I remember rushing home after a long day and turning a box of pizza dough into something that made the whole kitchen smell like Saturday night, that first time I pulled apart the warm sticky layers and called it Pizza Monkey Bread I knew it would become an easy favorite for quick dinners and casual gatherings.
Why You’ll Love It
This recipe is fast, hands on, and perfect for weeknight crowds or last minute company, it combines familiar pizza flavors into a shareable pull apart loaf that kids and adults both love, and it fits easily into a rushed evening or a relaxed game night.
Serves 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes |
Cook Time: 25 minutes |
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound store bought pizza dough room temperature
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 ounces mini pepperoni or regular pepperoni slices cut in halves
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce for serving
- 6 fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Nonstick spray or 1 tablespoon olive oil for pan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F and grease a 9 inch cast iron skillet or bundt pan with nonstick spray or olive oil.
- Roll the pizza dough into a log and cut into 24 roughly equal pieces, then tuck each piece into a small ball with your hands.
- Mix the melted butter with garlic powder and dried oregano in a shallow bowl, have the shredded mozzarella and pepperoni ready in separate bowls.
- Dip each dough ball into the butter mixture, then toss with a pinch of mozzarella and a piece of pepperoni so each ball is lightly coated and layered.
- Place the coated balls snugly into the prepared skillet in layers, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and the Parmesan evenly between layers and on top.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly, if using a bundt pan watch the center so it cooks through.
- Let the skillet rest for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges if needed and invert onto a serving board or simply serve warm in the skillet for pull apart eating.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with the marinara bowl for dipping.
Recipe Variations
- Meatless: Omit pepperoni and add sliced roasted red peppers and chopped olives for a vegetarian version.
- Sausage and onion: Replace pepperoni with cooked crumbled Italian sausage and thinly sliced red onion for a heartier flavor.
- Herb butter: Stir 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley into the butter mix and use shredded provolone with the mozzarella for a different cheese profile.
- Mini individual: Bake small clusters in a muffin tin for party sized portions and shorter bake times.
Make Ahead: You can assemble the monkey bread in the skillet up to 8 hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator, bring to room temperature for 20 minutes before baking and add 3 to 5 extra minutes to the bake time if still cold, leftovers store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days and reheat in a 350 F oven until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use homemade pizza dough instead of store bought
Yes use about one pound of your favorite dough, the texture will be similar and bake time stays close but check for doneness in the center
Can this be frozen
Assemble in the skillet and freeze uncovered until firm then wrap well and store up to one month, bake from frozen adding 10 to 15 minutes to the bake time
How do I keep the cheese from leaking out too much
Tuck a small amount of cheese inside each dough ball and avoid piling large clumps on top so more cheese stays melted inside the bites
Is there a gluten free option
Use store bought gluten free pizza dough and watch bake time as some blends brown faster and may need a lower temperature for longer to cook through
Pizza Monkey Bread Recipe
This recipe is fast, hands on, and perfect for weeknight crowds or last minute company, it combines familiar pizza flavors into a shareable pull apart loaf that kids and adults both love, and it fits easily into a rushed evening or a relaxed game night.
Ingredients
- 1 pound store bought pizza dough room temperature
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 ounces mini pepperoni or regular pepperoni slices cut in halves
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce for serving
- 6 fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Nonstick spray or 1 tablespoon olive oil for pan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F and grease a 9 inch cast iron skillet or bundt pan with nonstick spray or olive oil.
- Roll the pizza dough into a log and cut into 24 roughly equal pieces, then tuck each piece into a small ball with your hands.
- Mix the melted butter with garlic powder and dried oregano in a shallow bowl, have the shredded mozzarella and pepperoni ready in separate bowls.
- Dip each dough ball into the butter mixture, then toss with a pinch of mozzarella and a piece of pepperoni so each ball is lightly coated and layered.
- Place the coated balls snugly into the prepared skillet in layers, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and the Parmesan evenly between layers and on top.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly, if using a bundt pan watch the center so it cooks through.
- Let the skillet rest for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges if needed and invert onto a serving board or simply serve warm in the skillet for pull apart eating.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with the marinara bowl for dipping.
Conclusion
This Pizza Monkey Bread is an easy way to turn familiar pizza flavors into a fun shareable loaf that works for busy weeknights and casual gatherings alike, it is forgiving to tweak, quick to assemble, and reliably crowd pleasing so feel confident to try the variations and make it your own.
