, they’re great in the air fryer (more crispy around the edges) or baked in the oven (I do 300F for 10-15 minutes).
Other Recipes You’ll Love!
Pepperoni Rolls
Equipment
- 1 square baking pan*
Ingredients
- 1 pound bread dough
- 4 ounces pepperoni slices
- 1 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Garlic Butter Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 teaspoons parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- pizza sauce for dipping warmed, optional
Instructions
- *Before starting, make sure you have the frozen bread dough completely thawed as instructed on the package.
- Grease a 9×9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Place the thawed bread dough on a clean surface and roll it out to a rectangle (around about 14 inches by 10 inches).1 pound bread dough
- Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to create 9 even strips, cutting from one long end to the other.
- Arrange the pepperoni evenly over the strips of dough.4 ounces pepperoni slices
- Top with 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese then the parmesan cheese and garlic powder.1 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Roll the dough slices up nice and tight and place the rolls in the prepared pan creating three rows of three.
- Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- OPTIONAL: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the rolls set in a warm place for 30 minutes to rise. This will make them even more fluffy! Be sure to remove the plastic wrap before baking.
- Bake for 24-28 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, parmesan, parsley and garlic powder and brush over the baked rolls.2 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.pizza sauce for dipping
