Making a quick snack for the family doesn't have to be a chore. This homemade pepperoni bread recipe uses simple ingredients to get a warm, cheesy meal on the table in about 40 minutes.
Why You'll Love This Easy Appetizer
- Ready in 40 Minutes: Using store-bought (or pre-made) pizza dough makes this lightning fast. It's the perfect last-minute party snack.
- Freezer Friendly: You can assemble and freeze these loaves uncooked, then just bake them fresh for your party. No thawing required!
- Crowd Pleaser: It’s essentially a rolled-up pepperoni pizza—kids and adults both love it. It's always the first thing to disappear at a potluck.
What You Will Need
- 2 oz Pizza Dough: Provides the structure. Store-bought is a great time-saver.
- 2-3 oz Pepperoni: Quartering the slices ensures you get savory flavor in every single bite.
- 8 oz Mozzarella: Gives that classic cheesy pull.
- Olive Oil & Spices: Creates a golden, flavorful crust.
Dough for the Pepperoni Bread
The dough for the pepperoni bread can be purchased at stores such as Trader Joe's or you can make your own. Here is a link to my pizza dough recipe. It needs to rise for an hour. Either way you get your dough, all you need to do is to roll the dough out to 12 inches by 10 inches. Just make sure that when you roll it out that it is not sticking to the surface it is on. I roll it out on a piece of parchment paper greased with a touch of olive oil. You can look in the video posted above that it makes it easier to flip onto your pizza stone or baking sheet.
Making the Easy Pepperoni Bread Recipe
- Prep the Surface: Lay out a sheet of parchment paper and lightly coat it with olive oil. Roll your dough into a 12x10 inch rectangle.
- Layer the Filling: Place the pepperoni pieces evenly across the dough. Cover the pepperoni with a layer of shredded mozzarella.
- Fold the Dough: Lift one long side of the dough and fold it one-third of the way over. Roll it again to finish the log.
- Seal and Transfer: Move the log to your baking sheet using the parchment paper. Pinch the ends and the long seam very tightly. Turn the bread so the seam is on the bottom.
- Season: Coat the top with olive oil. Dust it with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Bake: Place in a 400°F oven for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown.
Tips for Pepperoni Bread Success
- Seal the Seams: Pinch the dough tightly closed and always bake seam-side down. This ensures the cheese stays inside the bread, not on your baking sheet.
- Use Parchment Paper: Rolling the dough out on the parchment paper makes it incredibly easy to lift and flip onto your baking sheet without tearing.
- Let it Rest: Let the baked bread rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. This allows the cheese to set slightly so it doesn't run out when you cut it.
Freezing the Pepperoni Bread
I froze a pepperoni bread that was not cooked, oiled, or seasoned. Place it uncovered on a parchment lined baking tray and place it in the freezer for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, wrap it well and place it back in the freezer. This is flash freezing. To cook a frozen loaf just thaw completely, brush on the olive oil, sprinkle with spices, and bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes. I kept one in the freezer for two months. I am sure they will be good for up to three months.
Try my garlic cream sauce as a dip for the pepperoni bread. The sauce is ready in only 8 minutes!
Pepperoni Bread is also a great pairing with my buffalo meatball recipe for your football parties!
Your kids will love this recipe. Try my Easy Sloppy Joe recipe for another kid friendly meal!
FAQ's:
This recipe is incredibly quick, taking only 40 minutes from start to finish, making it a perfect last-minute appetizer for parties or family meals.
Yes, absolutely! You can flash freeze an uncooked, unoiled, and unseasoned loaf for 40 minutes, then wrap it well and store it in the freezer for up to three months.
You can either purchase pre-made pizza dough from stores like Trader Joe’s for convenience, or you can use your own homemade pizza dough recipe.
When folding the dough, use the parchment paper to help you fold it in thirds. Make sure to pinch the ends and the seam made from rolling the dough very tightly to keep all the filling tucked inside.
Pepperoni bread is great on its own as an appetizer. You can also serve it with a dipping sauce, such as your garlic cream sauce, for added flavor.
Yes! This cheese and pepperoni bread is a great kid-friendly recipe. Kids often love the familiar flavors of pepperoni and cheese in a fun, easy-to-eat format.
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Recipe
Easy Cheesy Pepperoni Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounce pizza dough
- 2-3 ounces of sliced and quartered pepperoni
- 8 ounces of shredded mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
- ½ teaspoon of cracked black pepper
Method
- On a piece of lightly oiled parchment paper, roll out pizza dough to 12 inches x 10 inches.
- Spread pepperoni out evenly over dough then sprinkle cheese over pepperoni evenly.
- Fold one third of the long side of the dough towards the middle. Then fold again to complete the roll. Refer to the video to see how this works.
- Using the parchment paper, roll over onto your pizza stone or baking sheet. Fold up and pinch close the ends and pinch close the seam to keep cheese from escaping.
- Brush olive oil over the top. Then sprinkle on garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper over the top.
- Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes
Nutrition
Notes
- Scaling Tip for Meal Prep: To prep for a full work week, double the recipe and bake two loaves at once. Once cooled, slice the bread and portion it into containers for an easy grab-and-go lunch.
- Resting: Always let the bread sit for 5 minutes after baking to help the cheese stay put.
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