20+ Quick & Easy Recipes to Make With Pizza Dough
Pizza crust can make or break a pizza. Today, we see more and more different crust styles—thin, deep-dish, stuffed, and everything in between. People love their crust!
And because pizza crust gets so much love, why limit it to pizza? We've rounded up 22 recipes with pizza dough so you can make irresistible foods that aren't limited to what you'd find in an Italian pizzeria. Plus, try out one of these 45+ Best Healthy Copycat Restaurant Recipes.
Breadsticks
Breadsticks are a versatile snack—perfect for an appetizer at a party with a side of marinara sauce or a dinner sidekick—and they're easy to make with pizza dough. Simply cut and then roll out the dough into six-inch lengths. Leave them plain with salt, or season with garlic, crushed red pepper, and salt.
Eat This! Tip: If you prefer your sticks on the crispy side, roll out the dough thin and twist it.
Get the recipe from Our Everyday Life.
Buffalo Chicken Bites
Football season is a great excuse to score big with some fun-loving snacks. Claudia Sidoti, a chef and member of the ETNT advisory board, suggests using a premade pizza dough to wrap up these bites.
Crank the oven up to 400 degrees. Blend some mayo, milk, and a bit of ranch dressing and, if you dig blue cheese, toss that in, too. Keep it in the refrigerator to chill. In another bowl, mix cooked chicken, your preferred cheese (we like mozzarella), and buffalo sauce. Cut the pizza dough into squares, and then place the chicken mixture on each square. Fold one side over and use a fork to seal the three edges tight. Brush with butter, sprinkle on more cheese, and pop in the oven for about 15 minutes. Serve with ranch dressing.
Crackers
Crackers are a cheese plate's BFF. They also make a great soup companion and are a fun-loving crunch for dips. Pizza dough makes a perfect cracker, provided you roll the dough very thin. And give the crackers time after baking to crisp up. Go ahead, sprinkle cayenne pepper, sea salt, Parmesan cheese, grated Asiago cheese, or whatever secret ingredient code you crack for your crackers. For a more in-depth recipe, check out how Circle B Kitchen does it below.
Get the recipe from Circle B Kitchen.
Cinnamon Rolls
We're on a roll, so how about cinnamon rolls? Basically, we're talking pizza dough with butter, cinnamon, and sugar and that clutch cinnamon roll ingredient, a gooey vanilla or cream cheese glaze. Just a Taste has exactly the recipe you're looking for to use up your leftover pizza dough (plus a killer glaze to drizzle on top).
Get the recipe from Just a Taste.
RELATED: Costco Is Now Selling Hilariously Large Boxes of Miniature Cinnamon Rolls
Garlic Knots
You can easily make knots at home using pizza dough, says Sidoti. Twist your dough into a knot, brush with garlic butter (simply zap some butter and minced garlic in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds), and follow with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and Italian seasoning. Throw your knots into a cast-iron skillet, toss it in the oven at 400 degrees and bake until golden brown.
Apple Galette
Fall means apple pie season. Follow this recipe Jacques Pepin recipe that uses store-bought pizza dough to make an apple galette. And it's easy as pie to make.
Get the recipe from Food Schmooze.
Mediterranean Turkey Pot Pies
Turkey or chicken pot pie made with pizza dough takes comfort food to another level. Make a typical pot pie or opt to bake ramekin pot pies for a party or to please little tykes. Keep it traditional with peas and carrots or go Mediterranean (think olives, artichokes, and tomatoes) like in this recipe.
Get the recipe from Taste of Home.
Cheesy Onion Focaccia Bread
You can turn any meal into a gourmet event by adding a cheesy focaccia bread to it, suggests Sidoti. Just top your pizza dough with brown sugar, onions, Italian seasoning, cheese, and bake at 400. Yum!
Stromboli
Stromboli is excellent when made with pizza dough, says Sidoti. Take half of your dough and layer ham and pepperoni lengthwise. You can also add onion, pepper, marinara sauce, salami, bologna, fresh mozzarella, and other cheeses if you like. Sprinkle with spices like basil, oregano and garlic powder. Roll up the dough around the toppings and seal the edges tight. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with heated marinara sauce.
Dumplings
Who doesn't love dumplings? The irresistible pillows of goodness perfectly round out a flavorful fall soup or hearty winter stew. Our Everyday Life explains exactly how you can use pizza dough to make your dumplings.
Get the recipe from Our Everyday Life.
Pigs In a Blanket
A killer recipe for this classic. These bad boys are wrapped in a doughy blanket that's lined with a spread of garlic, Dijon mustard, and cheddar cheese—a great party app. Of course, you can always ditch the Dijon and garlic for fussy kid eaters, and drop the cheese to go lighter on the calories.
Get the recipe from Simple Comfort Food.
Dipping Sticks
Lisa Cohn, RD, of Park Avenue Nutrition, recommends these dipping sticks. Slice the pizza dough thin into 3-inch by 1-inch pieces, sprinkle with dried herbs, and toss in the oven to bake. Dip ideas: hummus, guacamole, salsa, low-fat cheese spread, and yogurt dip.
Quichzza
This offspring of quiche and pizza dough is a one-skillet deal named Quichzza. You'll basically press the uncooked pizza dough into the skillet and then pour in the eggs and whatever other ingredients you crave like tomatoes, bacon, onions. Pop the skillet into the oven and voila, quiche with a pizza dough swag.
Get the recipe from Imma Eat That.
Pinwheels
Pinwheels are a fun, bulked-up snack for game day or lunch for the kiddos. B.R. Cohn suggests rolling out the dough thin, layer with low-fat cheese, sliced chicken/turkey/vegan meat-like tofurky, and grated zucchini or fresh spinach. Roll up, bake, and slice into one-inch wide pinwheels.
Fruit and Cheese Bakes
A health-conscious, warm dessert idea from B.R. Cohn: Roll out the dough to medium thickness (1/6 of an inch) and spread whipped cottage cheese or farmers cheese to ¼ inch thick, then layer with low-sugar apple, pear, or mixed fruit sauce, and bake. Cut into squares, and sprinkle with cinnamon or lemon zest.
Pretzel Bites
Make it Octoberfest all year round with beer and Bavarian pretzels (lederhosen optional). These pretzel bites, a la Life a Little Brighter, are easy to make. And here's a pretzel factoid: the only thing preventing pizza dough from becoming pretzels in the first place is a quick bath in hot water with baking soda.
Get our recipe for Life a Little Brighter.
Veggie-Filled Heart-Shaped Calzones
These are not your average calzones. Yes, they have your old faithfuls—marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese—but the best part is that they pack some veggie power, too. Not only are they perfect for Valentine's Day, but you can serve them as appetizers at a family gathering or birthday party, too.
Get the recipe from A Healthy Slice of Life.
Cheddar Chive Crackers
These cheesy, crispy crackers are great for so many things! You can whip up a batch for game days, a casual after-school snack for the kids, or just to ease your chip and dip cravings! Once you roll out your pizza dough really thin, add cheddar cheese and chives at your leisure and Savory Simple says they'll taste "like homemade Cheez-Its, but without the preservatives and chemicals!"
Get the recipe from Savory Simple.
Meatball Pull-Apart Pizza Ring
This is a super simple, easy, and fun shareable snack for when you're having people over, or just Netflix and chilling with the fam. This recipe only uses 5 ingredients—perfect for anyone who needs to make a last-minute party app! Both kids and adults will be fighting over the cheesy goodness. And let's be real, everyone loves a meatball!
Get the recipe from Pinch of Yum.
Pizza Chips and Guaca-Tony
This recipe is so unique because the pizza chips could be a stand-alone snack, but the addition of guac ups the ante even further. You can never go wrong with Italian seasoning on top of parmesan-crusted bread chips. All the avocado you could ever dream of and hints of garlic and lemon make this duo unstoppable! Don't forget to share!
Get the recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything.
Cinnamon Sugar Candy Cane Bread Twists
This isn't a candy cane treat just for the holiday season, but an easy dessert with a slight savory twist (literally). The recipe requires more effort than others, but this pizza dough hack is definitely worth the wait! Using minimal ingredients, you can create an amazing cinnamon-centered breakfast or party favor for a kid's birthday bash. Whatever you do, don't forget the drizzle!
Get the recipe from Le Creme De La Crumb.
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