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    Home » Appetizers

    Pizza Pinwheels

    By Jill Baird · Published August 19, 2021 · Updated February 20, 2023 · 2 Comments

    pizza pinwheels made with pillsbury crescent rolls dough

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    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.

    Jump to:
    • Easy Pizza Pinwheels with Pepperoni
    • Ingredients in Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels
    • How to Make Pizza Pinwheels
    • Variations
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Make-Ahead Pizza Pinwheels
    • Pizza Pinwheels Recipe

    Easy Pizza Pinwheels with Pepperoni

    When you want an appetizer that is homemade but low maintenance these Pizza Pinwheels really hit the spot. Made with just 4 ingredients, they couldn’t be more simple or adaptable.  Serve them up with a little marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping and wowza!

    We kept this example recipe about as Plain Jane and kid-friendly as you can get, but don’t be afraid to jazz them up a little, too.  We’ve given you plenty of ideas for different sauces, cheeses, and toppings to alter your Pizza Pinwheels depending on the preferences of who you are serving.

    Pizza Pinwheels topped with pepperoni and fresh parsley.

    Ingredients in Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels

    • 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

    1. 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.
    2. Add the toppings.  Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the entire sheet of dough, then sprinkle with pepperoni and shredded cheese.
    3. Roll and cut.  Starting at the long side, roll the dough up into a long tube, then slice into ¾" 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.
    4. Bake.  Bake for about 13-17 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.
    5. 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!

    Three photos showing the steps for adding the sauce and toppings to the pizza dough.

    Variations

    There are unlimited different sauces, cheeses and toppings that you could add to your Pizza Pinwheels.  Pretty much anything you would put on a pizza, you can put into these.  We love Pesto Pinwheels too. Here are a few more ideas to get you started:

    Sauce

    • Buffalo Sauce
    • Pesto
    • Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce
    • Ranch
    • BBQ Sauce

    Cheese

    • Pepper Jack
    • Parmesan
    • Cheddar
    • Gruyere
    • Monterey Jack

    Pizza Toppings

    • Meats (ground beef, bacon bits, shredded chicken, ham)
    • Vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, jalapenos, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions)
    • Seasoning (fresh basil, fresh or dried oregano, chives, red pepper flakes)

    Dips 

    • Homemade Pizza Sauce
    • Easy Alfredo Sauce
    • Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo
    • Ranch Dressing
    • Mix half alfredo and half Pesto Sauce

    Tips and Tricks

    • After you roll the dough, try freezing the roll for about 20 minutes before slicing.  It will help the Pizza Pinwheels keep their shape.
    • 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.
    • The raw pinwheels freeze great so if you plan on making them ahead of time, you might as well double (or even triple!) the recipe.

    Three photos showing the pizza dough roll, the pizza roll sliced and the baked Pizza Pinwheels on a sheet tray.

    Make-Ahead Pizza Pinwheels

    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. Easy peasy!

    pizza pinwheel recipe
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    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.
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 180kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 1 can Refrigerated Crescent Rolls
    • ½ cup Pizza Sauce any brand
    • ½ cup Pepperoni chopped into ½" pieces
    • 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese or Italian Cheese blend
    • 2 tablespoons Parsley fresh, chopped for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Spray a baking sheet with non-stick 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 ¾" slices (you should get between 6-8). Place the pinwheels cut-side down onto the prepared baking sheet.
    • Bake 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!

    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

    More Pizza Appetizers and Entrees

    • 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

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    Pinterest pin for Pizza Pinwheels.

    Made with just 4 ingredients, these Pizza Pinwheels 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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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Allison

      August 19, 2021 at 11:34 am

      My kids helped with these and they loved them. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Diana

      August 19, 2021 at 10:34 am

      My family loved these delicious appetizers!

      Reply

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    111 shares