Name: Deep Fried Pizza Rolls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1 pound pizza dough; 3 cups shredded part skim mozzarella cheese; 1½ cup ricotta cheese; 1½ cup turkey pepperoni; 12 tablespoons pizza sauce; oil for frying

These Deep Fried Pizza Rolls are golden brown and crisp fried, with a cheesy pepperoni filling. Reminiscent of fair food (think fried bread dough!) this is a treat that is normally enjoyed back home in Canton, NY at Sergi's Ristorante and one of our favorite items on their menu, one we haven't found anywhere else we have visited!

❤️ Why you'll love it

Crispy Fried Dough: the crispy fried dough that encases the fillings is so delicious and reminiscent of fair food!

Kid friendly: this pizza in a pocket is a great hand held food making it easy to eat when visiting with friends.

Simple ingredients: you can start with store bought dough and just a few simple fillings.

🥘 Ingredients

Pizza dough: you can make your own homemade pizza dough or use store bought.

Pizza sauce: use your own pizza sauce or marinara. If using marinara, be sure to use a thicker one.

Shredded mozzarella cheese: I like to use low moisture part-skim mozzarella

Pepperoni: I used turkey pepperoni because I feel regular pepperoni is too greasy, but feel free to use regular if you desire.

Ricotta cheese: I used whole milk ricotta, I like the flavor and texture best.

Frying oil: my choice of frying oil is crisco solid shortening.

Pizza dough with ricotta cheese and sauce layer. — First add ricotta and a little pizza sauce.

Pizza dough with cheese, sauce and pepperoni on half. — First add ricotta and a little pizza sauce.

🔪 Instructions

Cut pizza dough into 6 equal pieces.
Press each dough piece out into a circle as you would for a pizza.
On ½ of the dough layer ricotta, mozzarella, sauce, and pepperoni.
Fold dough over top of filling and crimp edges together well. Let sit about 10 minutes prior to deep frying.
Melt shortening in a large pot until temperature reaches 375 degrees F. Gently place pizza roll in oil. Dough should immediately bubble and float to the top.
Cook until well browned on both sides. If desired, place in oven to keep warm until ready to serve.
Serve with extra sauce for dipping.

Pizza dough filled with cheese and pepperoni folded over and sealed. — Be sure to pinch edges of dough together well to seal in all the filling.

🥄 Equipment

Large pot: you will want one large enough to fry the pizza roll in it fully submerged.

Slotted spoon: for removing the pizza roll from the hot oil.

🥫Storage

Refrigerate: store leftover rolls in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.

Freeze: freeze rolls in an airtight freezer safe container in the freezer up to 3 months.

Reheat: place rolls on a baking sheet and reheat in oven at 300 degrees for 10 minutes, until warm through.

📖 Variations

Substitute cooked italian or hot sausage for the pepperoni.
Add ½ cup sauteed mushrooms, peppers, and/or onions to the pizza roll Filling.

💭 Tips

Make sure to pinch all the edges of the dough together really well to prevent seepage while deep frying.
When deep frying food always use a thermometer to make sure your temperate is not too hot or too cool.
When removing the fried food from the deep fat I have found that the best way to drain it is on a paper bag. The paper bag absorbs the oil and I find my finished product to be less greasy than if I were to use paper towels.

Deep Fried Pizza ROlls draining on paper lined baking sheet sprinkled with fresh parsley.

📚 Related Recipes

Try this One Dish Pepperoni Pizza for a super easy pizza night!

These Cheesy Garlic Pepperoni Rolls make great game day appetizers.

My whole family loves this ground beef pizza!

🍽 Serve with...

Serve deep fried pizza rolls with a side of marinara sauce for dipping and a green salad.

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📖 Recipe