• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Appetizers

Baked Pizza Pinwheels

5
/5
35 minutes
9 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 11/22/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These bite-sized Baked Pizza Pinwheels are a perfect game-day appetizer or fun family dinner idea! Made with just a few simple ingredients, you can customize these to be just the way you like your pizza. #pinwheels #pizza #appetizer
These bite-sized Baked Pizza Pinwheels are a perfect game-day appetizer or fun family dinner idea! Made with just a few simple ingredients, you can customize these to be just the way you like your pizza. #pinwheels #pizza #appetizer
These bite-sized Baked Pizza Pinwheels are a perfect game-day appetizer or fun family dinner idea! Made with just a few simple ingredients, you can customize these to be just the way you like your pizza. #pinwheels #pizza #appetizer

These bite-sized Baked Pizza Pinwheels are a perfect game-day appetizer or fun family dinner idea! Made with just a few simple ingredients, you can customize these to be just the way you like your pizza.

This is one of my Appetizer recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!

pizza pinwheel with melted cheese and topped with parsley
Pin this recipe for later!

We’re big pizza fans… and I mean big. If I let them, my kids would eat pizza just about every day!

And believe me, I love pizza too, but they’re obsessed lol.

I have a few pizza style recipes here on the website, but this is a fun pizza twist on an appetizer.

Perfect for parties, game-day, or just a fun appetizer-style dinner, these little bite-sized pinwheels have everything you love about pizza.

A crust that’s crisp on the outside while soft on the inside, a pizza sauce that’s smooth and perfectly spiced, gooey cheese and somewhat spicy pepperoni!

Don’t worry if you’re not into pepperoni, you can 100% customize these pinwheels with your favorite toppings.

How to make baked pizza pinwheels?

This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.

step by step how to make pizza pinwheels in the oven
  1. Shape crust. Spread each crust out in a rectangle.
  2. Spread sauce. Add the sauce in an even layer, leaving a border at the top.
  3. Add toppings. Sprinkle Parmesan, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese.
  4. Roll up. Roll the crust up from the bottom, into a log shape.
  5. Slice. Slice into 12 slices.
  6. Dip. Dip the bottom of each slice into cornmeal, then add to muffin pan.
  7. More cheese. Sprinkle a little more cheese over the top of the slices.
  8. Bake. Bake until golden brown

Helpful Tip!

Slicing the rolled up pizza log into slices can be tricky.  Use a very sharp serrated knife, or some unflavored dental floss (seriously, please make sure it’s UN-flavored â€“ no one wants spearmint flavored pinwheels!).  Slide the floss underneath the log, bring both sides up, cross them over each other, and pull tight.  Easy slices!

ring of pizza pinwheels on plate with a bowl of pizza sauce

Variations of this recipe

  • Sauce – I love using my super easy, no cook pizza sauce recipe for these pinwheels, but if you’d rather use store-bought, that will absolutely work well. The two brands I love are Rao’s and Classico.
  • Crust – to make this an ultra-easy appetizer, this recipe calls for refrigerated canned pizza crust. However, details about how to use regular pizza dough is listed in the “chef tips” section right below the recipe.
  • Toppings – you can add anything to these pizza pinwheels that you would normally put on your pizza. I kept it simple with pepperoni and cheese, but feel free to add your favorites.
  • Cheeses – if you like different cheeses on your pizza, feel free to add your favorites.
dipping a pizza pinwheel into pizza sauce

FAQ’s

Are these pizza pinwheels kid-friendly?

Sure are! My kids go crazy over anything remotely pizza related, and these pinwheels are super customize-able. So you can make them with exactly what your kids like, and I’m sure they’ll love them!

Can these be made with other sauces?

Absolutely. If you’re a fan of the classic “white pizza”, feel free to use a garlic butter “sauce” or my roasted garlic cream sauce. Bbq chicken pizza fan? Feel free to use bbq sauce, shredded chicken, red onion, etc.

Can pizza pinwheels be made in the air fryer?

Air fryers are a great option if your oven is being used for something else, or you don’t want to heat up your house. I’ve not specifically tested this recipe in my air fryer, so I can’t speak to the specific temperature or cooking time, but I’m sure these pinwheels would do well in an air fryer. If you try it, I’d love to know how it worked out!

Making pizza pinwheels ahead of time

I think these pinwheels taste best when made fresh, but they can be made ahead of time if you’d like.

They can also be prepped ahead, which is my preferred method.

3 pizza rolls on plate
  • Sauce – if you’re making the pizza sauce, this can be made ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to bake.
  • Cheeses – the cheeses can be shredded ahead of time (if you’re shredding/grating your own), and measured ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to bake.
  • Pepperoni – the pepperoni slices can be chopped ahead and kept refrigerated until ready to bake.

Storage

Leftover pinwheels should be refrigerated in an airtight container and eaten within 5 days.

Reheat either in the microwave or a 350°F oven until hot.

Freezing

For longer storage, pinwheels can be frozen! Place baked and cooled pinwheels on a lined baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours, or until frozen.

Transfer frozen pinwheels to a freezer-safe container, label it with the date, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as desired.

More Appetizer Recipes:

slow cooker honey buffalo wings
Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Wings
sliced stromboli on black plate with pizza sauce
Ultimate Deluxe Stromboli
buffalo chicken dip
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
cheesy garlic bombs
Buttery Garlic Cheese Bombs
muffin pan

My Favorite Muffin Pan!

I’ve had several of these pans for years, and they’ve held up so well! Not to mention they clean up like a dream.

Get on amazon

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

pizza pinwheel with melted cheese and topped with parsley

Baked Pizza Pinwheels

5 from 8 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories: 236
Servings: 12 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
These bite-sized Baked Pizza Pinwheels are a perfect game-day appetizer or fun family dinner idea! Made with just a few simple ingredients, you can customize these to be just the way you like your pizza.

Ingredients

  • 2 (13.8 oz each) cans refrigerated pizza dough I use Pillsbury classic crust variety
  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 2 cups pizza sauce homemade or store-bought
  • 2 cups pepperoni slices chopped
  • 1 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese divided
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly spray 2 standard muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Line a large work surface with wax or parchment paper (for easy clean up). Add cornmeal to a shallow bowl and set aside.
  • Open pizza crust cans and spread each crust out on the prepared wax or parchment paper, into a roughly 10×12 inch rectangle. I just use my fingers to make it easier, but you can use a rolling pin if you'd like. Place rectangles so the shorter edges are towards you, so the rectangles are oriented vertically.
  • Spread about 1 cup of pizza sauce onto each crust, leaving about a 1 inch border at the top of each crust.
  • Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese onto each crust, then top that with about 1 cup of chopped pepperoni on each crust.
  • Sprinkle about 1 cup of mozzarella cheese onto each crust, reserving the last 1 cup of mozzarella for later.
  • Roll a crust up, starting from the bottom, in a tight log shape. When you get to the top of the rectangle (where you left the border), stretch that dough up onto the roll and pinch the seam shut to seal it.
  • Use as sharp serrated knife and slice the roll in half, then slice each half into 6 equally sized slices.
  • Dip the bottom of a slice into the cornmeal, then place in the prepared muffin pan. Repeat with remaining slices. Repeat steps 6-8 with the other pizza crust.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the pinwheels, then bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

  • Recipe makes 24 pizza pinwheels, with an estimated serving size of 2 pinwheels per person.
  • If you’re having trouble slicing the log into slices, you can cover it loosely and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
  • Refrigerated pizza crust may be substituted with 1 lb of frozen or fresh pizza dough.

Storage

Leftover pinwheels should be refrigerated in an airtight container and eaten within 5 days.
Reheat either in the microwave or a 350°F oven until hot.

Freezing

For longer storage, pinwheels can be frozen! Place baked and cooled pinwheels on a lined baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours, or until frozen.
Transfer frozen pinwheels to a freezer-safe container, label it with the date, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef 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 can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

You May Also Like...

  • This recipe for Homemade Pizza Sauce is ready in just 5 minutes! No cooking, no blender or food processor, just whisk and enjoy! Loaded with flavor, it's great for topping pizzas, dipping, and more! #pizza #sauce #homemade
    Homemade Pizza Sauce
  • Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Pizza Nachos | Oven baked BBQ chicken pizza nachos... the awesome combination of homemade bbq sauce, juicy chicken, gooey cheese and tons of toppings! | http://thechunkychef.com
    Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Pizza Nachos
  • These Buffalo Chicken Taquitos are the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer! Cheesy buffalo chicken filling is rolled up in flour tortillas and baked until crispy. Serve with an easy buffalo ranch and sprinkled with green onions and blue cheese crumbles! #buffalochicken #taquitos #appetizer #partyfood
    Baked Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
  • Grilled Fruit Pizza | Flatbread spread with a glorious honey herb whipped ricotta, topped with delicious grilled fruit, drizzled with honey and sprinkled with fresh herbs! | http://thechunkychef.com
    Grilled Fruit Pizza
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Donna Paul says

    Posted on 11/25 at 12:20 pm

    I’ll be making these….love pizza!!

    Reply
  2. Catalina says

    Posted on 11/25 at 9:44 am

    Who can resist these pinwheels?! I am sure my family will go crazy over them!

    Reply
  3. Toni says

    Posted on 11/25 at 9:36 am

    MY kids loved this delicious appetizer! Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  4. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 11/24 at 11:03 am

    These Baked Pizza Pinwheels look so fun and tasty! Perfect appetizer!

    Reply
  5. Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says

    Posted on 11/24 at 8:27 am

    My kids would love these!! Such a great snack or appetizer!

    Reply
  6. katerina @ diethood.com says

    Posted on 11/24 at 8:26 am

    I love how easy and delicious this is!! The perfect appetizer!

    Reply
  7. Erik says

    Posted on 11/23 at 6:04 pm

    These are amazing! So easy, and I love that you can bake them.

    Reply
  8. Beth says

    Posted on 11/23 at 1:09 pm

    Holy moly, those look so good! My kids would devour these. That’s only if I share them, though.

    Reply
  9. touchedpainter says

    Posted on 11/23 at 12:25 am

    These look amazing. I do a lot of cooking very little restaurant/takeout, if at all; so just looking at the recipe, I can see these would be fantastic to stock in the freezer for quick, busy day, rewarding eats, with a salad and veggies on the side. Also, stock in the freezer for a quick grab to take to a family get-together, etc. Can’t wait to make a huge batch.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours 5 minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours 10 minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2023 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top