Crispy Homemade Pizza Rolls with Gooey Cheese

Make delicious homemade pizza rolls in about 30 minutes with this simple recipe. Bake them in the oven or cook them in an air fryer for a handheld snack, appetizer, or quick meal. These rolls are loaded with cheese and pepperoni, and you can swap in your favorite pizza toppings to make them your own.

Every Friday is pizza night at our house, and pizza rolls are a regular favorite. They’re easy to make, portable, and perfect for feeding a crowd during game day or a casual get-together. Use store-bought or homemade pizza dough, spread a little marinara, add cheeses and toppings, roll it up, slice, and bake or air fry. In less than 30 minutes you’ll have hot, cheesy pizza rolls ready to dip and enjoy.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Pizza dough – about one pound. You can use a refrigerated can of pizza dough (roughly 13.8 ounces) or homemade dough rolled into a rectangle.
• Marinara sauce – 1/2 cup for the filling, plus extra for dipping. Store-bought or homemade both work well.
• Mozzarella cheese – 1 cup shredded for melty, cheesy rolls.
• Parmesan cheese – 1/2 cup grated for added flavor.
• Italian seasoning – about 2 tablespoons to season the cheese and sauce.
• Mini pepperonis – 1/4 cup (optional). Swap in your favorite meats or vegetables if you prefer.

Step-by-step instructions

• Prepare the dough and toppings.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
  • Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle.
  • Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce evenly across the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
  • Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan evenly over the sauce.
  • Season with Italian seasoning and add mini pepperonis or other toppings.
• Roll and slice.
  • Roll the dough tightly over the filling, starting from one long side, like a jelly roll or cinnamon roll.
  • Slice the roll into 1-inch sections to make about 12 rolls.
  • Place the rolls touching in an oven-safe dish, a pie plate, or a skillet so they rise up and bake together.
• Bake the pizza rolls.
  • Bake at 400°F for about 20 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
  • Serve warm with extra marinara sauce for dipping.

How to make them in an air fryer

If you prefer an air fryer, arrange the rolls either touching or separated depending on the texture you want. Cook at 330°F (165°C) for about 12 minutes. When cooked separated, the exterior will be slightly crisp; when cooked touching in a dish or basket, the rolls stay softer. Air fryer models vary, so adjust the time a minute or two if needed.

Other topping ideas

Pizza rolls are basically rolled-up pizza, so almost any pizza topping works. To keep rolling easy, avoid overfilling—stick to about 1/4 to 1/2 cup total toppings. Try one or two of these:

• Spinach
• Black olives
• Sliced mushrooms
• Sliced jalapeños
• Diced bell pepper
• Diced onion
• Fresh basil leaves
• Ham or Canadian bacon
• Salami
• Bacon
• Cooked sausage

Tips and tricks

• Vegetarian option: Omit the pepperoni and add vegetables like peppers, mushrooms, spinach, or olives.
• Storage: Leftover pizza rolls keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Reheating:
  • Microwave: Heat on a microwave-safe plate for 30–60 seconds.
  • Oven: Place on a baking sheet and reheat at 400°F for 5–7 minutes. For a crisp exterior, broil 2–3 minutes at the end—watch closely so they don’t burn.
  • Air fryer: Reheat at 330°F for about 3 minutes for a quick, crisp result.
• Rolling tip: Roll the dough as tightly as possible to keep fillings from spilling and to create tidy, even rolls.

More pizza recipes to try

If you love pizza, try other creative recipes like Apple Dessert Pizza, Hawaiian Pizza with Sriracha sauce, Buffalo Cheesy Pizza Bread, Pizza Baked Spaghetti, Italian Sub Pizza, Jalapeño Sausage Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Dip Pizza, or Heart-Shaped Pizza.

Recipe details

Servings: 12 pizza rolls

Prep time: 10 minutes   Cook time: 20 minutes   Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 13.8 ounce can refrigerated pizza dough
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce, plus more for dipping
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup mini pepperonis (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
2. Roll out the refrigerated pizza dough into a rectangle.
3. Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce in an even layer over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border.
4. Top with mozzarella, parmesan, and Italian seasoning. Add mini pepperonis or other toppings.
5. Roll the dough tightly over the filling and slice into 1-inch sections to make 12 rolls.
6. Place the rolls touching in an oven-safe dish and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Serve warm with extra marinara for dipping.

Notes

• To make in an air fryer: set to 330°F and cook for about 12 minutes. Times may vary by model.
• Limit toppings to about 1/2 cup total to keep the roll easy to close and slice.
• Leftovers refrigerate for up to 5 days; reheat in the microwave, oven, or air fryer as listed above.

Nutrition (per roll, approximate)

Calories: 141 kcal | Carbohydrates: 17 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 5 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Sodium: 410 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 3 g