Coming up with crowd-pleasing snacks for after-school activities or weekend game nights can feel like a real puzzle. Between juggling homework help, sports practices, and trying to avoid the usual bag of chips routine, finding something that’s both fun and filling isn’t always easy – especially when you’re short on time and energy.
That’s where these pizza crescent rolls come to the rescue: they’re quick to put together, totally kid-friendly, and can be customized with whatever toppings you happen to have in the fridge. Plus, they’re the perfect size for little hands and hungry teenagers alike.
Why You’ll Love These Pizza Crescent Rolls
- Kid-friendly fun – These pizza rolls are perfect for little helpers in the kitchen – kids love rolling up the crescents and adding their favorite toppings.
- Quick preparation – With just 20-30 minutes from start to finish and pre-made crescent dough, you can have these ready faster than delivery pizza.
- Simple ingredients – You only need 6 basic ingredients that you can easily find at any grocery store, and most of them have a long shelf life.
- Perfect for snacking – These handheld bites work great as an after-school snack, party appetizer, or fun weekend lunch – plus they’re dippable, which makes them even more fun to eat.
What Kind of Crescent Roll Dough Should I Use?
Regular refrigerated crescent roll dough from the grocery store works perfectly for this recipe, and you’ll find it in the dairy case near the butter and eggs. While name brands like Pillsbury are popular choices, store brands work just as well and often cost less. For the best results, make sure to keep the dough chilled until you’re ready to use it – warm dough can get sticky and harder to work with. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could use homemade crescent dough, but the convenience and reliability of store-bought makes it an ideal choice for this quick recipe.
Options for Substitutions
Need to switch things up with these pizza rolls? Here are some helpful substitutions you can try:
- Crescent roll dough: While crescent dough gives the best flaky texture, you can use pizza dough or puff pastry instead. Just roll it thin and cut into triangles before using.
- String cheese: No string cheese? No worries! Cut regular mozzarella into sticks, or try other melty cheeses like cheddar, provolone, or even pepper jack for a spicy kick.
- Pepperoni: Feel free to swap pepperoni with other toppings like cooked Italian sausage, ham, or even vegetables like spinach or mushrooms (just make sure they’re pre-cooked and patted dry).
- Pizza sauce: Regular marinara sauce works great here, or try ranch dressing, garlic butter, or even buffalo sauce for dipping if you want to mix things up.
- Parmesan cheese: Romano or Asiago cheese can replace parmesan, or you can skip it altogether – the rolls will still be tasty!
- Garlic powder: Italian seasoning or dried basil make good alternatives, or use finely minced fresh garlic for extra flavor.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when making pizza crescent rolls is managing the temperature of your dough – working with warm crescent roll dough leads to sticky, hard-to-handle rolls that won’t seal properly around the fillings. Keep the dough chilled until right before you’re ready to use it, and if it starts getting too warm while you’re working, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes.
Another common mistake is overstuffing the crescents – while it’s tempting to pack in extra cheese and pepperoni, this can cause the rolls to burst open during baking and create a messy leak. For perfect sealing, make sure to firmly pinch all edges and seams closed, and consider giving them a quick egg wash to help achieve that golden-brown crust.
The final key to success is proper spacing on your baking sheet – these rolls need room to expand, so leave at least 2 inches between each one to prevent them from sticking together as they puff up in the oven.
What to Serve With Pizza Crescent Rolls?
These pizza crescent rolls make a great appetizer or snack, but you can easily turn them into a complete meal with a few simple sides. A crisp Caesar salad or mixed green salad with Italian dressing makes the perfect fresh companion to these cheesy rolls. Since these are on the heavier side, I like to balance them out with some raw veggie sticks – think carrots, celery, and bell peppers – which can share the same marinara dipping sauce. For a casual movie night or game day spread, you might want to add some chips and a bowl of ranch dressing as an extra dipping option.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These pizza crescent rolls are best enjoyed right after baking, but if you have leftovers, pop them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. The cheese might not be as stretchy, but they’ll still taste great!
Make Ahead: You can prep these rolls a few hours before baking – just assemble them, place on your baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. This is super handy when you’re planning a party or want a quick after-school snack.
Warm Up: To bring back that fresh-baked taste, warm them up in the oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes, or pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Just keep an eye on them – you want the cheese melty but not rubbery!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 800-900
- Protein: 30-35 g
- Fat: 45-50 g
- Carbohydrates: 80-90 g
Ingredients
- 1 can of chilled crescent roll dough
- 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks
- 24 pieces of pepperoni
- 1 cup tomato pizza sauce (for dipping)
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the crescent roll-ups from sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
Step 2: Prepare the Cheese and Pepperoni
Take each string cheese and cut it in half, so you’ll have smaller pieces to work with.
This will help the cheese fit perfectly inside each crescent roll.
Step 3: Assemble the Crescent Roll-Ups
Unroll the crescent dough and lay out the triangles on your work surface.
On each triangle, place 3 overlapping slices of pepperoni toward the larger end.
Place a cut piece of string cheese on top of the pepperoni.
Step 4: Roll and Seal the Crescent Roll-Ups
Carefully fold the wide end of the crescent triangle over the toppings, then pinch the sides to seal the edges fully.
Roll up each crescent from the wide end to the point.
Ensure they are sealed well to prevent cheese from oozing out during baking.
Place the seam side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 5: Season and Bake
Sprinkle a bit of Parmesan cheese and garlic powder over the tops of the assembled roll-ups.
This adds extra flavor and a touch of crispiness.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, or until the crescent roll-ups are golden brown and perfectly puffed.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Once baked, remove the roll-ups from the oven and let them cool slightly.
Serve these cheesy crescent roll-ups with warm pizza sauce on the side for delicious dipping.
Enjoy your savory snack or appetizer!