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Looking for a crowd-pleasing snack that tastes just like your favorite slice of pizza but you can enjoy with your hands? These Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels are irresistibly cheesy, saucy, and fun to eat, with crispy golden edges and all your favorite toppings rolled into every bite. They’re pure pizza joy in swirly, poppable form—perfect for parties, game day, or a cozy family movie night!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Making Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels calls for just a handful of reliable, flavor-packed ingredients. Each one—the dough, the sauce, the gooey cheese, and the salty, spicy pepperoni—brings its own special magic to these swirly snacks.

• Refrigerated pizza dough (or homemade): This is your shortcut to pillowy, golden pinwheels. Homemade dough works too—just use half a batch for one roll.
• Marinara sauce: Forms the saucy base for these pinwheels, and when jazzed up with simple herbs and spices, it tastes wonderfully fresh and zesty.
• Onion powder, dried basil, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper: These seasonings transform standard marinara into a quick, punchy pizza sauce.
• Fresh mozzarella cheese: Freshly grated makes all the difference for meltiness and those beautiful, stretchy cheese pulls.
• Parmesan cheese: Adds a savory, nutty depth and irresistible finish on every swirl.
• Pepperoni: Microwave it briefly to keep the pinwheels from getting greasy, and enjoy those craveable spicy, salty bites.
• Finely chopped green peppers (or your favorite chopped toppings): Adds a pop of color and crunch; swap in your go-to veggies or even some mushrooms if you like.

Variations

The real fun with Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels is you can tweak them a hundred different ways. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters, veggies lovers, or trying to use what’s in your fridge, these are endlessly flexible—so get creative and make them your own!

• Veggie Supreme: Skip the pepperoni and load up with sautéed mushrooms, red onion, black olives, and spinach for a meatless twist.
• Hawaiian-Style: Swap the green peppers for diced pineapple and add chopped cooked ham for sweet-and-savory pinwheels.
• Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pizza dough for the perfect snack for wheat-sensitive friends and family.
• Buffalo Kick: Drizzle a little buffalo sauce over the cheese layer and sprinkle with cooked chicken for a spicy, zesty variation!

How to Make Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels

Step 1: Prepare Your Dough and Oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper—this ensures easy lifting later. On a lightly floured sheet of parchment, roll out your pizza dough into a 12×16-inch rectangle. If you’re using homemade dough, just roll half the recipe for one batch of pinwheels. A gentle touch here keeps the dough soft and puffy.

Step 2: Whip Up the Easy Pizza Sauce

Quickly whisk together your marinara sauce and all the dry herbs and spices—onion powder, basil, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, along with salt, pepper, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. This takes less than a minute and makes your sauce taste like it simmered all day!

Step 3: Add the Saucy and Cheesy Layers

Spread about 3/4 cup of your pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border at the far long edge—this will help seal the rolls. Next, sprinkle mozzarella cheese right up to the edges, followed by the pepperoni (pro tip: microwave them on a paper towel for just 20 seconds to banish excess grease), chopped green peppers, and a shower of Parmesan.

Step 4: Roll Up & Slice

Now for the fun part! Starting with the long side closest to you, roll the dough up tightly like a jelly roll. Don’t stress if some filling tries to escape—just gently tuck it back in as you go, and pinch the seam closed. Using a sharp serrated knife, trim the uneven ends, then slice the roll into 12 equal pinwheels. Tip: halve the roll, then halve each half, and cut each piece into three for even slices.

Step 5: Bake and Enjoy

Place each pinwheel, swirl-side up, on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the dough is deeply golden and the cheese is bubbling and irresistible. Let them cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack—they’ll set up perfectly as they rest. Serve warm, with extra pizza sauce for dipping if you like!

How to Serve Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels

Garnishes

Nothing brightens up a platter of Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels quite like a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or basil. For a fun, extra-cheesy touch, give the tops a last dusting of Parmesan right out of the oven—it melts in just enough for a fabulous finish.

Side Dishes

Serve your pinwheels with little bowls of warm pizza sauce or ranch for dipping—they’re almost a must! For a more substantial spread, pair with a crisp Caesar salad, some roasted veggies, or a big bowl of minestrone soup. They also make a fantastic sidekick to a simple pasta dinner.

Creative Ways to Present

Arrange Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels in concentric circles on a large platter, or layer them in a bread basket lined with a checked napkin for that classic pizzeria vibe. For parties, spear each pinwheel with a fun party pick and serve with a trio of dipping sauces for extra flair.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, simply let the pinwheels cool to room temperature, then tuck them into an airtight container or zip-top bag. They’ll stay delightfully fresh and tasty in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezing

Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels freeze beautifully! Once baked and cooled, just pop them in a freezer bag and stash away. When you’re craving a quick snack, let them thaw and follow the reheating instructions—they’ll taste just as good as fresh.

Reheating

To bring back the irresistible crisp edges and melty centers, reheat pinwheels in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. This keeps them from getting soggy and makes them taste oven-fresh all over again!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I can’t recommend these Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels enough—whether you’re making them for a party, a quick family dinner, or even just because it’s Tuesday and pizza sounds good. Every swirl is packed with comfort and flavor, and the leftovers (if there are any) just might be even better. Give them a try: one batch and you’ll see why they’re a household favorite!

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