Description
These irresistible Pizza Sticks are a fun and tasty twist on classic pizza, featuring mini pepperoni skewered and wrapped in garlic basil butter brushed pizza dough, baked to golden perfection and topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Served with a side of pizza sauce, they make an ideal appetizer or snack for any pizza lover.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough and Butter Mixture
- 13.8 oz refrigerated pizza crust
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (1/2 stick)
- 3/4 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
Filling and Toppings
- 5 oz mini pepperoni slices (1 package, e.g., Hormel)
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup pizza sauce (store bought or homemade)
Additional
- 10 bamboo skewers (soaked in warm water for at least 30 minutes or metal skewers)
- Cooking spray (for baking sheet)
Instructions
- Prepare Skewers: Soak 10 bamboo skewers in warm water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during baking, or use metal skewers if preferred.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dough: Unroll the refrigerated pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic salt, and chopped fresh basil, then brush this mixture lightly and evenly over the surface of the dough.
- Cut Dough Strips: Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the dough lengthwise into 1-inch wide strips to be used for wrapping the pepperoni on skewers.
- Skewer the Pepperoni: Thread 5 to 7 mini pepperoni slices onto each skewer, leaving small gaps between slices to allow the dough to wrap around and show through.
- Wrap Dough Around Skewers: Starting at one end of a dough strip, pierce it with the pointed end of a skewer. Carefully spiral-wrap the dough strip around the pepperoni on the skewer, allowing some pepperoni to peek through. Secure the end of the dough by wrapping it around the bottom of the skewer and pressing the dough ends together to adhere.
- Bake: Place the prepared skewers on the baking sheet. Brush the dough-wrapped skewers with additional garlic basil butter. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the dough turns light golden brown and is cooked through.
- Add Cheese and Serve: Remove the skewers from the oven and immediately sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over them. Return to the oven if needed to allow the cheese to melt, then serve hot with pizza sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Soaking bamboo skewers prevents them from burning in the oven.
- Using metal skewers is an alternative to soaked bamboo skewers.
- Fresh basil can be swapped with dried basil if unavailable, but reduce quantity to 1 teaspoon.
- Store-bought pizza sauce works well, but homemade sauce adds extra freshness.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute pepperoni with sliced mushrooms or roasted vegetables.
- Ensure dough is fully baked and lightly golden for best texture and flavor.
- Leftover pizza sticks can be reheated in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up.
