Indulge in a slice of Italy with every bite of this sausage and pepperoni stromboli that's stuffed with Italian sausage, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese!
This is an easy meal for your family on busy weeknights. While it's also a great dish to serve for barbecues, family parties or for church potluck meals.
This recipe is another favorite Family Dinner Idea I know your whole family is going to love!
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Nothing says 'family fun' like gathering around the kitchen and making something delicious together! This stromboli recipe is almost like a sausage and pepper roll stuffed inside pizza dough!
The best way to describe a stromboli is as a pizza made with your favorite toppings only rolled up into a log shape, baked, sliced and served with plenty of marinara sauce for dipping!
Make sure you serve homemade marinara sauce or even my homemade pizza dipping sauces on the side when you make this for dinner.
Looking for more Italian style recipes to add to your Weekly Meal Plan? Try my Homemade Pizza Dough with beer in the dough for an even crispier crust or my Cheesy Baked Tortellini.
Table of Contents
- Why you'll LOVE this Dish:
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients
- Recipe Variations
- Step-by-Step Directions:
- How to Cook Italian Sausage
- How to Form a Stromboli
- How to Roll a Stromboli
- Brush with an Egg Wash
- Baking Instructions
- Serving Tips
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- Recipe Tips that Worked for Me
- Storage, Freezing, Reheating Tips
- Recipe FAQ's
- Try these recipes next...
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Why you'll LOVE this Dish:
It’s quick and easy – Minimal prep and simple ingredients make it perfect for busy weeknights.
Family-friendly – The cheesy, savory flavors are a hit with both kids and adults.
Great for sharing – Whether it’s game day, a party, or just dinner at home, this roll is easy to slice and serve.
Customizable – You can swap in your favorite meats, cheeses, or even add veggies.
Comfort food – It’s warm, hearty, and satisfies those pizza cravings without the extra effort. This recipe reminds me of my childhood!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Reynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Sheets, Pre-CutMore InformationNon-Stick Kitchen Baking PansMore InformationOversized Cutting Board, 3 PieceMore InformationPizza CutterMore InformationChefs on the Go PlatesMore Information
Main Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Recipe Variations
You can swap out the sausage completely and use chopped cooked meatballs with marinara sauce. Add sliced mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers for a hearty and satisfying meal.
Use your favorite sandwich meats like salami, ham or turkey!
Try thinly sliced steak, sautéed onions and peppers, and melted provolone or Cheez Whiz for a Philly-inspired take on this classic dish.
Swap out the meat completely for your favorite veggies for a fresh and flavorful twist.
Step-by-Step Directions:
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
How to Cook Italian Sausage
- Remove the sausage links from the casings. I'm "old-school" and like to squeeze the meat out of the casings, but you can slice the casings and remove the meat that way as well.
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up using the back of a fork. You can also use a meat chopper!
- Add the onions, peppers and garlic and cook until the sausage is no longer pink and cooked through.
- Remove the mixture from heat and allow to cool while you prepare the pizza dough.
How to Form a Stromboli
Step 1: On a lightly floured cutting board or your kitchen counter, roll out the pizza dough to about a 9X11 rectangle. You don't want it bigger than your baking tray.
Step 2: After the sausage, peppers, and onions have cooled slightly, evenly distribute the mixture over the pizza dough, leaving a half-inch border around the edges. Next, add a layer of mozzarella cheese over the the sausage mixture. Finally, arrange the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
How to Roll a Stromboli
Step 3: Begin by folding one side of the dough over the filling, then bring the other side over the top and firmly pinch the ends on both sides to seal them. Then tuck the sealed edges under the bottom.
Brush with an Egg Wash
Step 4: Grab the corners of the parchment paper and place the stromboli on a cookie sheet. Brush with the egg wash and then sprinkle with Italian Seasoning.
Baking Instructions
Step 5: Bake in a preheated 435°F oven until golden brown and the surface makes a hollow sound when you tap on it. This should take about 25 minutes.
Serving Tips
Step 6: Slice and serve alongside a small bowl of heated marinara sauce, or my homemade pizza dipping sauces.
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Recipe Tips that Worked for Me
- The key to a good stromboli is fresh pizza dough. If you don't have time to make your homemade pizza dough, you can usually find pre-made dough at your local grocery store.
- Make sure the dough is even so that you don't end up with thin spots that might tear during baking.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle shape that's about ¼ inch thick.
- You can prepare the sausage mixture a day or two ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- If you add the sausage mixture while it is hot to the top of the pizza dough, it will be a huge mess when you try to roll it up.
Storage, Freezing, Reheating Tips
Refrigerator: Allow the stromboli to cool down to room temperature before storing it. This will prevent moisture from building up inside the container.Wrap it tightly with aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Wrap the stromboli tightly in plastic wrap, making sure to cover it completely. Then wrap it again with aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Place the wrapped stromboli in the freezer, where it can be stored for up to 3 months.
Thawing and Reheating Tips: When you're ready to enjoy your stromboli, preheat your oven to 350°F and bake it for 5-10 minutes, or until it's heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute, but this may result in a slightly soggy crust.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
One of the main reasons strombolis can become soggy is because the sausage mixture was added to the pizza dough while it was too hot. Make sure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature before baking the stromboli. This will ensure that the crust gets crispy and the cheese gets melted without overcooking the filling.
While calzones can be fried, stromboli is meant to be baked for best results.
The main difference between a calzone and a stromboli is their shape. Calzones are folded over like a half-moon or a turnover, while strombolis are rolled up like a jelly roll or a burrito.
Try these recipes next...
- Bread Sticks - made from homemade pizza dough or refrigerated pizza dough.
- Homemade Tomato Sauce and Meatballs - this is the homemade marinara sauce I use for dipping the stromboli in.
- Garlic Butter - make your own homemade garlic bread using this butter recipe.
- Cheesy Baked Tortellini - easy weeknight dinner ready in under 30 minutes!
📖 Recipe Card
Sausage and Pepperoni Stromboli
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage links; sweet and hot
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- ¼ cup chopped sweet red pepper
- ¼ cup chopped green pepper
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- 1 ½ cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon. Italian seasoning
- 1 recipe pizza dough
- 1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water for an egg wash
Equipment
Method
- Remove the sausage from the casings.
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up using the back of a fork.
- Add the onions and peppers. Cook until the sausage is no longer pink and cooked through.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes while you prepare the pizza dough.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle shape.
- Spread the slightly cooled sausage and onion mixture over the top of the pizza dough to within ½ inch of the edges.
- Add the pepperoni slices on top of the sausage mixture.
- Add the grated mozzarella cheese on top.
- Starting with one end, fold over one side and then fold the other side over on top.
- Pinch the ends on each side closed and tuck them under., arrange seam side down on a baking tray that's been lined with parchment paper.
- Brush with the egg wash and then sprinkle the Italian seasoning on top of the surface.
- Bake in a preheated 435°F oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve with homemade tomato sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Charlene Hill says
Love your posts!
Lois says
Thank you Charlene!
Lynnette Moore says
One of my favorite recipes that I make over and over again, thanks to you!! Nettie
Blondee says
YUM!!
Cheryl @ TFD says
Looks and sounds very yummy!
Swathi Iyer says
Delicious and filling rolls.
Beth says
that looks delicious!