Melty String Cheese Pizza Roll Ups

Here is my go-to string cheese pizza roll ups recipe that combines melty mozzarella, pizza sauce, and your favorite toppings all wrapped up in soft pizza dough.

My kids absolutely love helping me make these for our Friday night movie nights, and they’re always excited to customize their own rolls with different ingredients. Plus, they’re perfect for little hands to dip and munch on while we watch our shows!

What Kind of String Cheese Should I Use?

Regular mozzarella string cheese is your best bet for these pizza roll ups, though you can experiment with different varieties if you’re feeling adventurous. Most grocery stores carry several brands of string cheese, and honestly, they’ll all work well in this recipe – just make sure you’re grabbing the full-fat version rather than low-fat alternatives, as it melts better and gives you that classic stretchy pizza cheese effect. If you want to switch things up, some brands offer string cheese made with a blend of mozzarella and cheddar, which can add a nice flavor twist to your roll ups. Just remember to let your string cheese come to room temperature before using it, as this helps it melt more evenly when baked.

Options for Substitutions

This fun recipe is pretty adaptable and you can make several swaps based on what you have in your fridge:

• Crescent rolls: While crescent rolls give the best flaky texture, you can use pizza dough or even puff pastry sheets instead. Just be sure to roll them thin enough to work with.
• String cheese: No string cheese? No worries! Cut regular mozzarella into stick-shaped pieces, or try other melting cheeses like cheddar or provolone. Just keep the size similar to string cheese.
• Mini pepperonis: Regular-sized pepperoni cut into smaller pieces works just fine. You can also use ham, cooked bacon bits, or leave the meat out for a vegetarian version.
• Italian seasoning: Out of Italian seasoning? Mix equal parts dried basil and oregano, or just use one of these herbs on its own. Even dried parsley will work in a pinch.
• Butter: Olive oil can replace the melted butter for brushing. If you’re dairy-free, use a plant-based butter alternative.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making pizza roll ups is preventing the cheese from leaking out during baking – make sure to seal the edges of your crescent rolls completely by pinching them firmly and rolling tightly around the string cheese. Another common mistake is overcrowding the baking sheet, which can lead to uneven cooking and soggy bottoms – leave about 2 inches of space between each roll up to allow proper air circulation. To get that perfect golden-brown finish, don’t skip brushing the tops with melted butter and Italian seasoning, but be careful not to oversaturate them as this can make the pastry too wet and greasy. For the crispiest results, place the roll ups on a lightly greased baking sheet or use parchment paper, and watch them closely during the last few minutes of baking since they can go from perfectly golden to burnt rather quickly.

What to Serve With Pizza Roll Ups?

These cheesy pizza roll ups are perfect for dipping, so I like to serve them with a side of warm marinara sauce for that classic pizza experience. Since they’re on the richer side, a simple green salad with Italian dressing helps balance out the meal and adds some fresh crunch. You could also put out some veggie sticks like carrots, celery, and bell peppers – they’re great for snacking and add nice color to the plate. For a casual movie night or game day spread, I’ll often serve these alongside some ranch dressing as an extra dipping option.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These pizza roll ups are best enjoyed right after baking, but if you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge. They’ll stay good for up to 3 days, though the crescent roll texture might soften a bit.

Make Ahead: You can prep these roll ups a few hours ahead of time! Just assemble them, place on your baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. When it’s time to cook, just brush with butter and pop them in the oven.

Warm Up: To get that fresh-baked taste back, warm refrigerated roll ups in the oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese gets melty again. A quick 20-30 seconds in the microwave works too, though the crescent rolls won’t be as crispy.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	10-12 minutes
Total Time	20-27 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 30-35 g
• Fat: 50-55 g
• Carbohydrates: 70-80 g

Ingredients

For the crescent rolls:

• 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks (halved for easier rolling)
• 1 tube crescent roll dough
• 1/2 cup small pepperoni slices (I use Hormel mini pepperoni)

For the buttery topping:

• 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter (I prefer Land O’Lakes)
• 1/2 tsp Italian herb seasoning

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and to make for easy cleanup.

Set the prepared baking sheet aside.

Step 2: Assemble the Crescent Rolls

• 1 tube (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 1/2 cup small pepperoni slices
• 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks, halved

Open the tube of crescent roll dough and separate it into eight individual triangles.

Place each triangle on a flat surface.

On each dough triangle, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of small pepperoni slices and place a halved mozzarella string cheese stick at the wider end.

I like to press the cheese stick down gently to make sure it stays in place while rolling.

Step 3: Roll and Bake the Crescent Rolls

• assembled rolls from Step 2

Starting at the wide end of each triangle, roll up the dough around the cheese and pepperoni, tucking in the ends to help seal them.

Place the rolls seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet, spaced a bit apart.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.

Step 4: Mix and Brush with Seasoned Butter

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

While the rolls are baking, in a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter and Italian seasoning.

Once the rolls are done and still warm, brush the tops with the butter mixture for added flavor.

For extra richness, I like to be generous with the butter brushing—it makes them taste amazing.

Step 5: Serve

Serve the crescent rolls immediately while the cheese is still gooey and warm.

These are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven.