Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Hawaiian Rolls
Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Hawaiian Rolls are a quick, cheesy, pull-apart snack (or meal!) loaded with melty mozzarella, pepperoni, and a buttery garlic topping!
A PIZZA INSPIRED SNACK OR LIGHT MEAL
After I made the Cheesy Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread, I knew immediately I wanted to make a pizza style version. We absolutely loved these! A huge hit in my house. Serve them up with a side of pizza sauce and a little salad and you have a whole meal! Each roll is packed with pepperoni and gooey cheese and gets brushed with a buttery garlic topping. You can prep these in minutes and have them as an appetizer, a snack or dinner!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Personally, I don’t think the Hawaiian Rolls make these sweet. They add a light contrast of flavor but, if you wanted, you could use the butter version of the Hawaiian rolls.
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for a little heat. Add some diced veggies that you typically like on pizza, but don’t overload the rolls. Add extras like sliced olives, sautéed mushrooms, or diced bell peppers for extra flavor and texture.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5-7 minutes or in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- King’s Hawaiian Rolls – you don’t have to use this particular brand, you can use something similar.
- deli pepperoni– I used the larger deli sized pepperoni, but the regular pepperoni for pizza can be used instead. Just stuff 3-4 slices into each roll (or less, as desired.) Swap the pepperoni for cooked sausage, ham, or even turkey for a different flavor.
- string cheese sticks– cut in half. If you need a different option, try shredded mozzarella. I have found that string cheese is easier to stuff into the rolls, but the shredded mozzarella melts more evenly in my opinion. I think the cheese sticks take a little longer to fully melt.
- Marinara sauce– or pizza sauce can be used for dipping. This is optional, but really enjoyed. It gives it that pizza touch. I find it’s easiest to just dip the rolls into marinara but if you wanted to, you could try to stuff some sauce into the rolls as well.
- salted butter – if all you have is unsalted, just go with that.
- garlic cloves – finely minced. If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves to mince, you can use the jarred garlic, or just use garlic powder all by itself.
- garlic powder – that is not a mistake, I use both fresh garlic and garlic powder. They each bring a slightly different flavor to the table and I like to use both but you can just choose one or the other.
- Italian seasoning – this just adds to the whole pizza flavor vibe.
- fresh parsley – finely chopped. Or you can use dried parsley/
- grated Parmesan cheese – the stuff in the green bottle works just fine here.
HOW TO MAKE PEPPERONI PIZZA STUFFED HAWAIIAN ROLLS:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You can also use a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place the entire pack of Hawaiian rolls on the prepared baking sheet, keeping them attached. Using a sharp knife, cut one slit into the top of each roll in each row, slicing through all the rolls but stopping about ⅔ of the way down.
Stuff each slit with 1-2 slices of deli pepperoni (however many you prefer) and half a string cheese stick, pressing the filling gently into the slits to secure it.
In a small bowl, mix the melted salted butter, minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and chopped parsley. Brush the butter mixture generously over the tops of the rolls, making sure to get some into the slits.
Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the rolls.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack for about 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for 3-4 more minutes or until golden brown on top.
Note: If cheese still hasn’t fully melted or isn’t melted enough for your liking, place the aluminum foil back on and put back into the oven for a few more minutes. This will help the cheese to melt without everything getting darker.
Serve warm with marinara or pizza sauce on the side for dipping, if desired. Enjoy!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Hawaiian Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 pack King’s Hawaiian Rolls (12 rolls per pack)
- 12-24 slices deli pepperoni (1-2 per roll, see notes below)
- 6 string cheese sticks, cut in half (or shredded mozzarella, see notes below)
- marinara or pizza sauce (for dipping, optional)
Butter Garlic Topping:
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (or dried parsley)
- 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You can also use a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Place 1 pack King’s Hawaiian Rolls (removed from all packaging) on the prepared baking sheet, keeping them attached. Using a sharp knife, cut one slit into the top of each roll in each row, slicing through all the rolls but stopping about ⅔ of the way down.
- Stuff each slit with 1-2 slices of deli pepperoni (however many you prefer) and half a string cheese stick, pressing the filling gently into the slits to secure it.
- In a small bowl, mix 3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped. Brush the butter mixture generously over the tops of the rolls, making sure to get some into the slits.
- Sprinkle 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the rolls.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack for about 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for 3-4 more minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Note: If cheese still hasn’t fully melted or isn’t melted enough for your liking, place the aluminum foil back on and put back into the oven for a few more minutes. This will help the cheese to melt without everything getting darker.
- Serve warm with marinara or pizza sauce on the side for dipping, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- CHEESE: The cheese sticks can take longer to melt throughly. You will need to cover with aluminum foil to get those middle ones to fully melt. The sticks are easier to use but they are bulky. If you don’t want to fuss with all of that, use shredded mozzarella cheese and do your best to stuff each one.
- PEPPERONI: Deli pepperoni are larger slices of pepperoni. They are easier to push into the rolls. You can use the smaller pizza-size ones, you just may want to use about 3-4 per roll since they are smaller.
- GARLIC: Yes, both fresh garlic and garlic powder are used. This is not a mistake. They each add a slightly different flavor to the garlic butter topping and I like to use both. It is up to you if you want to just use one or the other.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Love these. Adding to my favorites list.
Haven’t made this yet but I know it will be awesome. Anything with King’s Hawaiian Rolls are always good.