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Warning: This easy-to-make monkey bread is also very addictive. A cross between pizza and buttery garlic rolls, we couldn’t stop gobbling up bite after cheesy bite.
Every year we have a fun little family Super Bowl party. We’re huge Monkey Bread fans, so the Super Bowl seemed like the perfect time to try out a savory Monkey Bread. The Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread from Confections of a Foodie Bride and the Pizza Monkey Bread from What’s Gaby Cooking were my inspirations for this recipe.
To make this an easy Super Bowl recipe, I started with frozen roll dough. Of course you could make your own dough if you prefer. I have a Whole Wheat Pizza Dough recipe that makes a great pizza. The first time I made this I used low fat mozzarella sticks (string cheese), but they didn’t melt very well, so I recommend buying whole or part skim mozzarella and cutting it into squares.
We loved the bottom rolls because of the crispy edges. So, after you remove the pizza bread from the bundt pan, put it back in the oven for a few more minutes to crisp up the sides and bottom of the bread.
You can also bake it in a 9 x 13 pan instead of a bundt pan. Of course then I guess you’d have to call it Pizza Pull Apart Rolls.
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Easy Pizza Monkey Bread
Ingredients
Dough
- 24 Frozen Dinner Rolls thawed but still cold*
- 48 slices of pepperoni
- 8 oz. mozzarella cheese cubed in to 48 pieces
- ½ cup Butter melted
- ⅔ cup Parmesan Romano cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 5 cloves garlic finely minced or pressed
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Homemade Pizza Sauce
- 2 garlic cloves minced or pressed
- 1 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
- 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes in rich puree
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
Instructions
- Cut rolls in half and flatten each half. Top with one slice of pepperoni and one cube of mozzarella. Wrap the dough around the pepperoni and cheese to completely enclose and form a ball.
- In a small bowl combine melted butter, cheese, parsley, basil, garlic, salt and pepper.
- Roll dough to lightly coat with cheese mixture and place in a bundt pan coated with non-stick spray.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until almost to the top of the pan (about 45 minutes). Remove plastic wrap and bake at 350°F 30 – 35 minutes. Cover with foil if the top is getting too brown. (You might want to put a sheet pan on the rack under the bundt pan to catch any greasy drips.)
- Remove from oven and invert on to an oven safe serving tray, remove bundt pan. Put the serving tray back in to the oven for about 5 minutes more to crisp up the top and bottom rolls.
- Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.
- *I like to thaw the rolls in a single layer in a plastic bag overnight in the fridge.
- Homemade Pizza Sauce
- In a small saucepan, sauté garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until sauce reaches desired thickness. Sauce may be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Video
Also on the menu for our Super Bowl party:
Strawberry Mango Salsa and Cinnamon Tortilla Chips, Barbara Bakes
Individual Seven-Layer Dips, The Girl Who Ate Everything
Nutella Caramel Cookies, Barbara Bakes
Microwave Caramel Popcorn, Real Mom Kitchen
MaryEllen
Sounds awesome!!! How much time should I allow for rising if using a 9×13 pan? Was the Precious Part Skim Mozzarella snack sticks? Thanks so much.
Barbara
Thanks MaryEllen – it will probably take about 45 minutes for the dough to rise, depending on how warm you house is. I originally used string cheese sticks, but the second time I made it I used Precious Part Skim Mozzarella in a block and cut it up, and it melted much better.
MaryEllen
Thanks so much Barbara…very helpful…can’t wait to make them for our daughter and her family coming to visit.
andi
Oh this looks wonderful, I just made this pastweek a pizza very simular that I again stole from another blogger, while it was good, it was alot of bread, and not enough sauce, My dau told me she saw what you made on pinterest(addicting) so I am going to try this again soon. Love the presentation. Oh, and anymore cookie recipes that I can make? Love your cookies….yum yum andi
Barbara
Hi Andi – I love this Pizza Monkey bread. I’m sure your family will too. I have so many great cookie recipes. https://www.barbarabakes.com/category/dessert/cookies/ Definitely try the Chocolate Nuttela Caramel Cookies and the Lemon Cookie Cups recipes my newest favorites.
Elizabeth
I love making pizza rolls, but I’ve never made them into monkey bread. Looks delicious!
Jennifer Ward-Pelar
Found you on LinkedIN. My husband LOVES monkey bread! This one will be such fun to make! Thanks!!
Sue
I can easily see why this would be addictive!
Becki's Whole Life
You had some great food at your super bowl party! This is a great recipe. I love Monkey bread, but have never done a savory one. The melted butter and parm sounds wonderful with the rolls. Yum – I will have to try this one!
Natalie A.
This is a must have recipe I can tell! I don’t think this would last very long at my house!! Thanks for sharing!
Bizzy Chaya
I am sure this is addictive. What a fabulous idea.
Asmita
The pizza monkey bread look delicious!!! This is the first time I have seen a dish like that. Love the presentation.
My Inner Chick
—I LOVE your recipes.
But I always gain weight from them! Haaaa
baker in disguise
this looks soo good… super-bowl or no super-bowl…you can have this around the table with cups of hot soup for everyone!!! the conversation and gossip just won’t stop!!
Deeps @ Naughty Curry
this is truly the most innovative dish iv seen… love the pull-apart pizza roll idea.. must have been fab 🙂
Katherine Martinelli
Oh I just love the idea of a savory monkey bread!! What a great game day recipe. Thanks for linking it up at my blog hop!
Shumaila
Love it! Absolutely love it! Will definitely be trying this recipe soon!
Deborah
I love this!! I’m afraid I could do some damage, all by myself…
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I want a few for the dinner! Looks terrific!
Katie {Epicurean Mom}
Wow Barbara, this looks fantastic! I’m going to make this for Super Bowl!
Rocky Mountain Woman
I am going to a neighbor’s house for the Super Bowl and I believe this will be going with me! I’m sure it will be a hit…
patsy
This looks so easy, and I know it would be perfect for nibbling while watching the game!
Melanie
Never heard of savory monkey bread. Sounds almost better than the sweet kind. Just curious if your balls of dough stayed closed after wrapping up the cheese and pepperoni? Going to have to try this one soon!!
Barbara
Hi Melanie – as far as I know, none of the rolls popped open. It would be hard to notice if they did since the bread is all squished together in the pan, but none of the outside ones did. Hope you give it a try soon. Thanks!