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These stuffed pepperoni pizza balls are the perfect little appetizer. Mozzarella and pepperoni are wrapped in pizza dough, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with parmesan, and baked until golden brown on the outside and melty on the inside. Yum!
Imagine all the deliciousness of a pizza but in tiny, bite-sized form. That’s exactly what these pizza balls are. Zesty pepperoni and mozzarella cheese are wrapped up in soft homemade pizza dough. They are brushed with luscious olive oil, sprinkled with garlic powder, oregano, and parmesan cheese, and popped in the oven. As they bake, they transform into golden, crispy bites that are filled with ooey, gooey melted cheese and delicious pepperoni. So tasty!
Stuffed pepperoni pizza balls are super easy to make and kids love them (the grown-ups won’t be able to keep their hands off of them either). They are the perfect treat for parties or even a cozy night at home. Get ready for a flavor-packed adventure. These little snacks will make your taste buds jump for joy.
Why You’ll Love These Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza Balls
Pizza in bite-sized form? What’s not to love? Here are some of the top reasons I think these tasty appetizer bites are a must-try.
- Quick and easy. Getting these little dough balls to the oven isn’t even close to as complicated as you might think. It only takes a few simple steps all of which are easily completed within 15 minutes. Then all you have to do is wait for them to bake up to golden brown, cheesy perfection.
- Versatile. I went with pepperoni and mozzarella here but you could easily experiment with other fillings. Tailor this recipe to your taste buds. Check out the section below titled “Other Filling Ideas” for inspiration.
- Perfectly sharable. This is one of my favorite goodies to bring to a gathering. Just arrange them on a serving platter with a bowl of marinara sauce and watch as they become the most popular app at the party. Kids and adults alike will love them.
What You’ll Need
You’ll only need a few ingredients to make these stuffed pizza balls. Here they are. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Store-bought pizza dough – You could make your own if you have a little extra time on your hands but store-bought is so convenient and works wonderfully here.
- Mozzarella – You can use either shredded or cubed. If you decide to use cubed cheese, I suggest ½” cubes.
- Pepperoni – Feel free to use another cured meat if you’d like.
- Olive oil
- Dried oregano
- Garlic powder
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Pizza sauce for serving
Variation Ideas
Feel free to experiment with different meats, cheeses, seasonings, and more. You could even add some veggies to the mix if you’d like. The sky’s the limit* but here are some ideas for you.
- Add to the original. Add chopped olives, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, or roasted bell peppers to the pepperoni-mozzarella filling.
- Sausage and mushroom. Replace the pepperoni with cooked and crumbled sweet Italian sausage and sautéed mushrooms.
- Ham and cheddar. Kids love this one. Fill your pizza balls with cubes of ham and sharp cheddar cheese. They are to die for when dipped in ranch dressing or garlic butter.
- Mushroom and gruyere. Fill the pizza dough with a couple of pieces of sauteed mushrooms and a cube or two of gruyere cheese. Dip the finished product in pesto.
- Asparagus, prosciutto, and brie. Roast some asparagus, chop it up, and fill the dough with a couple of pieces, a bit of prosciutto, and a couple of cubes of brie cheese. Drizzle the pizza balls with a bit of balsamic vinegar for a uniquely delicious take on the classic.
- Pear and blue cheese. Fill the dough with cubed pear, some crumbled blue cheese, and a dot or two of honey.
* When experimenting with fillings, be sure to stay away from ingredients that are super juicy (such as fresh tomatoes). The excess water will make the dough soggy.
How to Make Pizza Balls
Ready to learn how to make these quick and easy, kid and adult-friendly pizza balls? Here’s a brief overview of how to do it. For more detailed instructions, scroll to the recipe card below.
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 400˚F and lightly grease a 9-inch oven-safe skillet.
- Prepare the dough. Divide the dough into 16 equal portions and roll them out into small circles.
- Fill. Add some cheese and pepperoni to the center of each dough circle and pinch the dough closed around it.
- Fill the skillet. Place the pizza balls seam-side down in the skillet.
- Season. Brush the balls with olive oil, and season with oregano, garlic powder, and parmesan.
- Bake. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Serve. Allow the balls to cool a bit before serving with pizza sauce.
Tips for Success
Even the simplest recipes require some tender loving care. Check out these tips and tricks from my kitchen to yours that will help you make the best pizza balls ever.
- Don’t over-fill. Don’t try to stuff these pizza balls too full of goodies. 1-2 squares of cheese and a couple of quarters of pepperoni should be enough. If you stuff them too full, they will burst open as they bake, leaking cheese everywhere.
- Pinch the dough closed. You want to make sure the filling stays inside of the dough. Be sure to get a good seal on the dough as you wrap it around the filling. Use your fingers to pinch the connecting dough together.
- Use a sturdy pan. Use a good, oven-safe skillet. If you try to use a thin cookie sheet or something of the like, the bottoms of the pizza balls will likely burn.
- Don’t crowd the skillet. The pizza balls will grow as they bake so give them a little room to wiggle (1/2 inch or so). Otherwise, they will grow into each other which can lead to uneven baking and a potential mess.
- Avoid wet ingredients. If you decide to play with other fillings, be sure to choose ingredients that are relatively dry. Wet ingredients will cause the dough to get soggy as it bakes.
What to Serve with Homemade Pizza Balls
These stuffed pepperoni pizza balls will fly off the plate just as they are but they are made even better when served with a delicious sauce or alongside a couple other tasty finger foods and/or cocktails.
- Dipping sauce. I prescribed classic pizza sauce here but you could just as easily use ranch, pesto, or Alfredo sauce. I bet beer cheese would go over well too.
- With other finger foods. These are the perfect finger food. And you know what goes well with finger food? More finger food! Some of my favorites include Crispy Air Fryer Ravioli, Crab Rangoon, Fried Mashed Potato Balls, and Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp.
- Cocktails. Serve these pizza balls at your next cocktail party. I have been loving them with a Gin and Tonic, or my Pomegranate Prosecco Punch.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Allow the pizza balls to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Seal the container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you are ready to enjoy, wrap the bites loosely in aluminum foil, and pop them in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
Can I Freeze These?
You can. Once the pizza balls have cooled to room temperature, seal them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Arrange the frozen bites on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
More Appetizer Ideas
Entertaining? Or headed to a get-together? Need a delicious appetizer or too to share? These pizza balls are incredible but here are some of my other top picks.
- Shrimp Shumai
- Vegetable Samosas
- Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
- Air Fryer Spicy Cilantro Lime Shrimp
- Beef Empanadas
- Crispy Golden Spring Rolls
Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) store-bought pizza dough
- 1 cup (112 g) mozzarella, can use shredded or cubed. If cubed, ½” cubes are best
- ½ cup (56 g) pepperoni, quartered
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- Pizza sauce or marinara sauce for serving/dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 °F (204 °C) and lightly grease a 9-inch oven-safe skillet.
- Divide dough into 16 equal sized portions. Roll each portion out into a small circle, about ¼-inch thick.
- Place 1-2 cubes of cheese and a few slices of pepperoni inside. Enclose the filling in the dough, pinching together the seams to make sure it doesn’t spill out when baking.
- Place seam side down in the greased skillet. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Brush the dough balls with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, mix together oregano, garlic powder and parmesan. Sprinkle on top of the dough.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
- Let cool slightly before enjoying. Serve warm with pizza sauce or marinara sauce.
