Pizza Rolls with Pesto Drizzle

Homemade pizza rolls are savory appetizers that are quick and easy to make. Drizzled with pesto, these little pizza bites are super scrumptious! For wine and appetizer parties, they’re one of the best finger food ideas!

INGREDIENTS FOR PIZZA ROLLS

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make pepperoni rolls from scratch:

• Store-bought or homemade pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Garlic powder
• Dried oregano
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni slices
• Fresh basil
• Parmesan cheese
• Yellow corn meal
• Red chili pepper flakes
• Store-bought or homemade pesto

KITCHEN TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE

These beautiful kitchen tools will help you get the job done. They’re kitchen staples every cook needs!

• CUTTING BOARD
• ROLLING PIN
• BAKING TRAY
• KITCHEN KNIFE
• FLOUR SACK TOWELS

HOW TO MAKE PEPPERONI PIZZA BITES

Here’s how to make these easy appetizers at home:

• STEP 1: On a large cutting board, unroll the refrigerated pizza dough.
• STEP 2: With a rolling pin, lightly roll out the dough so it’s a basic rectangle with straight edges (roughly 10×14).
• STEP 3: Evenly spread a thin layer of sauce over the surface.

RECIPE FOR PIZZA ROLLS

• STEP 4: Shake a bit of garlic and oregano over the dough. Add pepperoni slices, just slightly overlapping each of the pieces. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and shredded basil over the pepperoni.
• STEP 5: From the long size, tightly roll the pizza into a log. This rolling process is very similar to that of making homemade cinnamon rolls.

EXPERT COOKING TIP: If time allows, place the log into the freezer for about 10-12 minutes, but no longer than that! This will make the dough slightly firmer, so slicing the pizza bites will be a little easier.

MINI PIZZAS

Making mini pizzas is easy with these step-by-step instructions:

• STEP 6: With a sharp knife, cut the log into 15 or 16 pieces. Place the pizza rolls on a lined baking tray that’s been lightly sprinkled with corn meal.
• STEP 7: Bake mini pizzas for 15-18 minutes at 375 degrees F. About 14 minutes into the baking process, take a peek at the bottom of the pizza rolls to make sure they aren’t getting burnt. They’re done once they’ve become nice and golden all over.

EXPERT COOKING TIP: Corn meal is used on the underside of pizza crusts to prevent the dough from sticking to pizza stones and pizza peels. It’s also great for adding some extra texture and crunch to these delicious pizza rolls!

EASY APPETIZERS

Here’s how to serve pizza rolls:

• Remove pizza bites from the oven. Transfer to a serving platter.
• Lightly drizzle each piece with pesto.
• Sprinkle the tops with Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

MORE FINGER FOOD IDEAS

Are you hosting a party? Round out your appetizer table with mini pizzas plus two or more of these crowd-pleasing favorites:

• TUNA SALAD ON CRACKERS
• CHEESE TORTELLINI PARTY SNACKS
• DEVILED EGGS
• MARGARITA FRUIT DIP

RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Did you enjoy this yummy appetizer? Rate this recipe in the comments below!

Pizza Rolls with Pesto Drizzle

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Denay DeGuzman
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 15 Pizza Bites 1x

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Description

Pizza rolls are easy appetizers. They’re fun party snacks that are perfect for the game-day crowd! Made with homemade pizza dough or refrigerated store-bought dough, these yummy pizza  bites are some of the best finger food ideas this season.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 13.8-ounce tube refrigerated pizza dough*
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 + 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 35 pieces of thinly-sliced pepperoni
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 + 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil, shredded or sliced
• Cornmeal for sprinkling on baking tray
• Garnishes: grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes, basil pesto, black olives as an optional add-on

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Instructions

1. Pop open the tube of pizza crust and lay it flat on a large cutting board. With a rolling pin, even out the edges to make them straight. Your finished rectangle should be approximately 10X14 inches or slightly smaller.
2. Add pizza sauce to the center of the crust. With a spoon or spatula, spread it evenly over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle garlic powder and oregano on top.
3. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese onto the pizza in an even layer. Arrange the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese. Add grated parmesan and a bit of shredded basil.
4. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
5. Tightly roll the long end of the rectangle upward to form a nice-looking log. If there’s time, place the log into the freezer on the cutting board or cookie sheet. Leave it there for 10-12 minutes. This will help firm up the dough a bit to make slicing the pizza bites much easier!
6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. If you have a pizza stone, now is a great time to use it! Sprinkle corn meal onto the baking tray or pizza stone. This will give the baked pepperoni rolls an added bit of texture and crunch!
7. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the pizza rolls are beautifully golden. Remove from the oven.
8. Arrange the mini pizzas on a serving tray. Sprinkle them with grated Parmesan and chili flakes. Lightly drizzle pesto on top. Serve with a bowl of black olives and a beverage of choice.

Notes

EXPERT TIPS: *Be sure to use a classic pizza crust NOT a thin crust. A thin crust will start falling apart as you roll it.

Corn meal is used on the underside of pizza crusts to prevent the dough from sticking to pizza stones and pizza peels. It’s also a great way to add some extra texture and crunch!

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Appetizers, Party, Snacks
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American, Italian

Keywords: pizza rolls, pizza bites, finger food ideas

EASY APPETIZERS > JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Do you enjoy making easy appetizers? What do you think of these yummy pizza rolls? Share your favorite finger food ideas in the comments below!