What to do with leftover pizza dough? You can make everything from pizza dough donuts to pizza dough garlic rolls to garlic knots and cinnamon rolls and more. Pizza dough is a versatile kitchen gem, offering countless possibilities beyond the classic pizza crust. This post isn’t about learning to make your own pizza dough, these recipes use store-bought pizza dough, to create interesting new recipes that keep it easy on the cook.
I don’t make pizza often and when the kids were still at home I’m not even sure they sold fresh pizza dough.
I often used a Boboli crust to make pizza and everyone loved it.
I think I thought to use pizza dough for rolls after one of my favorite restaurants closed down.
Yes, Al Fresco with its wonderful ziti, always served everyone the most delectable pizza rolls and it was hard to stop at one.
It took me awhile but I figured I could come up with something similar by using pizza dough.
It’s been a long time since the restarant has been open, but I think these pizza rolls are very similar.
During The Great American recipe if we hadn’t switched recipes with the other cooks, I would have made these on the show to go with my ziti al fresco.
Alas, Khela made a salad instead of rolls.
Don’t you just hate people like that? LOL!
How to make leftover pizza dough killer garlic rolls:
Begin by bringing the plain pizza dough to room temperature for 20 minutes.
On a lightly floured surface roll dough into a rectangle 12″ long by 6″ wide.
Combine seasonings that include coarse salt, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, oregano and paprika, with the parmesan cheese.
Set aside a few tablespoons to sprinkle on top of each roll before baking.
Brush the pizza dough with garlic oil. (I buy it from Costco.)
Sprinkle the dough with most of the cheese mixture, then roll up the dough and slice into 12 equal slices.
Grease a muffin tin with garlic oil and place a slice into each muffin cup.
Set rolls aside to rise for 20 to 30 minutes.
Brush lightly with more garlic oil and sprinkle with remainder of cheese mixture.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
So whether you have leftover pizza dough or not, I highly recommend making these!
If you want you could serve them with a side of marinara sauce but this is totally not necessary.
Butter or garlic oil also works fine for something extra!
What to do with leftover pizza dough?
1. Homemade Garlic Knots: A Flavor Explosion
Turn that extra pizza dough into irresistible homemade garlic knots.
Roll small dough balls, bake until golden brown, then toss them in a mixture of melted butter, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning.
The result? A batch of fluffy, flavorful knots that will disappear in minutes.
Yes, you could turn my recipe into knots, but I find it much easier to roll them up and put them in a pan!
2. Pizza Fries: A Twist on a Classic Craving
Satisfy your pizza craving in a whole new way with pizza fries. Cut the dough into thin strips, bake until crisp, and serve with a side of tomato sauce for dipping.
It’s a fun and shareable snack perfect for game days or casual gatherings.
Of course, I’ve also seen French fries topped with mainara sauce and cheese and thought that looked mighty fine, too!
3. Homemade Garlic Bread: Upgrade Your Pizza Night
Who does’t love a side of homemade garlic bread? Roll out the dough, brush with a garlic butter mixture, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and bake until golden brown.
The result is a crisp crust and a side that will have everyone asking for seconds.This isn’t like a loaf of bread, but I’ve never seen anyone turn it down!
4. Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls: Sweet!
Give your pizza dough a sweet twist by creating cinnamon rolls.
Roll out the dough, spread with butter, sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon, brown sugar, and bake until golden brown.
Top with a simple glaze or cream cheese frosting for a sinful breakfast or dessert treat. Let them rise long enough to develop a fluffy texture before baking.
I have to admit I love my easy cinnamon rolls but I just might have to give these a try!
5. Pizza Dough Stromboli: A Crowd Pleaser:
When the kids had sports dinners in high school I always brought stromboli.
Everyone else brought fried chicken! Well, guess what disappeared first?
Roll out the dough. Spread with marinara, layer with ham, pepperoni and mozzarella or provolone cheese.
Roll up like a giant jelly roll. Bake and enjoy!
In fact, I dare say, that these might even be preferred to pizza on your next pizza night!
6. Pretzel Bites: A Soft and Salty Snack
Transform pizza dough into addictive pretzel bites.
Boil the dough pieces in baking soda and water, bake until golden, and sprinkle with sea salt or everything seasoning.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or just mustard for something no one expected!
7. Pizza Dough Dinner Rolls: A Dinner Side
Add these pizza dough dinner rolls to your dinner table.
Shape the dough into equal pieces, brush with melted butter and top with sesame seeds, let rise until puffy, and bake until golden brown.
These fluffy rolls are the perfect solution to making dinner extra special.
8. Pizza Dough Garlic Breadsticks: Ultimate Comfort Food
Create the ultimate comfort food with pizza dough garlic breadsticks.
Roll out the dough, then slice and roll into breadsticks, brush with garlic butter, and bake until golden brown.
These delicious breadsticks are perfect for dipping into marinara sauce. However, I would be more tempted to dip them into queso!
9. Pizza Dough Focaccia: Don’t Forget to Decorate!
Elevate your leftover pizza dough with a homemade focaccia.
Press the dough into a baking sheet covered with olive oil, then dimple the dough with your fingertips, then drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and Italian seasoning, and bake until golden.
Decorate and make your own artwork! This versatile bread is a popular Italian snack!
10. Pizza Dough Calzones: Personalized Pizza Pies
Craft your personalized pizza pies with pizza dough calzones.
Fill half of the rolled-out dough with your favorite pizza ingredients, fold, seal the edges, and bake until golden brown. A delicious twist on the classic pizza.
11. Pizza Dough Breadsticks: Perfect for Dipping
Enhance your pizza night with pizza dough breadsticks. Roll out the dough, bake until golden, and serve with marinara sauce for a good snack or roll in cinnamon sugar and butter for a sweet topping that is perfect at breakfast.
12. Pizza Dough Flatbread: Quick and Easy Appetizer
Transform pizza dough into a quick and easy appetizer by creating flatbread.
Roll out the dough, brush with olive oil, and add your favorite toppings. I love sprinkling with za’atar and cooking the flatbread on the grill.
However thin leftover dough cooks up well in a cast-iron skillet, too!
13. Pizza Dough Bagels: A Breakfast Upgrade
Upgrade your breakfast routine with pizza dough bagels.
Shape the dough into rings, boil, and bake until golden.
Top with cream cheese or your favorite spreads for a delicious morning treat.
I’ve never tried these, but what a great idea!
14. Pizza Dough Donuts: Sweet Indulgence
Every now and then for Hanukkah I make pizza dough donuts.
I found this recipe from Giada and they are one of the best things I’ve ever made from leftover pizza dough!
I formed my pizza dough into rounds and shaped them into balls before dropping into hot oil.
Coat with cinnamon sugar or serve with dipping sauces like chocolate or caramel.
15. Pizza Dough Quesadillas: Fusion Flavors
Fuse Italian and Mexican flavors with pizza dough quesadillas.
Top the dough with cheese, veggies, and your favorite proteins, fold, and cook until golden for a change from the tortilla.
16. Pizza Dough Nachos: Crunch!
Add a creative crunch to your snack game with pizza dough nachos.
Cut the dough into triangles, bake until crisp, sprinkle with salt or nacho cheese seasoning and serve some pickled jalapenos and salsa on the side.
17. Pizza Dough Galette: Rustic Elegance
Embrace rustic elegance with a pizza dough galette.
Roll out the dough, fill with fresh fruit or savory ingredients, fold the edges, and bake until golden for a simple dessert or appetizer.
Think mushrooms! Or peaches!
18. Pizza Dough Egg Rolls: Crispy Fusion Snack
Combine flavors with pizza dough egg rolls.
Fill the dough with a mix of pizza ingredients, roll, and fry until crispy for a delightful fusion snack.
Or just fill with Italian sausage for a great sausage roll.
Leftover Pizza Dough?
I hope this gave you some new ideas on what to do with it!
It was fun working on this what to do with leftover pizza dough post.
I honestly had no idea there is so much one can do with store bought dough.
I haven’t tried many of these, but the next time I buy store-bought dough and don’t get around to making pizza, I know what to do!
All of these seem like such a good idea that I just may buy some pizza dough and not make pizza!
What about you? What would you do with extra dough?
With leftover pizza dough it appears the sky is the limit.
So, the next time you have extra pizza dough, don’t let it go to waste—try one of these fun recipes and let me know how it turns out.
I’ll be honest though-start with the garlic rolls!
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Boboli Pizza with Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce
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What To Do with Leftover Pizza Dough
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Total Time: 45 Minutes*
- Yield: 12 Servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: Italian/American
Description
So many ways to use pizza dough! What is you favorite? Mine is making these killer garlic rolls!
Ingredients
Pizza Rolls:
1 lb pizza dough at room temperature
1/3 c grated Parmigiano Reggiano
1 t coarse salt
1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes
1 t garlic powder
2 t oregano
1 t paprika
Garlic olive oil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400.
Roll out pizza dough to about a 12” roll. then roll out into a rectangle about 12” long and 6” wide. Using a pastry brush, brush with garlic oil.
Combine seasonings, grated cheese, and mix well. Sprinkle on pizza dough and roll up as you would a jelly roll. Cut up into 12 equal slices.
Place each side cut side up into a greased muffin cup that has been greased with garlic oil. Let rise as long as you can before placing on oven and baking for 15 minutes.
Notes
One way we love to use leftover pizza dough! And honestly, I buy pizza dough just to make these!
*Does Not include rise time
Lea Ann
Friday 26th of January 2024
I love this garlic roll idea Abbe. It's a must try soon for me. I used to get pizza dough from an Italian restaurant in Highlands Ranch, that has been closed for years. It was such a luxury because it was right on the way home from work. Anyway .... great ideas in this post. Thanks.
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!
Thursday 25th of January 2024
When I first began to read your post, because of the size of my screen, the word "dough" was separated from the rest of the title, and I thought, "Use leftover pizza? I hope one of the ways is 'eat it for breakfast.'" Anyway, yes, leftover pizza dough - I love what you've done with it!