Description
These Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza Balls are a delicious and fun twist on classic pizza, featuring gooey mozzarella and savory pepperoni wrapped in soft, golden dough balls. Perfect for parties, snacks, or appetizers, they bake quickly to a crispy, flavorful finish and pair perfectly with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Pizza Balls
- 1 pound store-bought pizza dough
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded or cubed, ½” cubes recommended)
- 1/2 cup pepperoni, quartered
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
For Serving
- Pizza sauce or marinara sauce for serving/dipping
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Skillet: Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C) and lightly grease a 9-inch oven-safe skillet to prevent sticking.
- Divide and Roll Dough: Divide the pizza dough into 16 equal portions. Roll each piece into a small circle, about ¼-inch thick, to create the base for the stuffed balls.
- Stuff the Dough: Place 1-2 cubes of mozzarella and a few pieces of quartered pepperoni inside each dough circle. Fold the dough around the filling and pinch the seams tightly to seal them completely and prevent filling from spilling during baking.
- Arrange and Prepare for Baking: Place each stuffed dough ball seam-side down into the greased skillet. Repeat until all dough balls are arranged in the skillet.
- Brush with Olive Oil: Brush the tops of the dough balls with olive oil to promote browning and add flavor.
- Season the Tops: In a small bowl, mix together the dried oregano, garlic powder, and grated parmesan cheese. Sprinkle this seasoning mixture evenly over the oiled dough balls.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the dough balls turn golden brown and the cheese is melted inside.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the pizza balls to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with pizza sauce or marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Use ½-inch cubes of mozzarella for even melting inside the dough balls.
- Ensure seams are pinched tightly to avoid cheese leaking during baking.
- Serving with warm marinara or pizza sauce enhances flavor and adds moisture.
- These pizza balls can be made ahead and reheated in the oven for a few minutes to refresh crispness.
- For a spicier variation, add crushed red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix.
