This simple Pizza Pinwheels Recipe, made with crescent roll dough, makes the perfect appetizer or snack for parties, game day, or movie night. Rolled up with pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings, they can be ready in just about 20 minutes flat.
Pair them with a side of marinara or ranch for dipping. Follow along and I’ll show you some easy recipe variations and a few tips to make them come out perfect every time.
Pizza Pinwheels Recipe
When you want an appetizer that is homemade but low maintenance, always have a can of refrigerated crescent rolls on hand. These pizza pinwheels are one of my favs. They’re quick enough to whip together as an afternoon snack, but delicious enough to serve at a party.
I kept this recipe about as Plain Jane and kid-friendly as you can get, but don’t be afraid to jazz them up a little, too. Below, you will find plenty of ideas for different sauces, cheeses, and toppings to alter your Pizza Pinwheels depending on the preferences of who you are serving.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy– Only minutes to prep and bake- these are perfect for busy schedules or lat-minute snacking.
- Crowd-Pleaser- Always a hit with kids, teens, and adults. Great for potlucks, parties, and lunchboxes.
- Snack or Main- Serve as an appetizer, after-school snack, or a playful lunch with salad or fruit.
Key Ingredients
- Refrigerated Crescent Rolls – this is by far the simplest option. You could also make these with homemade pizza dough if you wanted.
- Pepperoni – for these tiny appetizers, you will want to chop the pepperoni.
- Pizza Sauce – use your favorite pizza or marinara sauce, or even make your own.
- Cheese – this recipe calls for mozzarella, but we will also often use an Italian cheese blend.
- Parsley – chopped fresh parsley is a nice, but optional, garnish to add to the baked pinwheels.
How to Make Pizza Pinwheels
- Prepare the dough. Unroll the crescent rolls onto a lightly floured surface and gently press the perforations together to create one large sheet of dough.
- Add the toppings. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the entire sheet of dough, then sprinkle with pepperoni and shredded cheese.
- Roll and cut. Starting at the long side, roll the dough up into a long tube, then slice into 3/4″ slices (you should get between 6-8). Place the pinwheels cut-side down onto a baking sheet that has been spray with nonstick spray or lined with parchment paper.
- Bake. Bake for about 13-17 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes, then sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Buffalo Chicken: Toss shredded cooked chicken in buffalo sauce and spread it over the dough. Add blue cheese crumbles and diced celery before rolling.
- Spinach and Artichoke: Mix chopped cooked spinach and artichoke hearts with cream cheese or ricotta. Spread the mixture on the dough and roll.
- Taco: Seasoned ground beef, salsa, shredded cheese, and diced tomatoes make a delicious taco-inspired filling for pinwheels.
- Breakfast: Fill the pinwheels with scrambled eggs, cooked breakfast sausage, and cheddar cheese for a tasty morning treat.
- Veggie: Top with your favorite veggies like peppers, broccoli, and onions.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overfill- Too much sauce or cheese can make the pinwheels ooze or unravel. Use thin layers for the best results.
- Slice evenly- Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into even rounds. If they aren’t the same size, they won’t bake evenly.
- Bake on parchment- this keeps cleanups easy and prevents sticking.
- Freeze for easy slicing- After you roll the dough, try freezing the roll for about 20 minutes before slicing. It will help the Pizza Pinwheels keep their shape.
- Make them bigger– If you want to make these bigger, you can roll from the short side instead. You will just need to adjust the bake time slightly.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerator: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: reheat in the microwave or in a preheated 350 degree oven.
- Make-ahead: If you want to get a head start, you can easily make these ahead of time. Just make, shape, and cut your pinwheels, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, toss them into a freezer bag and store for up to 1 month. To bake, let them thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as directed.
More Crescent Roll Recipes You’ll Love
Pizza Pinwheels Recipe
These simple pizza pinwheels make the perfect appetizer or snack for parties, game day or movie night. They’re made with crescent roll dough, pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings and can be ready in just about 20 minutes flat.
Yields people
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 1/2 cup pepperoni, chopped into 1/2" pieces
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons parsley, fresh chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Unroll the crescent rolls onto a lightly floured surface and gently press the perforations together to create one large sheet of dough.
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the entire sheet of dough, then sprinkle with pepperoni and shredded cheese.
- Starting at the long edge, roll the dough up into a long tube, then slice into 3/4" slices (you should get between 6-8). Place the pinwheels cut-side down onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in your preheated oven for about 13-17 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes, then sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Storing leftovers: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating: reheat in the microwave or in a preheated 350 degree oven.
Make-ahead tips: you can make, shape, and cut your pinwheels, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, toss them into a freezer bag and store for up to 1 month. To bake, let them thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as directed.
Nutrition
Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 515mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg
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More Homemade Pizza Recipes
- Pizza Monkey Bread
- Homemade Taco Pizza
- French Bread Pizza Recipe
- Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza
- Combination Pizza Recipe
- Fruit Pizza
- Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza
- More Appetizer Ideas
- More Quick Dinner Ideas
Made with just 4 ingredients, this Pizza Pinwheels recipe really couldn’t be more simple or adaptable. Serve them up with a little marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping and wowza!
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My kids helped with these and they loved them. Thanks for sharing!
My family loved these delicious appetizers!