Easy pizza pinwheels made with refrigerated store-bought dough or homemade and customized with favorite pizza toppings. A game day appetizer ready in just 20 minutes!

pizza pinwheels on white plate

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Pizza Pinwheels Recipe

My family absolutely loves these pizza pinwheels. They’re a fun appetizer or snack that’s delicious and both adult and kid-friendly. Some of our other favorite go-to’s are pigs in a blanket, ham and cheese rolls, and garlic knots.

These pizza wheels are made with Pillsbury Crescent Dough (or pizza dough) just like my crescent roll pizza! You can use jarred pizza sauce or if you have a little more time, homemade marinara sauce. Simple and delicious like my homemade pizza bagels!

Ingredients

pizza pinwheels on baking sheet

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Refrigerated crescent dough: Refrigerated crescent roll dough, store-bought pizza dough or homemade pizza dough works. If using crescents, press seams together.
  • Pizza sauce: Making homemade pizza sauce, tomato sauce, or marinara works well for the red sauce.
  • Mozzarella: Sprinkle shredded white mozzarella cheese over top the dough. Use as much or as little as you would like.
  • Pizza toppings: Pepperoni, crumbled sausage or veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers or onions.

How to Make Pizza Pinwheels

The process of making pizza pinwheels in a four step photo collage.
  1. Roll out the dough. To get started, you’ll need to flatten out the dough first. Be sure to flour the surface or use parchment paper to avoid sticking.
  2. Add sauce and toppings. Spread on the sauce and add some toppings. Each roll makes about a dozen pinwheels, and you can divide the toppings to get more variety.
  3. Roll the pinwheel. Roll dough lengthwise; I usually start by folding the edge and then continue the rolling motion, doing just a little bit at a time to keep the filling from falling out.
  4. Slice into pieces then bake. Using a sharp knife, slice into 1-inch pieces. Place on baking sheet and bake until tops are golden then serve with dipping sauces such as pizza sauce or ranch.
pizza pinwheels dipped in red sauce

Pizza Wheel Variations

There are so many fun variations you can make for these pizza pinwheels! Baked ham and cheese pinwheels is another favorite combination.

Dipping sauces:

Toppings:

  • Cheese: Mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey, and parmesan cheese are all great combinations.
  • Veggies: Peppers, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, basil, and jalapenos are all sliced and diced to warm through in the oven.
  • Meats: Pepperoni, turkey pepperoni, chicken, Canadian bacon, and ground beef are perfect combinations for meat lovers.

Filling combinations:

  • Pepperoni: Pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni for a traditional combination.
  • Veggie: Pizza sauce, mozzarella, and chopped veggies of choice.
  • BBQ chicken: BBQ sauce, chicken, mozzarella, and red onion sliced for a fun twist.
  • Alfredo: Alfredo or white pizza sauce, mozzarella, and cubed chicken for a light and tasty pizza.
  • Pesto: Pesto sauce, mozzarella, chicken, and tomatoes for an Italian favorite.
  • Buffalo: Buffalo sauce, mozzarella, chicken, and ranch for a spicy flavor.
pizza pinwheels on white plate

Other fun pizza recipes we love include this Valentine’s Day pizza, these Halloween pizzas or sheet pan pizza!

More Pizza Recipes

See all
See all
pizza pinwheels on baking sheet

Pizza Pinwheels

5 from 21 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 (about 12 pinwheels)
Easy pizza pinwheels made with refrigerated store-bought dough or homemade and customized with favorite pizza toppings. A game day appetizer ready in just 20 minutes!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 can refrigerated crescents , or pizza dough
  • ½ cup pizza sauce , more as needed
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese , more as needed

Optional toppings: pepperoni, bell peppers, olives, onions, mushrooms

For dipping: extra marinara or ranch

Instructions

  • Roll out dough. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Lightly flour a large wooden cutting board. Roll out pizza dough onto the floured surface, pressing seems together as you go.
  • Add toppings. Spread 1/2 cup pizza sauce evenly over the dough, to the edges. Top with shredded mozzarella and your choice of pizza toppings.
  • Roll up dough. Roll pizza width-wise (the longest side) and seal the edges. Slice into 1-inch pieces with a sharp serrated knife. Place pinwheels on the prepared cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the middles are cooked through.
  • Serve. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes, then serve with marinara or ranch for dipping.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Dough: For a thicker pinwheel use the Pillsbury pizza dough instead of crescent. You can also use half a batch of homemade pizza dough. 
Tips:
  • For larger pinwheels, roll lengthwise (the shortest side). You’ll want to make sure the fillings are the same for the whole pizza if you choose this method.
  • For a cleaner cut, use a sharp knife and cut slowly. You could also freeze the pinwheel roll for about 10-15 minutes before slicing. This helps preserve their shape! 
Variations: 
  • Pepperoni: Pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni
  • Veggie: Pizza or marinara sauce, mozzarella, chopped veggies of choice
  • BBQ chicken: BBQ sauce, chicken, mozzarella, red onion
  • Alfredo: Alfredo or white pizza sauce, mozzarella, chicken
  • Pesto: Pesto sauce, mozzarella, chicken, tomatoes
  • Buffalo: Buffalo sauce, mozzarella, chicken, ranch

Nutrition

Serving: 3pinwheels, Calories: 289kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 780mg, Potassium: 123mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 320IU, Vitamin C: 2.1mg, Calcium: 145mg, Iron: 1.2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

What’s in a pizza wheel?

Pinwheel pizza rolls are all different! The toppings and add-ons are endless! Choose your favorite toppings, cheese, and meat to roll up together.

How do I keep my dough from sticking?

Using parchment paper can help or even applying flour on an area to roll or pinch together the seams depending on which type of crescent rolls. You can freeze the roll for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing it to preserve its shape. I thought that was a great idea if you have the time!

How to store?

These homemade pizza pinwheels are best made the day of or right before enjoying. If you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, these pinwheels are stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days. When ready to reheat place in an air fryer, microwave, or warm up in the oven until they are heated through.

Can pizza pinwheels be frozen?

Yes! Pinwheels are a great snack to freeze. Once the pinwheel is baked and cooled completely, place the pinwheels in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months long. When ready to enjoy, place in the oven or microwave frozen and warm through.