Pizza Pinwheels

These delicious pizza pinwheels are the perfect crowd-pleaser! With simple ingredients, they’re quick to prepare—perfect for Game Day snacks or a fun, fuss-free dinner.

Who doesn’t love pizza, and even better, little rolled pizzas with layers of cheese, crispy pepperoni, and pizza sauce? These pepperoni pizza pinwheels make great appetizers.  

Making these pizza pinwheels is quick and easy, so you can make them when guests arrive or even during the game. With only about 5 minutes of prep, you won’t miss any action. This recipe is made with ready-to-go ingredients such as jarred pizza sauce and pre-made pizza dough to minimize prep time.

Aside from Game Day, these pinwheels also make incredibly easy dinners!

Why These Pizza Pinwheels Are the Perfect Appetizer

What’s not to love about a pizza pinwheel? These pizza pinwheels are:

• Delicious: The pinwheels are not only aesthetically appealing, but they are also full of flavor thanks to the pepperoni, cheese, and pizza dough. 
• Quick and easy to make: Pizza pinwheels are an excellent appetizer or party snack that takes less than 30 minutes to make. You can make a tasty batch of these pinwheels using store-bought pizza dough, your favorite jarred pizza sauce, and toppings you like in no time. 
• Customizable: You can use whatever toppings you have on hand, or you like. Use ham, sausages, cooked chicken, ground beef, or bacon crumbles instead of pepperoni. Love vegetables? Pile on the onions, peppers, and mushrooms. Looking for a flavor twist? Substitute regular pizza sauce with creamy Alfredo sauce, pesto, or BBQ sauce.  With this basic Pizza Pinwheels recipe, the possibilities are endless and so is the deliciousness!
• Freeze beautifully: In addition to being a fantastic freezer meal, this recipe is also the easiest way to prepare a quick kids’ lunch or toddler dinner in advance. 
• Perfect for all occasions: Movie night? Late-night study sessions? Saturday board games with friends? Make some pizza dough pinwheels. They’re perfect for game days, lunches, and appetizers.  

Pizza Pinwheel Ingredients 

• Refrigerated Pizza Crust: You can use pre-roll store-bought pizza dough or try making your own with this Pizza Dough Recipe—it adds a fresh, homemade flavor to your pinwheels. When rolling out the dough, make sure to lightly flour your surface to avoid sticking. 
• All-Purpose Flour: Just a sprinkle is all you need to dust your work surface to prevent sticking.
• Jarred Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite pizza sauce. If you like a more herbaceous flavor or a little chunkier texture, marinara sauce is also a delicious substitute. Want to add a unique touch? For a deeper flavor, try making your own sauce.
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Freshly shredded mozzarella adds a rich, creamy, and buttery touch. It also melts better and tastes much better, which is equally important. 
• Pepperoni Slices: I just used pepperoni, but feel free to get creative with toppings!

Variations in Pizza Pinwheel Stuffings

It’s okay if you don’t like pepperoni! This recipe can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some tasty options you might want to try:

• Add fresh basil and garlic.
• Use finely sliced onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, and mushrooms to make a vegetarian version.
• Layer on some crumbled sausage.
• Add some thinly sliced pineapple and ham for an authentic Hawaiian twist. 
• Instead of marinara, use pesto, and then layer thinly sliced tomatoes on the dough.
• A light brush of melted butter and a dusting of Parmesan before baking also adds a golden, savory finish.

How To Make Pizza Pinwheels

1. Preheat the oven to 425º F.
2. Unroll the pizza dough onto a lightly floured cutting board (to prevent sticking).
3. Evenly top with pizza sauce, leaving about 1 inch of dough on the edges.
4. Sprinkle with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese, then top with the desired amount of pepperoni slices.
5. Tightly roll the pizza dough from one edge to the other. Cut the roll into 1-inch slices. Place flat sides down onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet at least 1 inch apart.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the dough is golden and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This pizza pinwheel recipe is great for preparing in advance.

To prepare in advance in the refrigerator: After slicing pizza wheels according to the recipe, store them (covered) in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days. When ready, bake according to the recipe directions.

To freeze in advance: Wrap pizza pinwheel slices individually in plastic wrap or cling film. Transfer them all to a large Ziplock bag or an airtight container, label it, and freeze. They will last well for up to 3 months in the freezer.   

Serving and Pairing Suggestions 

I love serving these pizza pinwheels with marinara sauce. But they’re equally delicious served with:

• Ranch
• Pesto
• Garlic Butter Dip
• Alfredo Sauce
• Jalapeno sauce

To complete the feast, consider serving your pepperoni pizza pinwheels with the following:

• A refreshing salad like this Coleslaw Salad
• A salad consisting of grains, such as this Mexican Street Corn Salad
• A bowl of comforting soup Cauliflower and Leek Soup or French Onion Soup

Storage Tips  

Let the baked pinwheels cool completely to room temperature. After that, keep them in the refrigerator for up to five days in an airtight container. 

To freeze, spread pizza pinwheels on a baking tray and put it in the freezer. Once hardened, put them in Ziploc bags and seal them. When ready to eat, defrost and bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, or until heated through. 

Helpful Tips

• Plan Ahead. When making pinwheels, the pizza dough must be warm and easily stretchable. Don’t try to prepare this with dough straight from the refrigerator. The dough will be more manageable if it is removed a few hours in advance.   
• Don’t stress about the measurements. I used pre-rolled pizza dough, but you can also roll your own. The uneven ends will be cut off, so you don’t need to worry about precise measurements or a completely rectangular shape. Plus, it should be fun to make and eat pizza pinwheels! 
• Leave a 1-inch border on your dough. When you spread the pizza sauce make sure to leave a 1-inch border on the edges of the dough; this will be used to seal the rolled-up dough. As you roll up the dough, the fillings will naturally slide forward, giving you a bit more room to fit all your fillings.
• Roll tightly, or at least try to. Roll up the dough tightly, beginning with the longest side that is facing you. Pinch any toppings that attempt to slip out as you roll. It takes some patience to roll up the dough from left to right, but I ensure it is easy and doesn’t have to be perfect! If the Pizza Pinwheels appear to be loose after being cut, you can secure the end of the pizza dough and wrap them more tightly.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the dough. To cut through all the layers, a serrated knife is the preferred tool.
• Bake till golden. When the cheese is ooey-gooey and the dough is golden, the Pizza Pinwheels are ready, as each oven cooks differently.
• Let them cool. As the dough will be a little soft right out of the oven, let the Pinwheels cool for five minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to firm up a bit more. 

FAQ’s

What Is Rolled-Up Pizza Called?

Stromboli is the rolled-up cousin of pizza; it makes an excellent shared appetizer and is easy to eat with your hands. Plus, you can feed a large crowd with only one recipe! 

What Toppings Go On Pizza Pinwheels?

I filled these pizza pinwheels with slices of pepperoni and freshly shredded mozzarella cheese (as it melts the nicest!). To make them vegetarian, you can omit the pepperoni and use your preferred vegetable pizza toppings, such as onions, bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, or olives.

How Long Do I Cook Pinwheels?

Once the oven is preheated, place the pinwheels inside and bake until the cheese is ooey-gooey, and the dough is golden. As every oven is different, the exact baking time may vary. I baked them for 12–15 minutes.

How To Prevent Greasy Pizza Pinwheels?

To avoid greasy Pizza Pinwheels, it is suggested to microwave the pepperoni slices first and then dab off any excess grease. 

How To Reheat Pizza Pinwheels?

To keep pizza pinwheels fresh, keep them at room temperature in an airtight container. They’ll stay good for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. To reheat them, bake them in the oven at 190°C on a baking sheet covered with baking paper for 10 minutes, or until heated through. Avoid using a microwave because it may soften the dough. 

Looking For More Appetizer Recipes?

Try these popular recipes on the blog:

• Instant Pot Tamales with Chicken
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Mushroom Tart
• Grilled Pork Satay Skewers
• Salami and Cream Cheese Pinwheels
• Mini Cheeseburger Muffins

Pizza Pinwheels

Written by Matt | Plating Pixels

These delicious pizza pinwheels are the perfect crowd-pleaser! They’re made with store-bought ingredients and take only minutes to prepare.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Pizza

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 8 pinwheels

Calories 251 kcal

Equipment

• Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 13- ounces refrigerated pizza crust from roll or homemade
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups jarred pizza sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 to 3 ounces pepperoni slices about 30 pieces

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 425º F.
• Unroll the pizza dough onto a lightly floured cutting board (to prevent sticking). Evenly top with pizza sauce, leaving about 1 inch of dough on the edges.
• Sprinkle with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese, then top with the desired amount of pepperoni slices.
• Tightly roll the pizza dough from one edge to the other. Cut the roll into 1-inch slices. Place flat sides down onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet at least 1-inch apart.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until dough is golden and cheese is melted. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Pizza Pinwheels

Serving Size

 

1 pinwheel

Amount per Serving

Calories

251

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

11

g

17

%

Saturated Fat

 

5

g

31

%

Trans Fat

 

0.1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Cholesterol

 

29

mg

10

%

Sodium

 

838

mg

36

%

Potassium

 

179

mg

5

%

Carbohydrates

 

27

g

9

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

5

g

6

%

Protein

 

12

g

24

%

Vitamin A

 

388

IU

8

%

Vitamin C

 

3

mg

4

%

Calcium

 

149

mg

15

%

Iron

 

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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