20-Minute Pizza Pinwheels

These 20-minute pizza pinwheels are a kid-lunch win: pizza dough rolled up with marinara, pepperoni, and a double layer of mozzarella, sliced into swirls and baked until golden and bubbly. Made for dunking in warm marinara. For more pizza fun, try our Ghost Mini Pizzas.

Swirled pizza pinwheels, golden-baked pepperoni pizza rolls with melty mozzarella, one pulled apart with stretching cheese, marinara for dipping
Prep time10 min
Cook time12 min
Total22 min
Yield12 pinwheels
CuisineAmerican
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🪵Ingredients

  • 1 lb store-bought pizza dough, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup pizza sauce, plus more for dipping
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup mini pepperoni
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Marinara, warmed, for serving

👩‍🍳Instructions

  1. Roll out. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a 14x10-inch rectangle.
  2. Top. Spread the sauce edge-to-edge, leaving a 1/2-inch border on one long side. Scatter mozzarella, pepperoni, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning.
  3. Roll and slice. Roll up tightly from the long side. Cut into 12 equal pinwheels with a sharp knife.
  4. Bake. Arrange cut-side up on a parchment-lined sheet, brush with olive oil, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes until golden and bubbly.
  5. Serve. Cool 5 minutes, then serve warm with marinara for dunking.

💡 Pinwheel smarts

Room-temperature dough rolls without springing back — cold dough fights you. Don’t over-sauce; a thin layer keeps the swirls from getting soggy. Dental floss slices the log cleaner than a knife for perfect spirals.

Common questions

Can I make them ahead?

Assemble the log, wrap, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Slice and bake fresh — add 2 minutes if baking from cold.

Can I freeze them?

Yes — freeze baked pinwheels up to 2 months. Reheat at 375°F for 10 minutes from frozen.

What fillings can I use?

Sausage and peppers, veggie (mushrooms, olives, peppers), BBQ chicken, or just extra cheese.

Can I use crescent dough?

Yes — it’s softer and flakier. Bake at 375°F for 12–14 minutes.

Cheesy pepperoni pizza pinwheel swirls close-up
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