12 Recipes That Start With a Ball of Pizza Dough

From savory breakfasts to sweet treats, ready-made pizza dough does a lot more than just support cheese and pepperoni.

By
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated December 13, 2023
Robin Shreeves

Maybe you passed by the fresh balls of pizza dough in the grocery store and grabbed one on a whim and now you need inspiration. Maybe you made a double batch of dough a while back and have half of it in your freezer. Or maybe you just feel like being creative today.

Having a ball of pizza dough to use doesn't mean you have to make a classic pizza. With these 12 recipes, you can get creative—from breakfast pizza to calzones to sweet monkey bread. Or go pizza-ish with calzone, stromboli, or pepperoni rolls.

Stromboli slices on a cutting board

Simply Recipes / Sheryl Julian

Each of these recipes works with store-bought dough or homemade dough. If you're new to making your dough, I suggest starting with no-knead pizza dough recipe or no-knead whole wheat pizza dough to take the intimidation out of the process.

  • Easy Stuffed Stromboli

    ham, pepperoni, and cheese stromboli cut in slices
    Sheryl Julian

    Stromboli is so simple to make and such a crowd-pleaser. Roll ham, salami, provolone, and mozzarella in pizza dough and bake until the dough is cooked through and golden and the cheese is gooey and melted. You can serve tomato sauce for dipping, but it's not necessary.

    Get Recipe

  • Homemade Bagel Dogs

    Homemade Hot Dog Bagels (Some With Everything Bagel Topping and Some Plain) on a Plate, and in the Surroundings, a Stack of Plates and a Bowl of Yellow Mustard

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    Trade your hot dog buns for pizza dough to make these bagel dogs. Yes, I know pizza dough isn't the same as bagel dough, but this recipe allows you to use either. To make them more bagel-like, top them with everything bagel seasoning.

    Get Recipe

  • Garlic Knots

    Garlic Knots
    Elise Bauer

    Tie strips of pizza dough in knots. Brush with olive oil. Let them proof. Bake. Then brush a garlicky butter sauce on the still-warm knots. Make more than you think you'll need because everyone loves them.

    Get Recipe

  • Cheeseburger Pizza

    Slice of Cheeseburger Pizza on Small Plate Next to a Circular Wooden Tray with More Pizza and a Pizza Wheel and on the Counter, a Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera

    Pizza that tastes like a cheeseburger. Why not? Instead of putting ground beef, "special sauce," cheese, pickles, and tomato on a bun, put them on pizza dough. Once you get the idea, you can have whatever kind of cheeseburger pizza you want—add bacon, onions, mushrooms, or any other favorite topping.

    Get Recipe
    Continue to 5 of 12 below.

  • Pepperoni Rolls

    Pepperoni Rolls on a Plate with Bowl of Marinara in Background

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Pepperoni rolls are so simple and hard to resist. The yeast dough bakes up soft and fluffy. True West Virginia-style pepperoni rolls are made with a soft roll dough, but pizza dough will work nicely as a stand-in. The pepperoni soaks the dough with greasy, salty deliciousness. Make these at least once. I promise they'll be a hit.

    Get Recipe

  • Greek Pizza

    Greek pizza on a stone with olives, zucchini, tomato and feta
    Sally Vargas

    Shake up pizza night with the flavors of Greece. Add the grilled potatoes plus olives, feta, zucchini, and tomatoes to the dough and grill until the crust is crispy and the toppings are warmed through.

    Get Recipe

  • Pepperoni Calzones

    Easy Pepperoni Calzones on a plate

    Simply Recipes/Nick Evans

    Stuff pizza dough with pepperoni, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella cheese. Bake them until golden brown. Serve jarred marinara on the side for dipping. The hardest thing about these pockets of goodness is waiting for them to cool off enough so you don't burn your mouth with the hot filling.

    Get Recipe

  • Pickle Pizza

    pickle pizza on a cutting board

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    You'll never look at dill pickle slices the same after you taste what they can do as the star of a pizza. The pickles go on top of a layer of freshly made garlic dill sauce. Then add a layer of mozzarella, Parmesan, more pickles, and fresh dill. The combination of sour pickles, savory cheese, and pizza crust can't be beat.

    Get Recipe
    Continue to 9 of 12 below.

  • Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread

    Monkey bread dough rolls in cinnamon sugar

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    This recipe comes from Trader Joe's test kitchen, and it's super quick and easy. You need just a handful of ingredients to make warm, gooey, monkey bread: fresh pizza dough, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, butter, and vanilla. The sum is exactly as delicious as its parts suggest.

    Get Recipe

  • Taco Pizza

    Taco Pizza on the Counter With a Slice Slightly Removed from the Pizza, and in the Surroundings, Bowls of Toppings (L to R: Sliced Scallions, Salsa, Sliced Lettuce, Sliced Olives, and Sliced Jalapeños)

    Simply Recipes / Marisel Salazar

    If you've ever switched up your taco night by making our one-pot taco pasta, you know that traditional tacos can inspire other taco-like configurations, including pizza. Refried beans, seasoned ground beef, Mexican cheese, and black olives top the pizza. After baking add salsa, scallions, shredded lettuce, and sour cream to complete the taco vibe.

    Get Recipe

  • Sausage Rolls

    Sausage Rolls Recipe
    Sheryl Julian

    Cut the pizza dough into strips to wrap around pieces of cooked fresh pork sausage links. These rolls are great for potlucks or snacks while watching the game. Serve with plenty of yellow or Dijon mustard for dipping.

    Get Recipe

  • Breakfast Pizza with Cheddar, Bacon, and Eggs

    Overhead view of a breakfast pizza topped with eggs.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    When you think of eggs and bacon, you probably picture a breakfast plate with the duo along with a slice of toast. Breakfast pizza is like that but it turns pizza dough into the bread of choice and adds cheese and tomatoes. Great for a lazy weekend brunch or even dinner.

    Get Recipe