What the heck is this?
Imagine all the best parts of a pepperoni pizza—melty cheese, zippy sauce, crispy crust—rolled up into golden, dippable bites of pure snack glory. That’s what these Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Roll-Ups are all about. We’re talking buttery crescent roll dough wrapped around gooey mozzarella, savory pepperoni, and a spoonful of marinara, then baked to bubbly, cheesy perfection. They’re party-ready, lunchbox-friendly, and basically guaranteed to vanish before they even hit the plate.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- All the flavor of a pizza, minus the delivery wait
- Kid-approved, adult-obsessed
- No yeast, no stress—just refrigerated dough magic
- Ready in 30 minutes flat
- Dippable, portable, and dangerously addictive
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
- 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough
- ½ cup marinara or pizza sauce (plus more for dipping)
- 24 slices pepperoni
- 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks (cut in half lengthwise and then crosswise = 16 pieces)
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: crushed red pepper, parsley for garnish
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Get prepped
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Open the crescent dough and separate it into 8 triangles.
Step 2: Layer the love
On the wide end of each triangle, spread a small spoonful of marinara. Add 3 slices of pepperoni and a piece of mozzarella. Roll it up gently, starting from the wide end, and tuck the sides slightly so the cheese stays in.
Step 3: Flavor bomb
Place the roll-ups seam-side down on the baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix melted butter with garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brush this all over the tops, then sprinkle with Parmesan.
Step 4: Bake and devour
Bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is bubbling out in all the right places. Let them cool for a couple of minutes, then serve with warm marinara on the side for dipping.
Serving Suggestions
Set out a plate of these with some toothpicks and a bowl of sauce and just stand back. They make the perfect game day snack, quick dinner with a salad, or after-school treat. Want to get fancy? Serve with a trio of dips—ranch, pesto, and spicy marinara.
Switch It Up
- Swap pepperoni for cooked sausage, ham, or sautéed mushrooms
- Use cheddar, provolone, or a mozzarella-provolone blend
- Add chopped olives or banana peppers inside for some zing
- Make it spicy with hot honey drizzled on top after baking
Make-Ahead Tips
Roll them up and refrigerate (unbaked) up to 6 hours in advance. Just bake when ready to serve. You can also freeze baked roll-ups—just reheat in the oven at 350°F for 8–10 minutes until warmed through.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I use puff pastry instead of crescent rolls?
A: Yep! Just cut the puff pastry into squares, fill, fold over, and seal. Bake at 400°F until golden.
Q: Will these work in an air fryer?
A: Totally. Air fry at 350°F for 8–10 minutes. Check early so they don’t overbrown.
Q: Can I make these vegetarian?
A: Absolutely—skip the pepperoni and add veggies like bell peppers or spinach instead.
Q: What if my cheese oozes out?
A: It might. That’s part of the charm! But you can pinch the dough edges tighter or freeze the cheese pieces for 10 minutes first to help prevent it.
Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Roll-Ups: The Snack That Disappears First (Every Time)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 roll-ups 1x
Description
Imagine all the best parts of a pepperoni pizza—melty cheese, zippy sauce, crispy crust—rolled up into golden, dippable bites of pure snack glory. That’s what these Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Roll-Ups are all about. We’re talking buttery crescent roll dough wrapped around gooey mozzarella, savory pepperoni, and a spoonful of marinara, then baked to bubbly, cheesy perfection. They’re party-ready, lunchbox-friendly, and basically guaranteed to vanish before they even hit the plate.
Ingredients
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough
½ cup marinara or pizza sauce (plus more for dipping)
24 slices pepperoni
4 mozzarella string cheese sticks (cut in half lengthwise and then crosswise = 16 pieces)
1 tbsp melted butter
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: crushed red pepper, parsley for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Get prepped
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Open the crescent dough and separate it into 8 triangles.
Step 2: Layer the love
On the wide end of each triangle, spread a small spoonful of marinara. Add 3 slices of pepperoni and a piece of mozzarella. Roll it up gently, starting from the wide end, and tuck the sides slightly so the cheese stays in.
Step 3: Flavor bomb
Place the roll-ups seam-side down on the baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix melted butter with garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brush this all over the tops, then sprinkle with Parmesan.
Step 4: Bake and devour
Bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is bubbling out in all the right places. Let them cool for a couple of minutes, then serve with warm marinara on the side for dipping.
Notes
Swap pepperoni for cooked sausage, ham, or sautéed mushrooms
Use cheddar, provolone, or a mozzarella-provolone blend
Add chopped olives or banana peppers inside for some zing
Make it spicy with hot honey drizzled on top after baking
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~220 kcal
- Fat: ~14g
- Carbohydrates: ~8g
- Protein: ~14g