Quick and Cheesy Pepperoni Pull-Apart Pizza Bread

 

 

 

If you're looking for a fun, fast, family-friendly recipe that delivers big pizza flavour with almost no effort, this Pepperoni Pull-Apart Pizza Bread is destined to become a favourite!  Made with simple ingredients - canned biscuits, spaghetti sauce, pepperoni and plenty of gooey cheese - it bakes into a pull-apart, bubbly, golden dish that's perfect for busy weeknights, parties or anytime you are craving something warm and comforting.

Think monkey bread meets pizza night: quick to prep, endlessly customizable, and always a pleaser. Whether you keep it classic with mozzarella, or load it up with your favorite toppings, this easy bubble pizza is the kind of recipe you will want to make again and again.

 

Some months ago I had purchased a small cookbook from Six Sisters, entitled One Pan Dishes, 100 Quick and Easy Dishes. I have always liked their recipes and this looked like a really great little book. If nothing else, it is an inspiration and great for giving you ideas.

I had some leftover spaghetti sauce that I wanted to use up from the other day.  It was a spicy Puttanesca sauce and I was racking my brains trying to think of how I could use it. I really didn't want to have to freeze it. The I remembered this recipe I had seen in that book for a quick and easy Pepperoni Pull-Apart Pizza Bread.  Aside from the sauce, I also had everything else I needed to use in the recipe. 

I thought it would be something that Eileen would enjoy on her weekend sleepover with me. Perfect for our Movie Night. We are both lovers of Pizza. And this was something fun that we could both put together. Even more fun.  

I did take the liberty of small-batching the recipe, cutting it down roughly by two thirds. The original recipe made six servings. Mine makes two generous servings.

This went together incredibly easily and was ready to go into the oven in quick time. I didn't have a lot of extra ingredients to use for toppings, but this was great with just the pepperoni.  Like I said the sauce I used, Puttanesca sauce, had plenty of things in it already, such as olives and capers.  I think this would be really fun to add extra toppings to, like ham, peppers, pineapple, etc. (Yes I AM a pineapple on pizza lover!)

This was delicious served with some ranch dip. But you could use any kind of dip or dressing that you enjoy. A creamy Italian would be nice and I think I would really enjoy this with a blue cheese dressing. In any case, we both really enjoyed this and I would make it again!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

TO MAKE

🍕PEPPERONI PULL-APART PIZZA BREAD🍕 

There really is nothing complicated about this dish.

• 1 can of refrigerated biscuits (Like Pillsbury)
• 1 cup (240g) spaghetti sauce
• 1/3 tsp Italian seasoning
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces/85g) grated Mozzarella cheese
• Sliced pepperoni, cut into halves, to taste
• Other toppings as desired (olives, peppers, onions, ham, pineapple, etc.)

🍕INGREDIENTS NOTES🍕

 

Refrigerated Biscuit Dough

This is the magic that makes the "bubble pull-apart" texture - tender, chewy little pockets that puff up beautifully in the oven. Using canned biscuits keeps things quick and easy, but homemade biscuit dough works just as well if you prefer a from-scratch touch. Cutting each biscuit into quarter helps them to bake evenly and gives that fun pull-apart feel.

Spaghetti (or Pizza) Sauce

Any jarred or homemade sauce will work here. I used a quantity of leftover Puttanesca sauce here which had olives, capers, etc. in it. It was lovely.  The sauce coats every biscuit piece, giving you that classic pizza flavour in every bite.

Cheese

Mozzarella is the key to that gooey, stretchy, irresistible topping. It melts beautifully and helps bind everything together. If you want stronger flavours, you can swap in a bit of cheddar or Parmesan. They will add a lovely punch without losing the melt.

Pepperoni (or other optional toppings)

You can keep it as simple or as interesting as you like. Its all up to you and your own preferences here. Because my sauce was a bit on the spicy side, I only added pepperoni on this occasion.

 

🍕HOW TO MAKE PEPPERONI PULL-APART PIZZA BREAD🍕 

This is what I would call a doddle.

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Butter a loaf sized baking dish. (The one I used is a vintage pyrex loaf pan, about 2-inches tall.)
2. Open your can of biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters using some kitchen scissors. Place into a bowl. (You can also make biscuit dough from scratch to use.)
3. Add the spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning and 1/2 of the cheese. Mix well together. (Make sure all your biscuit pieces are well coated.)
4. Place the coated biscuit pieces into the baking dish, spreading them out evenly. (Take care not to compact them.)
5. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and top with the pepperoni pieces. (I like to put the cheese on before I add any other toppings.)
6. Add any other toppings as desired.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until risen, puffed and golden brown. They should be cooked all the way through. (Check with a toothpick.)

 

🍕HINTS AND TIPS FOR SUCCESS🍕

Quartering each biscuit ensures they puff evenly and cook through in the center. Larger chunks run the risk of staying doughy.

Toss everything together thoroughly

Make sure each biscuit piece gets coated in sauce, cheese and any extra toppings you may wish to use. This helps the "bubble" effect and prevents dry pockets.

Grease your dish well

This is a sticky, cheesy bake - a well greased pan makes all the different when serving.

Watch the bake time

Bake until lightly browned and the center looks cooked - every oven is different so take a peek at the 15 minute mark.

Don't forget to add plenty of cheese on top

Follow the suggested amount and if you want more, by all means add it. I like to also add some Parmesan cheese. 

Pre-cook watery toppings

Mushrooms, spinach or peppers can make the dish soggy if added raw. A quick sauté keeps everything beautifully textured.

Make it your own

Mozzarella gives the classic pull-apart stretch, but cheddar adds punch, and Parmesan adds depth. Mix and match for your perfect flavour.

Serving idea

This is a fun finger food - serve with marinara, ranch, or blue cheese dip and plenty of napkins.

 

🍕FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS🍕 

CAN I USE HOMEMADE BISCUIT DOUGH INSTEAD OF CANNED?

Absolutely. Homemade biscuit dough works just as well as canned biscuits. I recommend my recipe for One Two Three Buttermilk Biscuits.

WHAT KIND OF CHEESE WORKS BEST?

Mozzarella gives you that classic gooey pull-apart texture, while Parmesan adds great flavour. You can also swap in extra sharp cheddar for a stronger punch.

DO I HAVE TO ADD TOPPINGS?

Not at all. It's delicious as a plain cheese bubble pizza. But if you want toppings, you can add anything you like. Just be sure to cook watery toppings (such as mushrooms) before adding them so that the dish doesn't get soggy.

HOW CAN I TELL IT'S FULLY COOKED?

Bake until the biscuits are lightly browned and the center looks cooked. A toothpick or skewer inserted in the center should come out clean.

CAN I DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE RECIPE FOR A CROWD?

You can, but you will need a much larger pan. For a double recipe I would use an 8-inch square baking dish. For larger amounts I would use more than one dish so that everything cooks evenly and on time.

WHAT IS GOOD TO SERVE WITH THIS BREAD?

This makes a fun finger food, is great with marinara, ranch, blue cheese dressing or a spicy dill dip. Perfect for parties or game day.

 

🍕A FEW OTHER PIZZA SNACK RECIPES TO ENJOY🍕

Here are a few other pizza snack type of recipes that you might also enjoy. Quick and easy, they always go down a real treat!

ULTIMATE PIZZA BAGELS - These tasty bagels take everything we love about a great pizza - the buttery garlic base, rich homemade sauce, colourful veggies, ooey-gooey mozzarella, and savoury pepperoni -- and layer them all into a warm, handheld, gloriously messy sandwich. Built on a crisped sourdough bagel brushed with butter and parmesan, each bite is packed with flavour, melty cheese, and that irresistible golden, crispy top. They're fun, indulgent and unbelievably moreish.

EASY HOMEMADE PIZZA ROLLS - Everything you love about pizza, wrapped up in golden, buttery puff pastry. Each roll is filled with sun-dried tomato pesto, sharp cheddar, Parmesan, olives, red onion, and a touch of spicy pepperoni. All rolled up, sliced and baked until crisp, flaky and irresistibly savoury. Served warm with hot pizza sauce for dipping, they're quick to make and fun to eat. The kind of snack nobody turns down.

 

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Yield: 2 servings

Author: Marie Rayner

Pepperoni, Pull-Apart Pizza Bread

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Quick and easy to make, using only a few simple ingredients, this bubble bread is delicious! You can dress it up or down as you wish!

Ingredients

• 1 can of refrigerated biscuits (Like Pillsbury)
• 1 cup (240g) spaghetti sauce
• 1/3 tsp Italian seasoning
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces/85g) grated Mozzarella cheese
• Sliced pepperoni, cut into halves, to taste
• Other toppings as desired (olives, peppers, onions, ham, pineapple, etc.)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Butter a loaf sized baking dish.
2. Open your can of biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters using some kitchen scissors. Place into a bowl.
3. Add the spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning and 1/2 of the cheese. Mix well together.
4. Place the coated biscuit pieces into the baking dish, spreading them out evenly.
5. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and top with the pepperoni pieces.
6. Add any other toppings as desired.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until risen, puffed and golden brown. They should be cooked all the way through. (Check with a toothpick.)

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