Have you ever wanted to make homemade pizza bites or pizza rolls? If your answer is yes, you've come to the right place! In this post, we're going to show you how to easily make Pizza Bites using crescent roll dough and a muffin tin.
This recipe takes everything you know and love about pizza, and combines it into a perfectly portioned handheld appetizer! We use marinara sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and of course... crescent roll dough to make these popular bites.
Okay, that's enough for an intro! Let's jump right into the recipe and some important notes you should know before starting.
Ingredients
Before starting this recipe, you'll want to verify that you have the following ingredients:
- Crescent Roll Dough - We use Pillsbury brand dough and recommend you do the same. We've tried different brands in the past and noticed that they don't bake up as well as Pillsbury does. The Pillsbury Grands! XL Crescent Rolls work even better because they are larger and can hold more filling.
- Marinara Sauce - You can also use pasta sauce or pizza sauce if you'd like. However, make sure the sauce you use isn't too watery. Thicker sauces will perform better in this recipe.
- Mozzarella Cheese Sticks - Cheese sticks are a perfect size (width) for this recipe after cutting them into 1 inch long pieces. You can also use a cut up a ball of mozzarella if that's what you prefer.
- Pepperoni - We like to use mini pepperonis in our pizza bites because they don't require any cutting. However, you can use full-size pepperoni slices and cut them to fit inside the pockets. Also, keep in mind that pepperoni is optional. You can omit it altogether or substitute it with cooked sausage, ground beef, or something else you're craving.
- Butter - Butter is melted and brushed onto the raw dough before baking. This ensures that the bites bake into a beautiful golden brown flaky crust.
- Italian Herbs - We sprinkle Italian herbs on the crescent dough before baking to add a delicious depth of Italian flavor.
Equipment and Supplies Needed
We used the following equipment and supplies to make this recipe. Items that are optional or can be substituted will be noted.
- 12-Count Standard Muffin Tin - If you use a silicone pan they will pop out so easily without baking spray or the need for a plastic knife.
- Cutting Board - To cut the cheese pieces.
- Knife - Both a plastic knife to help remove the bites (metal pan), and a chef's knife to cut the cheese.
- Spoon - To spoon in the marinara sauce.
- Pastry brush - Used to brush the melted butter onto the dough
- Conventional oven - Preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with the rack positioned in the center of the oven.
Recipe Tips
This recipe is easy to make if you know the right tips and tricks! Here are my tips for ensuring your Pizza Bites come out perfectly.
Avoid Shredded Cheese
Bagged pre-shredded cheese from the market is not recommended in this recipe because it often contains an anti-sticking agent like cellulose or starch. This will cause the cheese to not melt smooth and creamy.
Serve Warm for Best Taste
These pizza bites taste the best when warm out of the oven. While you can store them in the refrigerator or freezer, any baked crescent dough tends to lose its flakiness and airy texture once it sits for a while. Plus, the cheese & pepperoni pull are the best with this recipe!
Storage
If you want to store your Crescent Dough Pizza Bites, just follow these easy steps.
Refrigerator
Store macaroni and cheese portions in an airtight container (once fully cooled) and refrigerate for up to 4 days for best taste. To reheat, simply microwave on a microwave-safe plate for 1 minute per cup.
Freezing
Remove pepperoni & cheese bites from the muffin pan, and line them on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 4-6 hours until frozen, and then store them in an airtight container or zippered bag for up to 3 months.
To enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator until no longer frozen. Heat (uncovered) in the microwave for 1 minute per cup. For best taste, the toaster oven heating method will work best to help them crisp up a bit. Toast them for 2-3 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Recipe
Follow the recipe below to make Pepperoni Cheese Crescent Bites! This recipe makes 8 SERVINGS, but you can adjust the recipe card for other serving sizes.
Crescent Roll Pizza Bites
Equipment
- muffin tin - silicone, or metal
- pastry brush
- spoon
- cutting board
- plastic knife
- cutting knife
- oven
Ingredients
- 1 tube Pillsbury Grands! XL Crescent Rolls
- 2 sticks mozzarella string cheese 2 sticks cut into 4 even pieces
- 8 ounces marinara
- 32 slices pepperoni
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ teaspoon Italian Herbs
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F and adjust your oven to the middle rack.
- Spray a muffin tin with non stick baking spray if using a metal pan.
- Open your crescent dough and lay each triangle over an open muffin tin space.
- Add one teaspoon of sauce to each triangle
- Add two pieces of pepperoni, then one piece of cheese, followed by 2 more pieces to cover it
- Wrap each triangle over and fold into a ball. It is okay if there is some openings. These will bake up perfectly.
- Brush with butter and sprinkle on herbs.
- Bake for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown, and firm to the touch.
- Enjoy while still warm and gooey.
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