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!
Make sure you serve homemade marinara sauce or even my homemade pizza dipping sauces on the side when you make this for dinner.
This recipe is another favorite Family Dinner Idea I know your whole family is going to love!
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!
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.
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!
Looking for more Italian style recipes to add to your Weekly Meal Plan? Try my Homemade Pizza Dough for pizza night or my Cheesy Baked Tortellini.
Table of Contents
- 👩🍳Recipe Notes
- 🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
- 📋Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Directions:
- 1️⃣ Cook the Italian Sausage
- 2️⃣ Form the Stromboli
- 3️⃣ How to Roll a Stromboli
- 4️⃣ Brush with an Egg Wash
- 5️⃣ Baking Instructions
- 🍽 Make it a Meal
- Before You Begin!
- ⏲Prep Ahead Tips
- 🍶Storage Tips
- ❄️Freezing Tips
- 🔁 Thawing and Reheating Tips
- ➡️ Top Recipe Tip
- 🌟Try these recipes next...
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
👩🍳Recipe Notes
- 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.
Easy Family Meal PlannerClick HERE for More Information
🛒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
📋Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.
Substitutions and 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:
1️⃣ Cook the 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.
📌Quick Tip: 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.
2️⃣ Form the Stromboli
- 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.
- Spread the slightly cooled sausage, peppers and onion mixture over the top of the pizza dough to within ½ inch of the edges.
- Then add the mozzarella cheese on top.
- Add the pepperoni slices on top of the sausage and cheese layer.
📌Quick Tip: Roll out the pizza dough on top of parchment paper. That makes is easier to transfer the rolled up stromboli to a baking tray.
3️⃣ How to Roll a Stromboli
- Fold over one side and then fold the other side over on top.
- Pinch the ends on each side closed and tuck them under.
4️⃣ Brush with an Egg Wash
- 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.
5️⃣ Baking Instructions
- 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 20 - 30 minutes.
🍽 Make it a Meal
- Slice and serve alongside a small bowl of heated marinara sauce, or my homemade pizza dipping sauces.
Before You Begin!
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⏲Prep Ahead Tips
- You can prepare the sausage mixture a day or two ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
🍶Storage Tips
- 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.
❄️Freezing Tips
- 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.
➡️ Top Recipe Tip
- Make sure you allow the cooked sausage mixture to cool before adding it to the top of the rolled out pizza dough.
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.
While calzones can be fried, stromboli is meant to be baked for optimal results.
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.
🌟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
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Sausage and Pepperoni Stromboli
Equipment
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
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional estimates are provided using an online calculator and is an estimate per serving. Calorie accuracy isn't guaranteed.
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!