Find the easiest Pizza Pinwheels with just a few simple ingredients and ready in less than 20 minutes! Use store-bought or homemade dough for this easy toddler meal.
Most weeks I make some kind of pizza recipe for kids since it is easy and includes flavors my kids enjoy. And these pinwheels are such a fun variation. You can make this easy family dinner recipe in less than 20 minutes as an easy lunch or dinner to share—and you can even stash the pinwheels recipe in the freezer to quickly reheat for a future easy meal.
I love the convenience of making this recipe with store-bought dough, but you can also use Whole Wheat Pizza Dough if you prefer.
This recipe is super versatile in that you can add whichever pizza toppings your kids enjoy, or you can make it with just dough, sauce, and cheese. Both ways are super delish!
(You may also like my Broccoli and Cheese Pinwheels, Pesto Pizza, Pizza Rolls and Pizza Bites. Or my full list of Shortcut Toddler Meals.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this easy pizza pinwheels recipe so you know what to have on hand and ready to go.
- Refrigerated crescent dough (or pizza dough): To make this super easy, I like to use crescent dough from the store. You can also use purchased or homemade pizza dough. The main difference is how long it takes to prep the dough. They bake similarly.
- Pizza sauce: Jarred pizza sauce makes this recipe come together quickly. You can also use marinara sauce if you prefer.
- Mozzarella cheese: I like to use shredded mozzarella cheese in this recipe for the expected Italian flavor and cheesy texture.
- Parmesan cheese: A little Parmesan cheese adds more flavor to this recipe, so I like to sprinkle it on top of the rolls before baking.
- Pizza toppings: Such as pepperoni, minced broccoli, cooked and crumbled sausage, or black olives (optional).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is an overview of how to make this pizza pinwheel recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full information, including the times and amounts.
- Preheat the oven. Spread the crescent dough out on a clean cutting board lined with parchment paper.
- Evenly spread on the pizza sauce and cheeses. Starting at one end, roll up lengthwise.
- Use a serrated knife to cut into 1-inch rounds.
- Transfer the pizza pinwheel slices to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes or until puffed up and golden brown. Serve warm.
A serrated knife is the easiest knife to use to slice pinwheels of any type.
If you use pizza dough in this pizza pinwheel recipe, it’s easier to stretch it in the air with your hands, or to stretch it placed on the parchment paper, than it is to roll it out.
With the layer of pizza sauce and the cheese, this pizza pinwheels recipe has a low likelihood of drying out. To prevent that when reheating, you can sprinkle very lightly with water.
How to Store
Once cooled, you can store the pizza pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on a heat-safe plate in the microwave or for 2-3 minutes in an air fryer on 325 degrees F.
You can also place the cooled pizza pinwheels into a freezer bag, remove as much air as possible, and seal. Freeze for up to 6 months. To warm from frozen, place on a heat-safe plate and warm in 15-second increments in the microwave.
This recipe is a great Freezer Meal and also is an easy option to meal prep as a make-ahead toddler dinner or easy kids lunch.
Best Tips for Success
- Use store-bought crescent dough, homemade pizza dough, or store-bought pizza dough to make this Pizza Pinwheels recipe.
- Add minced broccoli, cooked and crumbled sausage, pepperoni, or other pizza toppings your kids like as desired.
- Let cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a plate to let the cheese cool briefly.
- Top with Parmesan cheese and pizza seasoning for additional flavor, if desired.
- Serve this as dinner, lunch, a snack, or an appetizer.
- Use marinara sauce in place of pizza sauce, or add some extra on the side as a dip for Pizza Pinwheels.
- Try my fun Halloween pizza, too as an easy kids meal.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share!
Favorite Pizza Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 8 -ounce tube refrigerated crescent dough (or pizza dough)
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup optional pizza toppings, such as pepperoni, minced broccoli, cooked and crumbled sausage, or black olives (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the crescent dough out on a clean cutting board lined with parchment paper.
- Evenly spread on the pizza sauce and cheeses.
- Starting at one end, roll up lengthwise. Use a serrated knife to cut into 1-inch rounds.
- Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes or until puffed up and golden brown.
- Serve warm.
Equipment
Notes
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- Once cooled, you can store the pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on a heat-safe plate in the microwave or for 2-3 minutes in an air fryer on 325 degrees F. You can also place the cooled pinwheels into a freezer bag, remove as much air as possible, and seal. Freeze for up to 6 months. To warm from frozen, place on a heat-safe plate and warm in 15-second increments in the microwave.
- Use store-bought crescent dough or homemade pizza dough.
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- Dairy-free: Use nondairy cheese.
- Add minced broccoli, cooked and crumbled sausage, pepperoni, or other pizza toppings your kids like as desired.
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- Let cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a plate to let the cheese cool briefly.
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- Top with Parmesan cheese and pizza seasoning for additional flavor, if desired.
Easy and delicious! These are a go-to for weekend lunches now! Just make sure you buy the crescent dough SHEETS – I missed that the first time around 🙂
My family loved these! I used store bought pizza dough and cooked them a little longer – next time I might increase the oven temp a little too, they stayed kind of pale. We added some garlic butter to them for the last few minutes. My husband said, “all hail the queen!” when I said it was yet another of your recipes 😂
How do you roll it if the dough is sticky? I had to just cook it as a flat pizza. I used a silicone baking sheet instead of parchment paper with your pizza dough recipe (gf).
I put the dough onto parchment paper and use the paper to help roll it up. If it’s still too sticky, sprinkle it with flour. I can’t say how much stickier a gf version of the dough is, but hopefully that helps next time!
These are great! I used Trader Joe’s pizza dough and I think next time I would increase the oven temp to 425-450. (The instructions on the package call for baking at 450) They took closer to 20 min at 375 and still had a slightly undercooked dough flavor.