Pizza Crescent Rolls
Pizza crescent rolls are my go-to when my kids want pizza and I want to be done with dinner in twenty minutes. Four ingredients, one tube of crescent dough, and a pile of pepperoni and mozzarella later, we’ve got these little pizza pockets that taste like the real thing (minus the delivery guilt). Grab some pizza sauce for dipping and you’ve officially won the weeknight.
Between you and me, this recipe started because I got tired of the 7 PM pizza negotiation. You know the one. Kids voting for delivery, me voting for “something that doesn’t cost forty dollars,” everybody hungry, nobody winning. I had a tube of crescents in the fridge, some pepperoni, a cheese stick situation, and about fifteen minutes of patience left. I rolled the whole mess up, brushed it with butter, and prayed these would do the trick.
Spoiler Alert. They ate them. Every single one. Then they asked for them again the next night.
Pepperoni crescent rolls have been on permanent rotation ever since for school lunches, after-school snacks, and my personal “I forgot to plan dinner” safety net. The kids actually help assemble them now, which means they’re pre-sold on eating them, so I actually get to sit down for five minutes while the oven does its thing. A win all around, if you ask me, which you didn’t, but here we are.
I like to make this easy pepperoni roll recipe for easy lunches and weeknight dinners with some Fruit Kabobs. If your kiddos love pepperoni pizza like mine do, it’s a quick and easy kid-friendly meal. Don’t forget to stock up on Pizza Muffins, too. They’re great to grab and go!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These crescent pizza rolls are so much easier to put together and bake than a whole pizza.
- They are already perfectly portioned to put in your kids’ lunch boxes or as an after school snack.
- This is definitely a recipe the kids will love helping with. This fun twist on their own personal pizzas will be a hit.
Key Ingredients
- Refrigerated crescent roll dough – I like Pillsbury but any brand you like will work. You can also use pizza dough, but you’ll have to cut it into triangles yourself. Be sure to roll it out so it’s as thin as crescent dough otherwise you will need to adjust the baking time.
- Italian seasoning – This is usually made up of a mix of dried thyme, basil, rosemary and oregano. You can also try dried oregano on it’s own.
- Pepperoni – Choose your favorite sliced pepperoni from the deli, or if your kids love another meat, like ham or salami, use that!
- Mozzarella – I like to use cubed cheese because it’s easy to wrap up in the dough. You can cut cubes from a block of cheese or slice a mozzarella cheese stick into pieces to make it even easier. Of course, you can still use shredded cheese if you like.
- Pizza sauce – Use your favorite pizza or marinara sauce, warmed, for dipping. You could also use a ranch dip or garlic butter!
Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
Variations
Add a few
- Sliced mushrooms
- Diced onions
- Sliced olives
- Cooked Italian sausage
- Crumbled bacon
- Shredded buffalo chicken
- Egg wash with Parmesan cheese and garlic powder before baking
How to Make Stuffed Crescent Rolls
- Prepare dough. Open the can and separate the dough so you have eight triangles.
- Fill triangles. Sprinkle the seasoning over the top of each triangle. Place pepperoni at the wide end and place a cheese cube in the center.
- Roll. Tightly roll up the dough, sealing the edges.
- Brush with butter. Place the filled pizza crescent rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the tops with melted butter.
- Bake. Place in preheated oven until golden brown and brush with more butter.
- Serve. Pair them with warm pizza sauce to dip.
For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Serving Suggestions
The options are endless with these handheld pizza rolls. Make a couple batches with different toppings and set them out with veggies and dip, fruit kabobs and crowd pleasing Ham and Cheese Roll Ups if your kids have got friends over and they need a lunch or snack break.
If you are sending pizza rolls in school lunches, be sure to whip up a batch of Homemade Fruit Snacks to pack as well. The kids are going to go crazy for them and you’ll be glad when they eat their whole lunch.
Don’t forget dipping sauces like Ranch, Marinara, Garlic Parmesan and creamy Cesar.
Storage and Reheating
Fridge: Store pizza crescent rolls in an airtight container for up to 4 days (if they last that long).
Freezer: These are a great item to freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for easy grab and go options during the busy weekdays. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
To heat pizza crescent rolls, cover and place in the microwave for 20 second increments until hot through. You can even try using your air fryer for a nice crisp outside layer.
Pro Tips
- Make veggie pizza crescent rolls with diced bell peppers or mushrooms rolled up inside.
- Don’t add too many fillings otherwise it will be hard to roll up the dough.
- It is important to seal the edges well so the cheese doesn’t ooze out of the crescent rolls.
- The color of the rolls is the best indicator of doneness! You want them to be nice and golden brown on the outside.
- Pizza crescent rolls hold up for up to 4 hours at room temperature, so they’re a great option for a school lunch!
FAQ
I recommend filling and rolling the stuffed crescent rolls no longer than 4 hours in advance. Store them covered in the refrigerator and leave them on the counter while the oven preheats.
If the crescent rolls aren’t rolled tight enough, they will most likely fall apart. Roll tightly and tuck in the sides as you go. Practice makes perfect!
Pizza Crescent Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 tube refrigerated crescent rolls I use Pillsbury Original
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 24 slices pepperoni
- 8 cubes mozzarella cheese ½ inch
- 1-2 Tablespoons butter melted
- Prepared pizza sauce for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Unroll the crescent rolls and separate so that there are 8 triangles of dough.
- Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of Italian seasoning entirely over one side of each dough triangle.
- At the widest part of the triangle, add 3 slices of pepperoni on top of the seasoning (overlapping so that they fit within the dough's edges).
- Place 1 cube of cheese in the center of the pepperoni.
- Starting at the widest end of the dough, tightly roll up the crescents and seal all the edges to prevent cheese from escaping while baking.
- Place crescents on the prepared baking sheet and brush tops with melted butter.
- Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown. Brush tops again with the remaining melted butter.
- Warm up the pizza sauce in the microwave or on the stovetop. Serve crescents with the hot pizza sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
More Kid-Friendly Recipes
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- Mummy Hot Dogs are so fun to make and a great snack or appetizer. They are perfect for your next Halloween party.
- Yogurt Bark is made with fruit for a lighter and healthier snack. The kids will love helping to add the fruit and other toppings.
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