My pepperoni rolls recipe is inspired by the classic, West Virginia favorite. Soft bread dough wrapped around pepperoni and cheese creates a snack that is perfect for lunch, game days, and more.

I grew up in Southwest Virginia, just a short drive from West Virginia, the home of the famous pepperoni rolls. Not to be confused with pizza rolls, this simple but delicious snack was created in the early 1900’s as an easy lunch for the coal miners.

They are a great portable food, soft bread wrapped around pepperoni and can be eaten without utensils.

Growing up so close to where they originated, I would see these rolls in bakeries and lunch spots. Now I like making them at home for a fun snack or meal.

These rolls are a little different than some of my other recipes like pepperoni pinwheels and stromboli. They are super simple and focus primarily on the bread, pepperoni, and cheese.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Simple and easy ingredients. Only four ingredients needed to make these pepperoni rolls.
• Kid friendly snack. A tasty hand held snack that is perfect for kids and adults.

Ingredients

This pepperoni rolls recipe can be put together with 4 ingredients.

• Canned bread dough: I like using Pillsbury canned French bread.
• Sliced mozzarella cheese: I like using sliced mozzarella cheese.
• Pepperoni: You can use sandwich sliced or pizza sized pepperoni.
• Egg: An egg is used to make an egg wash which helps to make the bread golden brown.
• Optional: Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, or garlic butter.

How to make pepperoni rolls

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Roll the bread dough out and cut into 9 pieces. I like using a pizza cutter for this.
3. Cut the each piece of mozzarella cheese and pepperoni in half. Place on each piece of dough.

4. Roll the dough lengthwise. Make sure to pinch the dough closed on the ends and all over the dough. This will help prevent the cheese from leaking out.
5. Brush each roll with egg wash.

6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
7. They can be served warm or at room temperature.

Variations

• Pepperoni stick: Use a pepperoni stick cut into pieces instead of sliced pepperoni. This is actually closer to the original recipe.
• Dough: You can substitute the bread dough with pizza dough or frozen, thawed bread dough. Homemade dough is also a wonderful option.
• Seasonings: If you want to add extra flavor to your pepperoni rolls you can sprinkle some Italian seasoning over the pepperoni and cheese or make a garlic and Italian seasoning butter to brush over the rolls.
• Parmesan: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese after brushing them with the egg wash.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Seal the dough well. Make sure to pinch together any seams of the dough so that the cheese doesn’t leak out when heated.
• Use parchment paper. This will help the dough not stick to the pan.
• Bake until the rolls are golden. This will help you know they are done cooking.
• Don’t overfill the rolls. Adding too much pepperoni or cheese could cause the rolls to leak when baking.

How to serve pepperoni rolls

These can be served warm or at room temperature. The rolls are great on their own but could be served with a dipping sauce like marinara, ranch dressing, or something like this copycat Papa John’s garlic sauce.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator.

Freeze them in a freezer safe bag for up to 2 months.

Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 5 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

More pepperoni recipes

• Supreme Pizza Casserole
• Pizza Dip
• Pizza Cupcakes Recipe
• Italian Pinwheels