Description
These Italian Sausage Pizza Rolls are a delicious handheld treat featuring savory Italian sausage, gooey mozzarella, and tangy pizza sauce wrapped in soft pizza dough. Perfect for appetizers, snacks, or game-day bites, they bake to golden perfection with a crispy edge and melty center, served with extra sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Rolls
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup pizza sauce (plus more for dipping)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash)
- Flour (for dusting)
- Fresh basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- Cook Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until it is browned and fully cooked, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once done, remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly to avoid melting the cheese too early.
- Prepare Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle approximately 10 by 14 inches, ensuring even thickness for consistent baking.
- Add Toppings: Evenly spread the pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese, cooled cooked sausage, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using.
- Roll Dough: Starting from the long edge, carefully roll the dough into a tight log shape. Pinch the seam well to seal and place the roll seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Slice Rolls: Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 10 to 12 even pieces and arrange them cut-side up on the baking sheet with some space between each.
- Apply Egg Wash and Oil: Brush the tops of each roll with the beaten egg to give a golden, glossy finish, then drizzle lightly with olive oil to enhance browning and flavor.
- Bake: Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until they are golden brown, bubbly, and cooked through.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove from the oven and let the rolls cool slightly. Garnish with fresh basil if desired and serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
Notes
- These rolls can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated unbaked for up to 24 hours; bake them fresh when ready.
- For variety, substitute Italian sausage with pepperoni slices or sautéed mushrooms.
- Serve these pizza rolls as a tasty appetizer, a savory lunch option, or a crowd-pleasing game-day snack.
