Easy Homemade Margherita Pizza Wheels: Your New Favorite Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella Appetizer
Imagine your favorite classic Margherita pizza – that perfect blend of vibrant tomato, aromatic basil, and creamy mozzarella – transformed into delightful, single-serving bites. These Margherita Pizza Wheels are exactly that: a fun, convenient, and utterly delicious twist on a beloved Italian classic. Perfect as a quick snack, a crowd-pleasing appetizer, or a light meal, these homemade pizza rolls are designed to bring joy and ease to your kitchen.
Bringing Home the Best: Inspiration from Austin and Beyond
My family and I recently returned from an inspiring long weekend in Austin, Texas, where I had the wonderful opportunity to attend this year’s BlogHer Food conference. Austin’s vibrant culinary scene and the incredible energy of the conference always leave me buzzing with new ideas for the kitchen. While I have many stories and insights from the event to share, a particular recipe developed in its wake deserves the spotlight first: these absolutely incredible Margherita Pizza Wheels. They perfectly encapsulate the spirit of creative, accessible, and delicious cooking that inspires me.
There’s truly nothing overly fancy or complicated about this recipe. It’s simply a clever and incredibly appealing new way to enjoy an old favorite. The idea for rolling up pizza toppings into convenient spirals was sparked when I saw these fantastic pepperoni pizza wheels by Spoon Fork Bacon. I immediately knew I had to adapt this ingenious concept, infusing it with my personal touch by featuring the fresh, timeless flavors of tomato, basil, and mozzarella – the heart and soul of a classic Margherita.
Why These Pizza Wheels Will Be Your New Favorite
Beyond their charming appearance, these Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Pizza Wheels offer numerous benefits that make them a standout recipe:
- Perfect Portion Control: Each wheel is a single, tidy serving, making them ideal for gatherings, school lunches, or quick snacks without the mess of traditional pizza slices.
- Irresistible Flavor Combination: The timeless trio of sweet tomato, fragrant basil, and creamy mozzarella creates a harmonious flavor profile that appeals to everyone, from children to adults.
- Fantastic for Entertaining: Whether you’re hosting a game night, a casual get-together, or simply need an easy appetizer, these pizza wheels are guaranteed to be a hit. Serve them with a side of extra marinara for dipping!
- Kid-Friendly & Fun to Make: Kids love helping roll and slice the dough, and they’re even more excited to eat the finished product. It’s a great way to involve the whole family in the cooking process.
- Versatile & Customizable: While we stick to the classic Margherita here, the concept allows for endless customization with other toppings once you master the basic technique.
- Quick Preparation: With just 20 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cook time, you can have a batch of these delicious pizza wheels ready in under an hour.
The Simple Ingredients That Make Them Shine
The magic of Margherita pizza lies in the quality and simplicity of its core ingredients. For these pizza wheels, a focus on fresh components ensures an authentic and utterly delicious experience.
The Dough: Your Foundation for Flavor
Our journey begins with the pizza dough. I highly recommend using my tried-and-true basic pizza dough recipe. It’s wonderfully easy to work with and provides the perfect texture. However, if time is of the essence, a good quality store-bought pizza dough from your local grocery store or bakery will work beautifully. Just make sure it’s brought to room temperature before you begin rolling, as this makes it much more pliable and easier to handle without tearing.
The Marinara: A Taste of Homemade Goodness
Next, we layer on a super simple yet incredibly flavorful homemade marinara sauce. While store-bought marinara can be a quick substitute, taking a few extra minutes to prepare this easy version is truly rewarding. It starts with olive oil, finely chopped onions, and fragrant minced garlic, sautéed until translucent. Then, diced tomatoes, a blend of fresh herbs (like basil, oregano, and thyme), a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick, and salt are added. This mixture simmers down until thickened, concentrating all those wonderful flavors. A quick blend in a food processor or with an immersion blender creates a smooth, rich sauce that forms the savory core of our pizza wheels.
The Cheese: Fresh Mozzarella, Unparalleled Creaminess
For an authentic Margherita, fresh mozzarella cheese is absolutely essential. Its delicate flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture are unparalleled. Thinly slicing the mozzarella ensures that it melts evenly throughout the pizza wheels, creating those irresistible pockets of gooey, stretchy goodness in every bite. Steer clear of pre-shredded varieties, which often contain starches that prevent them from melting as smoothly as fresh mozzarella.
The Basil: The Aromatic Heart of Margherita
No Margherita is complete without fresh basil. Its sweet, slightly peppery, and intensely aromatic leaves are what give this pizza its signature flavor profile. Generously chopped basil leaves are sprinkled over the marinara and mozzarella, infusing the entire roll with its vibrant essence. The aroma of fresh basil as it bakes is simply divine and a true hallmark of this classic dish.
To enhance texture and flavor further, a little yellow cornmeal provides a crispy base when dipped, and a sprinkle of coarse salt before baking elevates all the natural flavors.
The Art of Rolling: Step-by-Step Perfection
Assembling these pizza wheels is a delightful process, leading to visually appealing and utterly delicious results. You’ll begin by rolling your pizza dough into a rough 9×12 inch rectangle. Aim for an even thickness to ensure uniform baking.
Once your canvas is ready, spread a generous, even layer of your prepared marinara sauce across the dough, leaving about a half-inch border along the edges. This small margin is key to preventing the fillings from oozing out during the rolling process. Next, carefully lay your thinly sliced mozzarella cheese over the sauce, followed by a liberal sprinkling of freshly chopped basil. Don’t be shy with the basil; its flavor is critical to a true Margherita.
Now for the most exciting part: the roll! Starting from one of the long ends of the rectangle, begin to roll the dough tightly towards you. This is crucial for creating those beautiful, defined spirals. You might find that the sauce and cheese try to escape a little as you roll; simply use your fingers to gently coax them back into place. The tighter the roll, the more appealing and structured your pizza wheels will be once sliced and baked.
After your dough is rolled into a tight log, use a very sharp knife to cut it into 1-inch thick rounds. A sharp knife is essential for clean cuts that maintain the shape of your spirals. For an added layer of crispiness and to prevent sticking, dip one end of each pizza wheel into yellow cornmeal before placing it, cornmeal side down, onto a parchment-lined sheet pan. Finally, a light sprinkle of coarse salt over the top of the wheels before they go into the oven will perfectly season them.
Bake your Margherita Pizza Wheels in a preheated oven until the dough turns a beautiful golden brown, the mozzarella is melted and bubbly, and the edges begin to crisp up. This typically takes about 15-20 minutes, but keep an eye on them as oven temperatures can vary. The irresistible aroma filling your kitchen will be a testament to the deliciousness to come!
Serving Up Happiness: Perfect for Any Occasion
These Margherita Pizza Wheels are absolutely at their best when served warm, fresh from the oven, with the cheese still wonderfully gooey and the basil fragrant. I recently served a batch at a party, accompanying them with a small bowl of extra marinara for dipping, and they were devoured in under 15 minutes! Their single-serving nature makes them incredibly convenient for guests to enjoy while mingling, and the familiar, comforting flavors make them an instant crowd-pleaser.
But their utility extends far beyond just parties. These pizza rolls are fantastic for a multitude of occasions. Pack them into lunchboxes for a fun and nutritious school or work meal, serve them as an easy and satisfying snack for family movie night, or pair them with a fresh green salad for a quick and light weeknight dinner. Their versatility truly makes them a staple in my recipe repertoire.
I’m particularly thrilled this year because my garden is finally flourishing, and I can hardly contain my excitement for my fresh basil and tomatoes to be ready for harvest. When those vibrant, sun-kissed ingredients are ripe for the picking, I absolutely plan to bake another batch (or perhaps even two!) of these Margherita Pizza Wheels. This time, I might just do my best to devour them all myself, savoring every bite of homegrown goodness. There’s an unparalleled satisfaction that comes from creating something so delicious with ingredients you’ve nurtured from your own backyard.
So, whether you’re looking for an effortless party appetizer, a fun family meal, or simply a delightful way to enjoy the classic flavors of Italy, these Easy Homemade Margherita Pizza Wheels are the perfect solution. Dive into the recipe below and get ready to experience a new level of pizza perfection!
Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Pizza Wheels
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Ingredients
- ½ recipe Basic Pizza Dough
- Easy marinara , recipe below
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese , thinly sliced (113 grams)
- ½ cup basil leaves , chopped (10 grams)
- Yellow cornmeal , for dipping
- Coarse salt , for sprinkling
For the easy marinara:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup onion , chopped (36 grams)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 14.5 oz can peeled diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs such as basil, oregano and thyme (2 teaspoons dried)
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt , plus more to taste
Instructions
To make the easy marinara:
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Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium low heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until onions are softened and translucent.
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Add the tomatoes, herbs, red pepper, and salt. Simmer until liquid has reduced and sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
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Use a blender to purée marinara. Use immediately. Store any leftovers in the fridge.
To make the pizza wheels:
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
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Roll the pizza dough into a rough 9×12 inch rectangle. Spread a layer of marinara sauce on top. Top with the mozzarella slices and chopped basil.
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Starting with the long end, roll the dough up towards you, making sure to keep it tight. The sauce and cheese may try to slide out, but try to keep them in place as much as possible.
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Use a sharp knife to cut into 1 inch rounds. Dip one end of the wheels into the cornmeal and place on the prepared sheet pan (cornmeal side down). Sprinkle with coarse salt.
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Bake until dough is golden and cheese has melted and started to brown, about 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately with extra marinara for dipping, if desired.
Notes