Stromboli

5 from 157 votes

Posted: 05/20/23 Updated: 05/21/23

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Looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe that is kid-friendly? This Stromboli is your answer! Pizza dough rolled up with ham, pepperoni and cheese and then baked. Slice it and dunk it in marinara sauce. It’s a recipe the entire family will love and request again and again.

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Do you have pizza night at your house? I have to admit it’s a frequent event at our house and I’ve been trying out ways to switch it up! Not that my family ever gets tired of it, but sometimes I get tired of it so I am so excited to share with you this Stromboli recipe!

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What is Stromboli?

It’s like a giant pizza roll stuffed with all of your favorite toppings and it’s so easy to make with store-bought dough. Of course, you can make your own homemade pizza dough, but for an easy weeknight dinner I’m all about the short-cuts, but you probably already knew that!

This is a kid-friendly easy dinner that is always a hit at my house, so if you’re ready to switch up pizza night you have to try this easy Stromboli. I think you’re going to love it.

What’s The Difference Between A Calzone And A Stromboli?

If you’re thinking a Stromboli sounds a lot like a calzone you’d be right about that! There’s not much a difference, but they are two different things! They are both made with dough and stuffed with fillings, but a Stromboli is rolled up like a cake roll while a calzone is folded in half with fillings inside.

I actually like a Stromboli better because it’s easier to eat and you can serve it as a main course with a side dish like roasted cauliflower or Parmesan broccoli or as an appetizer with some breadsticks to go with it.

Stromboli Ingredients

Pizza dough – Make your own or buy 1 pound of premade dough at the grocery store.
Butter – For the crust on the inside and the top to get it golden brown.
Garlic – Mince your own for the best flavor.
Mozzarella – Grab a block and shred it yourself for the best result. It gets perfectly melty.
Meat – We did a mixture of Ham, Salami and pepperoni.
Egg – You’ll use the egg wash for sealing the stromboli edges.
Garlic powder, Parmesan cheese and Parsley – Adds flavor to the butter mixture brushed on top of the dough.

How to Make Stromboli

For a Stromboli, you first roll the dough out into a rectangle so you can roll it up easily after you layer on the topping. I like to brush my dough with melted butter and garlic, but you can also brush it with olive oil or a light amount of pizza sauce, too.

Stromboli Filling Ideas

Once you know how to make it, a Stromboli is so versatile and you can use pretty much whatever fillings you want. I love recipes that you can customize and switch up so you never get tired of them!

You can let your imagination run wild with filling ideas, but Stromboli is usually made with Italian cold cuts, mozzarella cheese, and/or vegetables. All you do is layer the fillings on top of the dough! For my recipe we’re using:

Shredded mozzarella cheese
Ham
Salami
Pepperoni

When you layer the fillings be sure to leave a couple of inches of dough exposed on the two short sides and one of the long edges. You will brush each of those sides with egg wash so that it’s easy to seal the edges together once you roll up the dough with the fillings.

How To Roll The Stromboli

Once you’ve brushed the exposed edges with egg wash you’re ready to roll up your Stromboli!

Start with the long end that doesn’t have any egg wash.
Roll it up like you would a jelly roll or cake roll. You want to roll it into itself so when you sliced the baked roll the inside looks like a pinwheel. Be sure to roll it tightly so it stays together.
Wet your fingers and seal the seams by pressing the edge into the roll.
Carefully turn it seam-side down and tuck the ends under the roll to seal them.

Once you’ve rolled it up and sealed it closed you can transfer it to your baking sheet! I like to line my baking sheet with parchment paper – it makes clean-up a breeze! Before you pop you Stromboli in the oven there are just a couple more things to do:

First, I like to brush the top of the roll with a mixture of melted butter, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, and parsley. The butter will help the crust brown and the seasonings add so much flavor!
You will also need to cut vents in the top of the roll. This will allow steam to escape as the Stromboli bakes and it just looks pretty, too! Use a serrated knife to cut slits every two inches.

Brushing top of stromboli with herb butter

Bake your Stromboli for 25 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees F. You know it’s ready when the crust is golden brown. If your Stromboli is browning to quickly simply cover with foil and continue to bake. Also, place your pan in the bottom half of oven away from the heat source.

I like to let mine rest and cool for a few minutes before slicing it. Serve the slices warm with lots of marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

Can I make Stromboli Ahead of Time?

If you want to make this ahead of time you can! Once the dough is rolled up, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Before baking brush with butter mixture and place in the preheated oven. Since it is cold you might have to add 5-10 minutes of cooking time.

How To Freeze Stromboli

From Fresh – After making the it you can freeze it raw. You will need to simply wrap it up in plastic wrap then foil and place it in the freezer. When you are ready to use it, place it in the fridge to thaw before baking. Then bake according to directions. It will be cold at this time so you might have to add 5-10 minutes of baking time.
Par-Baked – Another option is to par-bake the Stromboli before placing it in the freezer. After prepping it bake it for 5-7 minutes then cool, wrap in plastic wrap and then foil. Place it in the freezer. When you are ready to use simply place it in the oven and bake.

Do you eat stromboli hot or cold?

We enjoy our stromboli hot like pizza. If you have leftovers, it can be eaten cold or reheated.

Does stromboli have sauce in it?

Stromboli rarely contains tomato sauce. It is usually a combination of meat and cheese. The sauce is served on the side to dip it into.

How do you make a stromboli not soggy?

To prevent stromboli from becoming soggy you need to make sure to cut the slits in the top of the stromboli. This will let the steam escape while it bakes.

If you use a meat with a lot of moisture like ham or canadian bacon, drying it off with a paper towel to remove excess moisture before adding it to the stromboli will help.

Another trick is to cook it on a preheat pizza stone so the bottom becomes nice and tricky.

Is pizza dough the same as stromboli dough?

Yes, stromboli is made with pizza dough. We love our homemade pizza dough recipe for this easy stromboli!

Serving Suggestions

Here are some great ideas to serve with this easy stromboli recipe. Of course, you can serve it solo and it’s a meal in itself, too!

More Pizza-Inspired Dinner Ideas

If your family is pizza crazy like mine is you have to give some of these other recipes a try, too!

My Crockpot Pizza Casserole is an easy way to get all of those great pizza flavors without a lot of work!
French Bread Pizza is a quick and easy way to satisfy a craving without the hassle of making dough or calling out for pizza!
My Pizza Pasta is an easy one-pot dinner that the whole family will love.
If you want a really easy recipe try my Pizza Ring made with store-bought crescent dough and stuffed with all the toppings!

Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!