• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Grateful Meal
  • About
    • Contact Me
  • Nutrition Coaching
  • Blog
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Me
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Me
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Game Day

    Homemade Pepperoni Rolls with Peppers

    Published: Apr 7, 2021 by Melissa · This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Pinterest image of the pepperoni rolls slices with the words "homemade pepperoni rolls"
    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    These pepperoni rolls are a fun twist on the original, made with an EASY homemade dough and rolled up with cheese, pepperoni, and bell peppers.

    One of my favorite childhood foods is pepperoni rolls. I thought it was high time to make my own spin on the humble pepperoni roll by making my own dough and putting a slight twist on the classic with the addition of bell peppers.

    What are Pepperoni Rolls?

    If you grew up in western Pennsylvania or West Virginia, then you know what pepperoni rolls are. These are not to be confused with any pizza roll-type concoction as there is no sauce – only cheese, bread, and pepperoni, and they’re easy to make. As children, we sold them for school fundraisers and could buy them at the concession stands at sporting events. Some people make them homemade, and you can even find them in gas stations (not the good ones, though). My favorite kind are the ones that are golden brown on the outside and slightly doughy on the inside. 

    Fun fact about pepperoni rolls is that they were created by Italian immigrants that came to work in the coal mines of West Virginia in the early 1900s. The Italian-American credited with creating pepperoni rolls was Giuseppe “Joseph” Argiro, who hailed from Calabria, Italy. This is the same region that my Italian great-great-grandparents emigrated from in the late 1800s.

    Sliced pepperoni rolls showing the pepperoni, cheese, and peppers in side on a white background.

    How to Make Pepperoni Rolls

    What you’ll need to make the rolls:

    • Dough: You can buy pizza dough or make your own if you desire. There is a recipe for “two-ingredient” dough that I’ve seen lurking about on the internet that is used to make all sorts of things from pizza to bagels to garlic knots. It kind of sounds very diet-y by making a dough that is made of only self-rising flour and non-fat Greek yogurt, but it actually tastes good, and it’s super easy. So, I chose to use the famous “two-ingredient dough,” and I really like the flavor that the Greek yogurt yields. It reminds me of sourdough but easier to make. I didn’t use self-rising flour, so technically, it’s a “few extra ingredient dough.” My dough recipe calls for flour (all-purpose or whole wheat), baking powder, salt, Greek yogurt, and an egg. I have tried making the dough with whole fat, low fat, and non-fat Greek yogurt, and surprisingly the best texture and flavor comes from the non-fat. The fat makes the dough too tender, and it falls apart, so definitely stick with the non-fat yogurt if you’re going to use my dough recipe. 
    • Pepperoni: You can use whatever kind of pepperoni you desire – pork, beef, turkey, plant-based, etc. It’s your call, so whatever floats your boat. 
    • Mozzarella cheese: Shredded or a block sliced up works just fine. 
    • Sliced bell peppers: Traditionally, pepperoni rolls aren’t made with any fillings except cheese and meat, but I love the taste of sweet bell peppers. I used orange, red, and yellow peppers in mine. Feel free to throw in some spicy peppers, too, like jalapeno. 
    • Seasonings: I like to sprinkle the tops with Italian seasoning before popping them in the oven, and I also like a little dash of red pepper flake for a kick when serving. 
    Close of up the pepperoni roll slices where you can see the pepperoni, cheese, and peppers inside on a white background.

    Tips for Making this Pepperoni Roll Recipe

    • When rolling out your dough, try to make your dough into a rectangle so that you can easily roll all of your fillings into a nice, smooth log shape. Admittedly, I’m not very good at rolling my dough into perfect shapes, but my rolls still turned out just fine.
    • Seal the ends tightly. One of mine leaked some filling, so make sure those ends are tight!
    • I love eating these rolls hot or cold, and they make great meal prep for lunches or snacks. I made mine yesterday, and today I had a couple of slices for a quick bite on the go. They’d be a great addition to a school lunch, too!

    📖 Recipe

    Sliced pepperoni rolls with one intact pepperoni roll sitting on a white background with red pepper flakes and bell peppers scattered.

    Pepperoni Rolls

    Melissa
    These pepperoni rolls are a fun twist on the original, made with an EASY homemade dough and rolled up with cheese, pepperoni, & bell peppers.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course dinner, lunch, Snack
    Cuisine Italian-American
    Servings 4 pepperoni rolls

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup flour all-purpose or whole wheat or a blend of both
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
    • 4 oz mozzarella shredded or sliced
    • 4 oz. pepperoni
    • 1 ⅓ – 2 cups bell peppers chopped
    • 1 egg beaten
    • Italian seasoning for sprinkling
    • Red pepper flake for serving (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. 
    • In a stand-mixer bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the yogurt and mix with a paddle attachment until dough comes together into a sticky ball. 
    • Lightly dust flour on a work surface and turn the dough out on surface, knead the dough until the dough is smooth and no longer sticky, using more flour as needed to make dough smooth. 
    • Divide dough into 4 equal balls. Roll the each ball into a thin rectangle – it doesn’t have to be perfectly shaped. Divide mozzarella, pepperoni, and bell peppers between all the rectangles. Starting with a long side, roll the dough up tightly and pinch the seams and ends to seal. Place on the prepared baking sheet and brush with egg. Sprinkle each roll with Italian seasoning.
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting. Serve with red pepper flake. 
    CLICK TO DISPLAY NUTRITION INFO

    Nutrition

    Calories: 423kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 23gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 1191mgPotassium: 495mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 4137IUVitamin C: 159mgCalcium: 396mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Winning Recipes for Game Day

    • The dip in a white dish surrounded by veggies and crackers.
      Easy Buffalo Chickpea Dip
    • Mezcalita on a wood surface with a bottle of mezcal and an orange half in the background.
      Mezcalita (Mezcal Margarita Cocktail with Orange) 
    • Enchilada casserole dish on a wood cutting board with a kitchen towel on the side.
      Easy Smoked Chicken Enchiladas (No Smoker Required)
    • Cones being held by a wire box.
      DIY Individual Charcuterie Cone Cups

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Melissa pouring a cocktail into a coupe glass.

    Hi, and welcome! 👋🏻 I’m Melissa, a RD with a Food Science degree living in Charleston, SC. I love sharing all my favorite food and cocktail recipes right here.

    More about me →

    Photo collage of where A Grateful Meal has been featured including the Today Show, Women's Day, Yahoo!, Brit + Co., Redbook, and more.

    🌷 Spring Cocktail Recipes

    • Strawberry shortcake martini on a pink surface with ingredients in the background.
      Strawberry Shortcake Martini with Whipped Cream Vodka
    • Limoncello martini on a wood cutting board with a bottle of limoncello and a lemon half in the background.
      Lemon Drop Limoncello Martini (3 Ingredients)
    • A coupe glass of Empress Gin French 75 on a cutting board with lemons, a bottle of gin, and tulips in the background.
      Empress Gin French 75
    • Spritz on a wood cutting board with a prosecco bottle in the background.
      Hugo Spritz (St-Germain Elderflower Spritz with Mint)
    • Lillet rose tonic cocktail garnished with floral, rose ice cubes, fresh mint, and a lemon wedge.
      Refreshing Lillet Rosé Tonic Cocktail 
    • Orange creamsicle martini on a wood cutting board with greenery and fresh oranges in the background.
      Orange Creamsicle Martini Cocktail with Whipped Vodka

    Mother's Day Recipes

    • Spritz in a wine glass with a bottle of Cointreau, orange half, and green plant in the background.
      Citrusy Cointreau Spritz Cocktail
    • Top view of the strawberry banana pancakes studded with the fruit on a white plate with syrup and gold silverware on the side.
      Caramelized Strawberry Banana Pancake Recipe
    • Bramble spritz with a bottle of Bramble gin, raspberries, and a green plant in the background.
      Bramble Pink Gin Spritz Cocktail
    • Lemon Mascarpone Doughnuts with Berries
      Lemon Mascarpone Doughnuts

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy
    • HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Content and Recipe Sharing Policy

    Connect

    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Web Stories
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Disclaimer: Information on this website is meant for general use only and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease or condition. Readers should consult their healthcare providers prior to making any changes to their lifestyle. The information contained in this site is intended to serve as general information and should be used in conjunction with advice from your healthcare team. It is not a substitute for medical treatment or therapy of any kind. All information contained in this site is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without permission from the site owner.

    Copyright © 2025 Grateful Meal Nutrition

    • 90