If you have ever dreamed of biting into something savory, cheesy, and delightfully poppable, then this Vegan Pizza Rolls Recipe is exactly what you need on your plate. These rolls pack all the flavor of a classic pizza crust with melty vegan cheese, herbaceous sausage crumbles, and a rich marinara sauce inside a perfectly golden, crispy crescent dough shell. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or craving a cozy snack, this recipe turns simple ingredients into irresistible deliciousness that everyone will love. The best part is how accessible and fun they are to make, so let’s dive into this vegan twist on a timeless favorite!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe plays a starring role, making sure each bite is balanced with taste, texture, and vibrant color. These simple essentials come together with ease, making it a straightforward recipe that delivers big flavor.
- Olive oil: Adds richness and helps cook the vegan sausage evenly for perfect browning.
- Vegan sausage crumbles: Infuses hearty, savory flavor as the main protein element.
- Italian seasoning: A fragrant blend that elevates the sausage with classic Italian herbs.
- Vegan mozzarella shreds: Melts beautifully for that cheesy, gooey texture we all crave in pizza rolls.
- Marinara sauce: Brings tangy sweetness and a saucy, luscious component to the filling.
- Fresh minced basil: Adds a burst of fresh herbal brightness that lifts the whole filling.
- Flour: Used for dusting to keep the dough from sticking and ensure easy handling.
- Vegan-friendly crescent roll sheets: The golden, flaky wrapper that crisps up perfectly in the oven.
- Vegan butter, melted: Brushed over the tops for gorgeous browning and an irresistible buttery flavor.
- Shredded vegan parmesan cheese: A salty, nutty topping that adds an extra punch of cheesy goodness.
- Fresh flat leaf parsley: For a final bright, colorful garnish that complements the savory stuffing.
How to Make Vegan Pizza Rolls Recipe
Step 1: Cook the Vegan Sausage
Start by heating the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the vegan sausage crumbles and sprinkle with Italian seasoning to infuse that unmistakable Italian flavor. Sauté the sausage until it’s nicely browned and heated through—this step creates the rich, meaty base of your filling that’s full of depth and warmth.
Step 2: Combine the Filling Ingredients
Transfer the cooked sausage to a large bowl and mix it with the vegan mozzarella shreds, marinara sauce, and freshly minced basil. Stir everything well so each piece is coated in marinara and herbs, creating a melty, herby, and saucy filling that’s absolutely bursting with flavor.
Step 3: Prepare Your Ice Cube Tray
Lightly spray an ice cube tray with cooking oil to prevent sticking. This clever little kitchen hack helps form the perfect uniform bite-sized pockets for the filling—trust me, it makes assembling these rolls so much easier and fun!
Step 4: Roll Out the Crescent Dough
On a floured surface, gently roll out the crescent roll sheets. Be careful not to tear them as we want to keep the dough intact to cover the ice cube tray completely. This step lays the foundation for those crisp, golden, and perfectly shaped pizza rolls.
Step 5: Fill the Ice Cube Tray
Press the first sheet of dough into the ice cube tray, covering every well thoroughly. Spoon about a tablespoon of the sausage and cheese filling into each dough pocket. Then, cover everything with the second sheet of dough and seal the edges carefully—this locks in all that melty goodness ready for baking.
Step 6: Freeze for Structure
Pop the filled tray into the freezer for about an hour. This chilling step helps firm up the rolls, making them easier to handle, cut, and get that fantastic texture once baked.
Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection
Preheat your oven to 375°F (180°C). Remove the tray from the freezer, flip the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and cut into individual bites. Brush each roll with melted vegan butter for that rich finish and sprinkle vegan parmesan over the top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crisp. For an extra toasty, irresistible finish, broil for about 5 to 6 minutes at the end.
Step 8: Serve and Enjoy
Garnish your hot, fresh rolls with some chopped flat leaf parsley and serve immediately alongside warm marinara sauce for dipping. The result is piping hot pockets of cheesy, herbed heaven that will have everyone asking for seconds!
How to Serve Vegan Pizza Rolls Recipe
Garnishes
A sprinkle of fresh flat leaf parsley is not just pretty—it refreshes each bite with bright herbal notes. You can also zest a little lemon or add crushed red pepper flakes for extra zing if you like a bit of a kick.
Side Dishes
Vegan pizza rolls pair beautifully with a crisp green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette to balance out the richness. Roasted vegetables or a bowl of homemade vegan soup can turn your snack into a comforting, complete meal.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking the rolls in a pyramid on a wooden board with small bowls of marinara, vegan ranch, and garlic dipping sauces. You can also thread toothpicks through each roll for a fun party appetizer presentation that’s both cute and easy to grab.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any leftover rolls in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them gently to keep the dough crispy and the filling melty without drying them out.
Freezing
This Vegan Pizza Rolls Recipe is freezer-friendly! Freeze the assembled but unbaked rolls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to a month. When ready to enjoy, bake directly from frozen—just add a few extra minutes to the cook time.
Reheating
To reheat, pop the rolls into an oven preheated to 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes until warmed through and crisp. Avoid microwaving as it can make the dough soggy and lose that phenomenal texture.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of vegan cheese?
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with your favorite vegan mozzarella or even a mix of vegan cheeses to tailor the flavor and melt-factor to your preference. Just make sure it melts well for the best texture.
What if I don’t have an ice cube tray?
No worries! You can spread the dough over a baking sheet, spoon the filling in small mounds, cover with dough, and carefully cut into squares before baking. The ice cube tray just helps keep everything uniform and neat.
How spicy are these rolls?
They’re mild by default, but you can easily add crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the filling if you like some heat in your bite.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes! Use gluten-free crescent roll dough if you can find it, or substitute with a gluten-free pizza dough rolled thinly. Just be mindful that cooking times might vary slightly.
Are these suitable for kids?
Definitely! These tasty bites are kid-friendly and fun to eat, making them a great way to introduce children to flavorful vegan options. Just adjust seasoning if you want to keep them milder.
Final Thoughts
This Vegan Pizza Rolls Recipe is truly a game changer for anyone craving that perfect combination of cheesy, savory, and crispy in a handheld form. Easy to make, fun to share, and bursting with flavor, these rolls bring so much joy to every bite. Don’t be surprised if they quickly become a household favorite—and I hope you love making and eating them as much as I do!
Print
Vegan Pizza Rolls Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These Vegan Pizza Rolls are a delightful plant-based twist on a classic favorite. Packed with flavorful vegan sausage crumbles, gooey vegan mozzarella, fresh basil, and savory marinara sauce, they’re perfectly wrapped in soft crescent roll dough, baked until golden and crispy. Ideal as an appetizer or snack, these rolls are easy to make ahead and freeze for convenient baking later.
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 4 ounces vegan sausage crumbles
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 6 ounces vegan mozzarella shreds
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced basil
For the Dough
- Flour, for dusting
- 16 ounces vegan-friendly crescent roll sheets (2 sheets)
- 4 tablespoons vegan butter, melted
- 1/2 cup shredded vegan parmesan cheese
For Garnish
- Fresh flat leaf parsley, minced
- Additional marinara sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Cook sausage: Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add vegan sausage crumbles and cook according to package directions. Season with Italian seasoning and continue cooking until heated through. Transfer the cooked sausage to a large bowl.
- Combine filling: To the bowl with sausage, add vegan mozzarella shreds, marinara sauce, and fresh minced basil. Mix well and adjust seasonings if needed for balanced flavor.
- Prepare ice cube tray: Spray an ice cube tray with cooking oil to prevent sticking. This will be used as a mold for shaping the pizza rolls.
- Roll out dough: On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out the vegan crescent roll sheets, taking care not to separate the individual dough pieces, to form a uniform sheet that will fit over the ice cube tray.
- Fill ice cube tray: Place one sheet of dough over the ice cube tray, ensuring that all wells are fully covered. Gently press the dough into each well. Fill each well with about 1 tablespoon of the sausage and cheese mixture. Cover the filled wells with the second sheet of crescent dough, pressing down gently to seal the edges completely to encase the filling.
- Freeze: Place the ice cube tray with dough and filling into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up the rolls, making them easier to cut and bake.
- Preheat oven: While the rolls freeze, preheat the oven to 375°F (180°C).
- Bake: Remove the dough from the ice cube tray and carefully flip it onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cut along the edges to separate the individual pizza rolls. Brush each roll generously with melted vegan butter and sprinkle with shredded vegan parmesan. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the rolls turn golden brown and crispy. For a crispier top, broil for an additional 5-6 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Garnish the hot pizza rolls with fresh minced flat leaf parsley and serve immediately with extra marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Use a vegan-friendly crescent roll dough to keep the recipe 100% plant-based.
- Freezing the rolls before baking helps maintain their shape and makes cutting easier.
- Broiling at the end adds a nice crispy top but watch closely to avoid burning.
- These rolls can be made ahead and frozen, then baked straight from frozen by adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
- Feel free to customize fillings with your favorite vegan cheeses or additional veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms.
