Football Shaped Pepperoni Bites
Festive, cheesy mini footballs baked to golden perfection—made with refrigerated dough, gooey mozzarella, and beef or turkey pepperoni. Perfect for game day platters, quick appetizers, or fun family snacking with marinara on the side.
Ingredients
- 1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza dough (or crescent sheet dough)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or small cubes)
- 20–25 slices beef or turkey pepperoni, patted dry
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1/2 cup marinara or pizza sauce, warmed (for dipping)
- cooking spray or olive oil, for greasing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease it.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the pizza dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. If using crescent dough, pinch seams to form one sheet.
- Cut the dough into 3–4 inch ovals to resemble footballs. Gather scraps, re-roll once, and cut more shapes.
- Place 2–3 slices of beef or turkey pepperoni on half of the ovals. Add about 1 tablespoon shredded mozzarella (or a small cube) in the center of each.
- Brush the edges with beaten egg. Top each with a second dough oval, pinch to seal, then crimp edges with a fork for a tight seal.
- Lightly score laces on top with a knife or add very thin strips of mozzarella for laces (optional). Brush tops with remaining egg wash.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning and optional Parmesan over the tops.
- Bake 12–15 minutes, rotating the pan once, until puffed and deep golden brown.
- Cool 3–5 minutes on a rack, then serve warm with marinara for dipping.
Nutrition
Serving: 1pieceCalories: 175kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 7gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 380mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g
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