Name: Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
Prep time: 1 h 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Ingredients: 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1 cup warm water (110°F); ¼ cup warm milk; 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 cup halal turkey pepperoni slices, chopped or left whole; ½ tsp dried oregano; ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional); 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp dried parsley; Pinch of salt; Warm marinara sauce for dipping

There’s just something downright irresistible about the smell of warm pizza dough baking in the oven, isn’t there? Now imagine that combined with gooey melted cheese, savory turkey pepperoni, and the kind of fluffy, soft texture that makes you want to eat one roll after another. Welcome to your new obsession: Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls. These aren’t your typical frozen bites—they’re homemade, freshly baked, and perfect for game day snacking, casual dinners, or whenever the pizza craving hits but you want something a little different.

These soft pepperoni pizza rolls are like the lovechild of a pepperoni pizza and a fresh batch of dinner rolls. Think pillowy dough rolled around melted mozzarella and spiced turkey pepperoni, baked until golden, then brushed with garlic herb butter. Each bite is packed with flavor and has just the right amount of cheese pull. Whether you’re serving them with marinara sauce for dipping or just devouring them straight off the tray, they’re guaranteed to disappear fast.

Why You’ll Love This Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls Recipe

These rolls strike the perfect balance between comfort food and finger food. They’re soft and fluffy on the inside with just a touch of golden crispness on the outside.
The homemade dough is easy to work with and comes together with pantry staples, so no fancy ingredients or equipment needed.
Turkey pepperoni keeps things halal-friendly without compromising that classic pepperoni flavor you know and love.
You can customize the fillings endlessly—swap in veggies, different cheeses, or even add some chili flakes for heat.
They’re incredibly freezer-friendly. Make a batch, freeze some, and you’ve got a future snack attack covered.
Perfect for everything from game day gatherings to kid-approved dinners or late-night cravings.
Brushed with garlic herb butter after baking, they taste like something you’d get at your favorite pizza joint.
Great make-ahead recipe for parties or potlucks. Bake, refrigerate, and just warm them up before serving.
They reheat beautifully in the oven or air fryer—hello, next-day perfection.
You can double or even triple the batch easily. Trust me, you’ll want extras.

Preparation Time and Yield

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Rise Time: 60 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Yield: 12 soft pepperoni pizza rolls

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Calories: 220
Carbohydrates: 26g
Protein: 9g
Fat: 9g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 2g

Ingredients for Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

For the Dough:

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup warm water (110°F)
¼ cup warm milk
3 tbsp olive oil

For the Filling:

1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup halal turkey pepperoni slices, chopped or left whole
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

For the Garlic Butter Topping:

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley
Pinch of salt

Optional for Serving:

Warm marinara sauce for dipping

Step-by-Step Instructions for Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the warm water, milk, and sugar. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the top and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. This step wakes the yeast up and ensures a nice rise later.

Step 2: Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, add the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil, then stir until a rough dough forms. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 7–8 minutes until smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook if you prefer.

Step 3: Let the Dough Rise

Form the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Step 4: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet or a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease it. Punch down the risen dough and transfer it to a floured surface.

Step 5: Roll Out the Dough

Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a large rectangle, roughly 12×16 inches. Try to keep the thickness even throughout so each roll bakes consistently.

Step 6: Add the Filling

Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the dough, then layer the turkey pepperoni slices on top. Sprinkle with oregano and a little crushed red pepper flakes if you like some heat.

Step 7: Roll It Up

Starting from the long side of the rectangle, carefully roll the dough up into a tight log, just like you would a cinnamon roll. Pinch the seam at the end to seal.

Step 8: Slice and Arrange

Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, slice the roll into 12 equal pieces. Place them cut-side up in the prepared baking dish or sheet, spacing them slightly apart to allow room for rising.

Step 9: Second Rise

Cover the rolls lightly with a towel and let them rise again for about 15–20 minutes while the oven finishes heating. They should puff up a little more.

Step 10: Bake Until Golden

Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and the cheese is bubbling. Keep an eye on them toward the end so they don’t overbake.

Step 11: Brush with Garlic Butter

As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush the tops with your melted garlic butter mixture. The butter seeps into the rolls and gives them that extra pizza-parlor flavor.

Step 12: Serve and Dip

Let them cool slightly before serving with warm marinara sauce on the side for dipping—or just eat them straight up while the cheese is still gooey.

Ingredient Background

When it comes to these soft pepperoni pizza rolls, each ingredient does a little magic in building the flavor, texture, and overall experience. Let’s peel back the layers and appreciate what’s really going into these golden bites of joy.

First, the dough. Made from simple ingredients like flour, yeast, water, and a touch of olive oil, this is the base that carries all the flavor. All-purpose flour gives it structure, but it’s the yeast that brings it to life. When activated in warm water and sugar, the yeast starts to feed, grow, and release carbon dioxide, which gives your rolls that perfect airy texture. A splash of warm milk in the dough adds a little extra tenderness, while olive oil lends both softness and that subtle richness you expect from homemade bread.

Then there’s the turkey pepperoni. It’s the perfect halal substitute for traditional pork-based versions, and honestly, it holds its own flavor-wise. Turkey pepperoni is leaner but still packs that smoky, spiced punch that makes pepperoni pizza so addictive. It crisps up slightly during baking and melts into the cheese just enough to create that beautiful marriage of salty, savory goodness.

Lastly, the mozzarella cheese brings that creamy, stringy magic that pizza dreams are made of. It melts perfectly, giving you that irresistible cheese pull. Combined with the final flourish of garlic butter on top—made from melted butter, garlic powder, parsley, and salt—you’ve got a trifecta of flavor: rich, cheesy, and herby with a just-baked aroma that’s straight-up mouthwatering.

Technique Tips for Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

The secret to nailing this recipe lies in mastering a few simple techniques that take your pizza rolls from good to bakery-level greatness. First off, let’s talk dough. Kneading the dough long enough is key here. You want to work it for a solid 7–8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. This develops the gluten, which gives the dough its structure and chewiness. If you stop too early, your rolls might turn out flat or too dense. Don’t rush the rise either—give that dough a full hour in a warm spot so it has time to double and get pillowy.

Next up is the roll-out stage. It’s tempting to slap the dough into a rough rectangle and call it a day, but taking time to roll it evenly ensures each slice bakes up consistently. Keep the layer of cheese and pepperoni even, and don’t overload it. Too much filling makes it harder to roll and can cause your rolls to burst open in the oven. Aim for that sweet spot where there’s enough cheese for that ooey-gooey pull but not so much it turns into a melty mess.

Finally, the bake. Make sure your oven is fully preheated to 375°F before your rolls go in. Baking them on parchment paper or in a greased dish keeps them from sticking and promotes that golden finish on the bottom. And whatever you do, don’t skip brushing on that garlic butter at the end. It’s what gives them that unmistakable pizzeria aroma and elevates the flavor in a big way. A quick brush as soon as they come out of the oven lets the butter soak into the warm rolls, locking in flavor and moisture.

Alternative Presentation Ideas

There’s more than one way to serve up these soft pepperoni pizza rolls, and switching up your presentation can make them fit all kinds of occasions. Let’s say you’re hosting a party and want finger foods. Instead of baking the rolls close together in a dish, space them out on a baking sheet so they bake individually like little pizza pinwheels. Serve them on a platter with toothpicks and a side of marinara or ranch in small dipping cups. Instant crowd-pleaser.

Want to get a little fancy? Brush the baked rolls with truffle oil instead of garlic butter and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan and a pinch of red chili flakes. Stack them on a wooden board with small bowls of gourmet dipping sauces like garlic aioli, basil pesto, and sun-dried tomato tapenade. This version turns your humble pizza roll into an appetizer worthy of a dinner party.

Another fun twist? Bake them in a muffin tin. Yep, that’s right. Muffin tins give each roll a perfectly round, structured shape, and they bake up super golden on all sides. It also makes them great for grab-and-go snacks or lunchboxes. Line the muffin tin with parchment paper or lightly grease it, drop one roll into each cup, and bake just like normal. The result? A whole new way to enjoy the same deliciousness.

Freezing and Storing Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

One of the best things about these rolls is how well they freeze and reheat. If you’ve gone through the effort of making a batch, you might as well make extra because future-you will be so grateful. Once the rolls have cooled completely, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze them for about an hour. This flash freezing keeps them from sticking together. Then, transfer them to a resealable freezer-safe bag or airtight container and keep them frozen for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to reheat, you’ve got a few options. For best results, bake them straight from frozen in a preheated 350°F oven for about 10–12 minutes until warmed through. You can also microwave them for about 45 seconds to a minute, though this may soften the outside. If you’ve got an air fryer, pop a few in at 350°F for 5–6 minutes and they’ll come out beautifully crispy on the outside and melty on the inside.

For short-term storage, keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave and brush with a little extra garlic butter to bring them back to life. Just be sure they’re stored properly so they don’t dry out—nobody wants a sad, stale pizza roll.

Healthier Twist Ideas

Craving these rolls but looking to keep things a bit lighter? You can absolutely give this recipe a healthy-ish upgrade without losing all the fun. Start with the dough—try using half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour for a boost of fiber and nutrients. Whole wheat flour adds a slightly nutty flavor and gives the rolls a more satisfying chew while still staying soft and fluffy.

For the cheese, opt for a part-skim mozzarella to cut back on fat while still delivering that classic melt. Or try mixing in some reduced-fat cheddar for a sharper flavor with fewer calories. If you’re watching sodium, you can always go easy on the cheese and load up on more filling like chopped veggies. Diced bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, or even a few spinach leaves sautéed in olive oil work beautifully.

And don’t forget the protein swap—turkey pepperoni is already leaner than traditional versions, but you could also sub in shredded rotisserie chicken or ground chicken seasoned with Italian herbs. Not only does it lighten things up, but it also adds a different texture and flavor that makes these rolls feel brand new.

Serving Suggestions for Events

These rolls are the MVP of party snacks, casual dinners, and everything in between. Hosting game night with friends? Serve them in a big basket lined with parchment paper, with plenty of marinara and ranch for dipping. Add a few bottles of sparkling water or soda, and you’ve got a no-fuss setup that everyone will love digging into between rounds of cards or during halftime.

Planning a kid’s birthday party? You’re golden. These rolls are easy to hold, not too messy, and totally customizable. Set up a mini pizza roll bar with different fillings—turkey sausage, veggie mix, or plain cheese—so everyone can pick their favorite. Serve with fruit skewers, lemonade, and cupcakes for a kid-approved spread that’s fun and satisfying.

Even for cozy nights in, these rolls make the perfect side dish or light main. Pair with a fresh Caesar salad or roasted veggies and call it dinner. They’re also a genius addition to lunchboxes—just pack them with a little container of sauce and a fruit cup and you’ve got a lunch that’ll make coworkers jealous or kids smile.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use store-bought pizza dough instead of making it from scratch?

Yes, you absolutely can. Store-bought dough is a great time-saver. Just make sure it’s room temperature before rolling it out so it doesn’t shrink or tear.

2. Are these rolls freezer-friendly?

Totally. You can freeze them baked or unbaked. Just follow the storage instructions and reheat straight from frozen when you’re ready.

3. What can I use instead of turkey pepperoni?

Try shredded halal chicken, turkey sausage, or a veggie filling. Mushrooms, spinach, and olives are all great alternatives.

4. How do I make them spicier?

Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes to the filling or mix a little hot sauce into the garlic butter topping.

5. Can I use gluten-free flour?

You can try a gluten-free baking blend, but results may vary. Look for one that includes xanthan gum for structure.

6. How long do leftovers last?

In the fridge, they’ll stay good for about 3 days. Just make sure they’re stored in an airtight container.

7. Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough and let it rise overnight in the fridge. Just bring it to room temperature before rolling.

8. What cheese works best besides mozzarella?

Try provolone, cheddar, or even pepper jack for a little kick. Just make sure it’s a cheese that melts well.

9. Do I have to let the rolls rise a second time?

It’s not absolutely necessary, but it helps the rolls get extra fluffy. If you’re in a rush, you can bake them right away—they’ll still be delicious.

10. Can I bake these in a muffin tin?

Definitely! It gives each roll a nice golden crust and makes them easy to serve individually.

Conclusion

Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls are one of those recipes that hit every comfort food note without being overly complicated. They’re the kind of thing you can whip up for a crowd, make in advance, freeze for later, or snack on straight from the tray while they’re still warm and melty. Whether you’re hosting friends, feeding family, or just treating yourself, these rolls are the perfect mash-up of pizza flavors and homemade goodness.

What really makes this recipe shine is the flexibility. From choosing your own fillings to deciding how you want to serve them, there’s endless room to make it your own. Love it spicy? Add heat. Want a veggie version? Go for it. Craving something quick? Use store-bought dough. No matter how you make them, they’ll always deliver on flavor and fun.

At the end of the day, food is all about sharing joy—and there’s nothing more joyful than a soft, cheesy, pepperoni-filled roll that tastes like it came straight out of your favorite pizzeria. So next time the pizza craving hits, give this homemade version a shot. You might just find yourself skipping delivery and rolling up a batch from scratch instead.