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Kimber Matherne
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This easy pull apart pizza bread is a customizable family dinner that everyone will love. It takes only 10 minutes of active time and can be a quick weeknight dinner, appetizer, party food, or snack for hungry kids! Plus it is so much fun to make and eat!
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Who doesn’t love pizza night? My kids sure do, which is why this easy pull apart pizza is a fantastic choice.
Not only can everyone, even the youngest kids, get involved in making the pizza, but it’s also SO easy to serve! There’s no cutting required, everyone just grabs their favorite slice and pulls. Plus, use our BIG list of pizza topping ideas to get creative!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Customize it – Whether it’s Hawaiian style, classic pepperoni, or meat lovers, make it how your family likes it best!
- SO Easy – Aside from adding toppings, this recipe is almost entirely hands off!
- Family Friendly – Kids love pizza, and they’ll love being able to help make this one right alongside you.
- It’s FUN! – Watch the pizza disappear as everyone enjoys easily pulling their favorite piece away; no cutting required!
Recipe Notes
This easy pull apart pizza bread recipe is as simple as promised! Just 10 minutes of prep and one pan for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make pizza pull apart rolls to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Frozen Dinner Rolls – It’s essential to get frozen dinner roll dough, not pre-baked frozen rolls. We like the Rhodes brand, but any available at your grocery store will work fine. You can use small balls of pizza dough or canned biscuit dough instead, but the rolls are SO delicious that I highly recommend it. They’re worth the rise time.
- Marinara Sauce – Use your favorite store-bought jar of marinara or pizza sauce, or make a super easy homemade marinara.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Any form of mozzarella cheese you like works. Part skim, pre-shredded, or fresh. If it’s stored in water, drain it and pat it dry first.
- Pizza Toppings – We chose bell peppers, pepperoni, Italian sausage, Italian seasoning, and black olives to make a supreme-style pizza. Choose your family’s favorite pizza toppings to make it a hit at your house too.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Biscuit Pull Apart Pizza– Grab two tubes of biscuits and open them. Place the biscuits in the pan and gently press them together at the edges. Add your favorite toppings and bake according to the biscuit’s recommended baking temperature and length, adding 3-5 minutes to account for the toppings.
- Pizza Dough Pull Apart Pizza– Buy pre-made raw pizza dough and cut it into 16 even pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place them in the greased baking dish. Press down to flatten and push the edges together, then add toppings and bake according to the package instructions.
- Pull Apart Cheesy Bread– Swap marinara for olive oil and minced garlic. Add the mozzarella cheese plus 1 cup of shredded fontina and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, then bake according to the recipe. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with homemade ranch.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make easy pull apart pizza bread.
Place 16 frozen rolls into a 9×13 baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in size.
Press the risen dough to flatten it and push the edges together to create the crust. Then, add the marinara.
Layer on toppings, starting with the cheese.
Bake for 18-24 minutes, then use a spatula to pop it out of the pan and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Grease the pan – Remember to oil the pan or use a nonstick cooking spray before placing your dinner rolls inside. It helps the whole pizza pop easily out of the baking dish with a quick wiggle of a spatula.
- Rise somewhere warm – Place your frozen rolls in the warmest location of your kitchen to rise. It can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on how cool or warm your kitchen is.
- Dimple the dough – I highly recommend using your fingers to dimple the dough as you flatten it. It creates small pockets that catch more hot marinara and melty cheese for a perfectly gooey bite.
- Add Italian seasoning – You’re going to LOVE this simple hack. Add just 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning over the pizza before you bake, and you’ll get a more authentic, delicious pizzeria flavor!
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Rise in the Fridge – The dinner rolls will thaw and rise slower in the fridge, letting you get prepped the night before. Pop them in the pan, cover with plastic, and stick them in the refrigerator overnight. It will be ready to go at dinner time the next day.
- Rise in the Oven – If your kitchen is cold or you’re just in a rush, a gently warmed oven is the perfect place to let your frozen dinner rolls rise. Turn it on to 200°F and let it warm up for a few minutes. Then, turn it off and place the covered rolls inside.
- Use a Different Dough – Biscuit and pizza dough don’t need any rise time, so they’re a great option for when you forget to pull out the rolls to rise.
- Buy Prepared Toppings – Jarred marinara, shredded cheese, and pre-chopped packages of olives, sausage, and peppers can make this a snap to put together.
What to Serve with Pull Apart Pizza Bread
Since this kid-friendly dinner has the delicious flavors of pizza, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic and Italian side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Arugula Pear Salad – Mixed greens, sliced pears, and pomegranate seeds make a fantastic salad!
- Italian House Salad – This classic salad is a favorite at pizzerias, but you can easily enjoy the combo at home too!
- Bakes Asparagus – This is a healthy and tasty green vegetable side you can make in no time!
- Easy Caprese Salad – Make this beautiful, fresh, and easy salad in just 10 minutes.
- Buffalo Chicken Bites – These crispy bite sized chicken nuggets are full of classic buffalo flavor.
- Any of these 72 Fantastic Sides for Pizza Night!
Pull Apart Pizza Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
To reheat pull apart pizza bread, place it in the oven for 5-8 minutes at 350°F, or microwave in 30 second bursts until hot.
Recipe FAQ’s
Is pizza crust the same as biscuit dough?
No, pizza crust is traditionally made from a stretchy, yeast-risen dough similar to bread. Biscuits are a quick bread that rise with baking powder or baking soda. Dinner rolls are also yeast-risen dough, which is why they make such a great swap for pizza crust in this recipe!
What can I use instead of pizza crust for pizza?
You can replace pizza crust with many things, like frozen dinner rolls, refrigerated biscuits, tortillas, pita bread, or naan bread. Only unbaked dough will work to make a pull-apart pizza.
What are some standard pizza toppings?
Start with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, then add your favorite combination of things like pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage, diced chicken, bell peppers, olives, mushrooms, onions, fresh basil, pineapple, or red pepper flakes.
More EASY Baking Dish Dinner Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy dinner recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- 7 Layer Taco Casserole with Ground Beef
- Easy Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
- Monterey Chicken Bake
- Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Pull Apart Pizza
By: Kimber Matherne
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Unbaked frozen dinner rolls get topped with classic pizza toppings and then baked in a casserole dish to create a fun and easy homemade pizza that can easily be pulled apart into individual pieces.
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Raise time: 3 hours hrs
Cook Time: 18 minutes mins
Total Time: 3 hours hrs 28 minutes mins
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Ingredients
- 16 frozen rolls
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Pizza toppings (optional)
- 16 pepperoni slices
- ⅓ cup Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
- ½ bell peppers, diced
- 1 ounce black olives, sliced
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place 16 frozen roll dough balls in the dish. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm spot to rise. Let rise 2.5-4 hours, or until they are doubled in size.
The raise time can vary greatly depending on how warm and humid the area is.
Preheat oven to 375˚F.
Once the rolls have risen, poke them down with the tips of your fingers and work the rolls together to create a solid base for the pizza.
Then spread the marinara sauce over the crust and top with mozzarella cheese.
Add your choice of toppings then sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the top of the pizza.
Bake for 18-24 minutes or until the cheese is melted, the edges are golden, and the rolls are cooked through.
Once done, use a spatula to carefully slide the pizza out of the dish, it will be hot! Then just pull the rolls apart to serve each slice of pizza.
Last step!Share a picture on Instagram and tag me at @easyfamilyrecipes!
Recipe Notes
Substitutions:
- Frozen Dinner Rolls – Refrigerated pizza dough or biscuit dough.
How to Store:
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
How to Reheat:
To reheat pull apart pizza bread, place it in the oven for 5-8 minutes at 350°F, or microwave in 30 second bursts until hot.
How to Scale:
To make less, place 9 rolls in an 8×8 pan. Or, you can double or triple it by using additional baking dishes.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 4slices, Calories: 726kcal (36%), Carbohydrates: 83g (28%), Protein: 29g (58%), Fat: 31g (48%), Saturated Fat: 12g (75%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 56mg (19%), Sodium: 1692mg (74%), Potassium: 430mg (12%), Fiber: 8g (33%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 914IU (18%), Vitamin C: 22mg (27%), Calcium: 533mg (53%), Iron: 7mg (39%)
