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Updated: September 19, 2021/ First Posted: September 19, 2021Amy Palanjian 39 Comments

This Mini Spinach and Cheese Pizza Roll recipe is packed with nutrition—and even greens!—but the cheese, and silly spiral shape makes them much more appeal to toddlers and big kids. And: You can make them in about 30 minutes and stash them in the fridge or freezer for future meals.

Pizza Rolls

Serving up greens to little ones is often a tough sell, but when you package them in this fun format, it can be much less intimidating! These pizza rolls are one of those foods that I like to have on hand on nights when there are activities and commitments since they are so easy to warm up and serve.

This recipe takes the classic flavors of pizza and rolls them up into muffin-size pizza rolls that are a little crispy on the outside and tender and cheesy on the inside.

I like to add a little fresh spinach to my pizza rolls to amp up the nutrition—especially since I find that my kids don’t care as much about greens when they’re in a recipe that they otherwise love.

TIP: These even go from freezer to table in less than a minute when made and stored frozen.

Ingredients You Need

To make this recipe you’ll need:

• Pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Spinach
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese

TIP: You can use homemade dough and pizza sauce, or use store bought, according to your preference. See the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for all of the info.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to make this pizza roll recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.

1. Spread the pizza dough out into a rectangle using your hands or a rolling pin.
2. Layer on the sauce and the chopped spinach.
3. Add the cheeses.
4. Rolling from one long side, roll the dough up into a log.
5. Slice into 12 even slices and place into a greased muffin tin.
6. Bake until lightly golden brown and gooey!

TIP: Place the dough on parchment when forming it into a rectangle to avoid having it stick to the counter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Tips for Success

• Use homemade dough or fresh store bought dough like the kind they sell at Trader Joes.
• Spread the dough out into an even rectangle so there’s (mostly) an even amount of dough in each sliced roll.
• Use store bought pizza sauce or homemade. I like to cook down my Marinara Sauce until it’s thick and spreadable.
• Grease your pan well.
• Let them cool for about 5 minutes in the pan before removing them to give the cheese a chance to firm up a little.
• If the dough on the underside seems undercooked, cover your rolls with foil and bake for an additional 4-6 minutes. (But also know they firm up as they cool a bit.)
• You may also like Pizza Bites, Flatbread Pizza, Pesto Pizza Rolls, and Pesto Pizza.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!

This post was first published October 2018.

Favorite Pizza Rolls (with Spinach and Cheese)

Be sure to grease your pan well and roll the dough up fairly tightly around the fillings for best results. (But it’s okay if they don’t look perfect when they go into the pan!) 

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 18 mins

Total Time 28 mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Servings 12

Calories 145 kcal

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1 cup baby spinach, roughly cut or chopped
• 13-16 ounces pizza dough
• 3/4 cup pizza sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 400° F and grease a muffin tin very well, including around the top of each cup since the cheese may spill out a little.

• Use your hands to stretch the dough into an 11×16-inch rectangle on a piece of parchment paper.

• Spread pizza sauce over the dough to cover, then sprinkle on the spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Starting on one long side, roll the dough up carefully and fairly tightly to enclose the toppings. (It might be a little messy, but it’s okay!)

• Use a serrated knife to cut into 12 even slices. I start in the center, then make a cut in the center of each piece, and then finish slicing to get the most even results.

• Place each slice into a prepared muffin cup and bake for 22-26 minutes until the dough is baked through, the cheese is melted, and the tops are golden.

• Let cool for 3-5 minutes in the pan to allow the cheese to firm up slightly, then transfer to a wire rack or a plate to serve. (You may need to use a a knife around the edges of the pan if the cheese spilled over.)

• Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge or in a zip-lock freezer bag with as much air removed as possible in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve from frozen, place on a plate and microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warm.

Notes

• Homemade Whole Wheat Pizza Dough: Stir 2 teaspoons yeast and 1 teaspoon honey or sugar into 1 cup warm water. Let sit for about 5 minutes or until the yeast has puffed up. Add 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons olive oil to a medium bowl. Stir in the water, adding up to ¼ cup more if needed to make a smooth, sticky (but able to be kneaded) dough. Use your hands to knead about 10 times to bring it together into a large ball. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let rest for at least one hour and up to 4. Proceed with the recipe.
• Use homemade dough or fresh store bought dough like the kind they sell at Trader Joes.
• Spread the dough out into an even rectangle so there’s (mostly) an even amount of dough in each sliced roll.
• Use store bought pizza sauce or homemade. I like to cook down my Marinara Sauce until it’s thick and spreadable.
• Wilt a 5 oz package of spinach in 1 tbsp warm olive oil in a skillet, then squeeze out all of the liquid, OR simply cut up 1 cup fresh spinach.
• Do your best to cut the slices evenly.
• Grease your pan well.
• Let them cool for about 5 minutes in the pan before removing them to give the cheese a chance to firm up a little.

Nutrition

Serving: 1rollCalories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 8gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 453mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 445IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 122mgIron: 1mg

Keyword mini pizza rolls, pizza rolls, pizza rolls recipe

Filder Under:Dinner, Egg-Free, Lunch, Nut-Free, Recipes, Vegetarian