My pizza pinwheels recipe is the perfect combination of simple and tasty! These bite sized snacks are made with refrigerated crescent roll dough, pepperoni, pizza sauce, and melted cheese. So if you need a fun snack, appetizer, or simple meal, these pinwheels are a must make.

 

Football season is like a months long holiday in our house. From college matchups to professional games, we are always tuning in to cheer on our favorite teams – Go Lions! Game days aren’t just all about football. I also love all of the delicious food that makes watching the games extra special.

Out of all of the tasty dishes we make, and there are a lot, these pepperoni pinwheels have quickly become a favorite. They are everything we love about pizza, rolled up into a bite-sized roll, perfect for snacking.

I love that these pepperoni bites are easily customizable. My kids love classic pepperoni but you can get more creative with things like sausage, peppers, olives, and more. If we are hosting a crowd, I will often make several different ones for people to choose from.

These pinwheels are super easy to make but I am sharing some tips to make them even easier. Whether you are a seasoned chef or new to the kitchen, I will help you make these perfect every time.

If you like pepperoni like me, be sure to try this tortilla pizza, pepperoni pizza dip, and stromboli.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Great for any occasion. If you want a fun snack, need something for game day, or something to serve your guests, these are always a hit.
• Bite sized. A great hand held bite that also travels well.
• Customizable. You can make these your own by adding in extra pizza ingredients.
• Simple to put together. They are easy to make with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients

• Refrigerated crescent roll dough –
• Pepperoni – You can use small or large sliced pepperoni.
• Mozzarella cheese – I recommend using freshly shredded cheese for the best taste.
• Pizza sauce – Used for the pinwheels and dipping sauce.
• Butter – Unsalted butter is used to top the pinwheels while baking.
• Garlic powder and Italian seasoning

How to make pepperoni pinwheels

Skip to the bottom for the complete, printable recipe.

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Roll out the crescent dough on the parchment paper. Pinch together any of the seams to make one large piece of dough.
3. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on the dough. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

4. Layer on pepperoni slices and shredded mozzarella cheese.

5. Roll the dough tightly into a log. Cover with parchment and place in the freezer for an hour.
6. Slice into 1-inch pinwheels. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

7. Stir together melted butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Brush over the tops of the pinwheels.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Use freshly shredded cheese. I recommend shredding your own cheese for the best taste. You can use pre-shredded cheese if that’s what you have on hand.
• Roll tightly. Roll the dough as tightly as possible. You can use the parchment paper to help roll it over.
• Chill before slicing. Since the dough is so soft, I recommend freezing the rolled pinwheel before slicing. This helps them stay together.

How to serve pepperoni pinwheels

These pinwheels make a great snack, appetizer, lunch, and more. I like serving them with a side of pizza sauce, homemade ranch, or even garlic butter.

Variations

These pepperoni rolls are easy to customize.

• Dough: You can replace the crescent dough with refrigerated pizza dough or puff pastry dough.
• Filling: This recipe is can be customized with your favorite pizza toppings. Try ham, salami, Italian sausage, bacon, diced bell peppers, diced onions, or olives.
• Cheese: You can substitute mozzarella with cheese like colby jack, monterey jack, or provolone.

Storage

Store: Store these in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until warmed through.

Freeze: Let the pepperoni pinwheels completely cool. Place them on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer for about 1 hour. Put them in a freezer safe bag or airtight container. Thaw in the freezer overnight before baking.

Common questions

More easy pinwheel recipes

• Baked sausage pinwheels
• Dill pickle pinwheels
• Cranberry pinwheels
• Italian pinwheels
• Vegetable pinwheels