Pizza Roll Recipe: Crispy Filipino Pizza Bread Rolls
Craving pizza but don’t have the time or budget to make a full homemade pizza? These Pizza Rolls are the answer! Made with soft loaf bread, pizza sauce, hotdogs, ham, bell pepper and cheese, these crispy little rolls pack all the flavors you love in pizza into a fun, handheld snack.
Pizza Roll Recipe (Crispy Filipino Pizza Bread Rolls)
Equipment
- Large pot
- Frying pan
- Rolling pin or clean bottle
- Knife
- Chopping board
- Mixing bowls
- Tongs
- Wire rack or paper towel-lined plate
Ingredients
- 15 slices loaf bread
- Hotdogs enough for 15 rolls
- Ham slices enough for 15 rolls
- 1 medium green bell pepper cut into strips
- Cheese strips enough for 15 rolls
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- Cooking oil for frying
Instructions
Prepare the Fillings
- Boil the hotdogs for about 5 minutes. Remove from the water, let them cool, then cut them into strips.
- Lightly grease a frying pan and fry the ham until cooked and lightly browned. Let it cool, then cut it into strips.
- Cut the green bell pepper and cheese into strips. Set all the prepared fillings aside.
Prepare the Bread
- Using a knife, carefully cut off the sides or crusts of each loaf bread.
- Flatten each slice using a rolling pin or a clean bottle with a flat side. Continue until all 15 slices are flattened.
Make the Pizza Rolls
- Place one flattened bread slice on a clean surface.
- Spread about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce over the bread, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Place some hotdog, ham, green bell pepper, and cheese strips in the center.
- Carefully roll the bread tightly around the fillings. Press the edges gently to help seal the roll.
- Repeat with the remaining bread and fillings.
Coat and Fry
- Beat the eggs in a bowl until smooth. Place the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl.
- Dip each pizza roll into the beaten egg, making sure it is evenly coated.
- Immediately roll it in the breadcrumbs until completely covered.
- Heat enough cooking oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.
- Fry the breaded pizza rolls until golden brown and crispy, turning occasionally for even cooking.
- Remove from the oil and place on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Serve hot with pizza sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Roll the bread tightly so the filling stays inside while frying.
- Avoid overfilling the bread, as this can make the rolls difficult to seal.
- Keep the oil at medium heat to prevent the breadcrumbs from browning too quickly.
- You can substitute the hotdogs with sausage or pepperoni, or add onions and other vegetables.
- Mozzarella, cheddar, or a combination of cheeses can be used.
- If you don’t have pizza sauce, use tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, or ketchup instead.
- To bake, arrange the breaded rolls on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake at 200°C for 10–12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- For make-ahead preparation, freeze the breaded, uncooked rolls in a ziplock bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Fry directly from frozen, adding a little extra cooking time if needed.
- Best served hot and crispy with pizza sauce, ketchup, cheese sauce, or sweet chili sauce.
Nutrition
They are a great recipe when you want something homemade without spending hours in the kitchen. The ingredients are familiar, the preparation is straightforward, and the rolls look impressive enough for guests. Once you learn the method, you can create a version using whatever pizza-inspired fillings your family enjoys.
Serve these homemade pizza bread rolls as a merienda, party appetizer, lunchbox treat, or quick evening snack. They’re also a clever way to use leftover meats, vegetables, and cheese hiding in your refrigerator. Let’s make a batch!
What Is Pizza Roll?
A Pizza Roll is essentially a crispy bread roll filled with classic pizza ingredients. Unlike traditional pizza, there is no dough to knead, rise, or bake for a long time. Sliced loaf bread is flattened, spread with pizza sauce, filled with savory meats, vegetables, and cheese, then rolled tightly.
The rolls are coated in egg and breadcrumbs before being deep-fried until crisp on the outside. The result is a crunchy snack with a soft, flavorful center and melted cheese inside. Think of it as a cross between a pizza and a crispy spring roll!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There are plenty of reasons to put this easy Pizza Roll recipe on your merienda list. First, it is incredibly simple. You don’t need special baking equipment, pizza dough, or complicated cooking techniques. A rolling pin or even a clean bottle can flatten the bread, making this recipe accessible to beginners.
Most importantly, these pizza rolls are delicious. The breadcrumbs become crisp and golden while the cheese melts around the savory fillings. Serve them hot with extra pizza sauce, ketchup, or your favorite dip, and watch them disappear.
Ingredients
For the Pizza Rolls:
- 15 slices loaf bread
- Hotdogs, enough to fill the rolls
- Ham slices, enough to fill the rolls
- 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into strips
- Cheese strips, enough to fill the rolls
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- Cooking oil, for deep-frying
The amounts of hotdogs, ham, and cheese can be adjusted depending on the size of your bread and how generously you want to fill each roll.
Step-by-Step Method
1. Prepare the Hotdogs
If you’re using red Filipino hotdogs, boil them in water for about 5 minutes, or until heated through and cooked. Drain and let them cool enough to handle. Once cool, cut the hotdogs into strips that will fit easily inside the flattened bread.
2. Cook the Ham
Lightly grease a pan and fry the ham slices until cooked and lightly browned. Transfer them to a plate and allow them to cool. Cut the ham into strips similar in size to the hotdogs.
3. Prepare the Other Fillings
Cut the green bell pepper and cheese into strips. Keeping the fillings in long, narrow pieces makes them much easier to arrange and roll inside the bread.
4. Flatten the Bread
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut off the crusts from the loaf bread. Place one slice on a clean, flat surface and flatten it with a rolling pin. If you don’t have one, a clean glass bottle can work as a substitute. Roll the bread until it becomes thin and flexible.
Repeat with the remaining slices. Avoid making the bread too thin because it still needs enough strength to hold the fillings.
5. Fill and Roll
Place one flattened bread slice on your work surface. Spread about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce over the bread, leaving a small border around the edges. Arrange some hotdog, ham, green bell pepper, and cheese strips in the center.
Carefully roll the bread over the filling, similar to rolling a small wrap. Keep the roll fairly tight so the ingredients stay inside while frying. Gently press the edges to help seal the roll. Repeat until all the bread and fillings are used.
6. Prepare the Coating
Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them until smooth. Place the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl or shallow dish.
Dip each pizza roll into the beaten egg, making sure the entire surface is lightly coated. Immediately transfer it to the breadcrumbs and roll it around until evenly covered. Repeat with all the prepared rolls.
7. Fry Until Golden
Heat enough cooking oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the breaded pizza rolls into the pan. Avoid overcrowding the pan because this can lower the oil temperature and make the rolls greasy.
Fry the rolls, turning as needed, until the breadcrumbs are crisp and golden brown. This usually takes only a few minutes because the fillings have already been cooked.
Transfer the finished rolls to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Let them cool slightly before serving.
Tips and Variations
Keep the Rolls Tightly Wrapped
A loose roll can open during frying, allowing the cheese and fillings to escape. Roll firmly and press the edges gently to secure them.
Don’t Overfill
It can be tempting to add lots of cheese and toppings, but overfilling makes the bread difficult to roll and seal. A modest amount of filling gives you a neater, crispier snack.
Control the Oil Temperature
The oil should be hot enough to brown the breadcrumbs quickly. If the oil is too cool, the bread can absorb too much oil. If it is extremely hot, the outside may brown before the cheese inside melts properly.
Try Different Fillings
This recipe is perfect for using up small amounts of ingredients. Replace the hotdogs with sausage or pepperoni, or add thin strips of onion, mushrooms, or other vegetables. You can also use leftover cooked chicken or other suitable meats.
Change the Cheese
Mozzarella gives you a classic stretchy pizza effect, while cheddar adds a stronger flavor. A combination of cheeses works beautifully, too.
Make It Spicy
Add a little chopped chili, jalapeño, or chili flakes for a spicy version. A drizzle of hot sauce before serving can also add a nice kick.
No Pizza Sauce? No Problem!
Tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, or even ketchup can work as a quick substitute. Add a little dried oregano or Italian seasoning if you want more pizza flavor.
Baking and Air-Frying Options
Although deep-frying gives these Pizza Rolls their signature crunchy coating, you can bake them if you prefer using less oil. Arrange the breaded rolls about 1 inch apart on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 200°C oven for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp.
For an air fryer, arrange the rolls in a single layer and lightly spray or brush them with oil. Air-fry at around 180°C until golden and crisp, turning halfway through if needed.
Storage and Reheating
If you want to prepare these Pizza Rolls ahead of time, assemble and coat the rolls with breadcrumbs, but do not fry them. Place them in a freezer-safe ziplock bag or airtight container, separating layers if necessary, and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
When ready to cook, you can fry them directly from frozen. Use moderate heat so the outside does not brown too quickly while the center warms through. Add a little extra cooking time if needed.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these crispy Pizza Rolls hot while the cheese is still warm and gooey. They are delicious with extra pizza sauce for dipping, but you can also serve them with ketchup, mayonnaise, cheese sauce, or sweet chili sauce.
For parties, arrange the rolls on a platter with several dipping sauces in small bowls. They make an easy finger food for birthdays, family gatherings, movie nights, and casual celebrations.
For a simple Filipino merienda, pair them with a cold drink, iced tea, or your favorite homemade beverage. Because they are handheld and easy to eat, they are also great for packed snacks and school or work lunchboxes.
Conclusion
This easy Pizza Roll recipe is proof that you don’t need expensive ingredients or homemade dough to enjoy the flavors of pizza at home. With simple loaf bread, pizza sauce, hotdogs, ham, bell pepper, cheese, and a crispy breadcrumb coating, you can make a delicious snack that the whole family will enjoy.
The best part is how easy these pizza bread rolls are to customize. Use your favorite meats, add vegetables, switch up the cheese, or make a spicy version for a little extra excitement. You can even prepare a batch ahead of time and keep them frozen for a quick snack whenever a pizza craving strikes.
Whether you’re cooking for your family, preparing party appetizers, or simply looking for an affordable merienda, these crispy homemade Pizza Rolls are worth trying. Fry a batch, grab your favorite dipping sauce, and enjoy every crunchy, cheesy bite!
