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This Pizza Braid is stuffed with pepperoni and cheese for a fun twist on traditional pizza. Serve this delicious braided pizza for a light dinner or as an appetizer on Game Day with marinara sauce for dipping!

Pepperoni pizza braid on a platter

Combat pizza boredom with this fun pizza braid!  It’s part calzone and part stromboli with pepperoni and cheese woven into the dough. Not only is it packed with flavor, but it’s easy to cut into easy portions for a party.

This braided pizza is always popular, whether you’re planning a game day get-together or heading to a potluck. The best part? Ready in 30 minutes!

Pizza Braid Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Pizza dough: I used Pillsbury’s refrigerated pizza dough to save time, but you can make homemade pizza dough if you prefer.
  • Mozzarella: You’ll need shredded mozzarella, although I prefer grating my own off a brick instead of buying pre-shredded, which doesn’t melt as nicely. Use full-fat mozzarella for the best cheese pulls!
  • Pepperoni slices: These add a nice meaty flavor, although you can make it vegetarian using vegan pepperoni if you like.
  • Olive oil
  • Italian seasoning: This is the standard seasoning, but you can substitute dried oregano if you don’t have any.
  • Marinara sauce: Both to brush the dough before baking and for dipping at serving time.

Closeup of braided pepperoni pizza before cutting

How to Make a Pizza Braid

To make it, start by placing the pizza dough flat on a work surface in a large rectangle. Then cut into six strips about 2 inches wide each. Brush the dough with olive oil and add the seasoning and cheese on top.

Now for the fun part. Press two strips together to form 3 long tubes. Braid the three tubes together, inserting pepperoni slices as you go and pinching the ends to seal. Brush with optional egg wash for a shinier look and then bake for 20 minutes at 400°F until puffy and golden.

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5 from 1 vote

Pepperoni Pizza Braid

This Pizza Braid is stuffed with pepperoni and cheese for a fun twist on traditional pizza. Serve this delicious braided pizza for a light dinner or as an appetizer on Game Day with marinara sauce for dipping!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 can refrigerated pizza dough, I used Pillsbury, or make homemade pizza dough
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 16 pepperoni slices
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten, optional
  • 1 cup marinara sauce, optional for dipping

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a nonstick baking mat.
  • On a work surface, stretch out the pizza dough into a large rectangle, roughly 12x14". Cut the dough widthwise into six strips about 2 inches wide.
  • Add olive oil, Italian seasoning and cheese down the middle of each strip. Then use your fingers to bring the edges together, pinching to seal into six long tubes.
  • Line up the three tubes side by side. Then weave them together to form a braid, twisting and inserting pepperoni slices in between as you go. Pinch at each end to seal.
  • Repeat previous step for the remaining three tubes to make a second braided pizza.
  • Place the two pizza braids on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with optional beaten egg for a shinier look if desired.
  • Bake for 20 minutes in oven until puffy and golden. Then remove to a cutting board for slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Make Ahead: You an make this pizza braid up to 3 days ahead of time and store in the fridge. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving. 
Nutrition Facts
Pepperoni Pizza Braid
Amount per Serving
Calories
387
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
26
g
40
%
Saturated Fat
 
8
g
40
%
Cholesterol
 
37
mg
12
%
Sodium
 
687
mg
29
%
Potassium
 
50
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
24
g
8
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Net Carbs
 
23
g
46
%
Protein
 
14
g
28
%
Vitamin A
 
335
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
 
0.7
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
222
mg
22
%
Iron
 
1.9
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please read our nutrition disclaimer.

Author: Cindy
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: braided pizza, pizza braid
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This Pizza Braid is a great way to get your pizza fix! Part calzone and part stromboli, it's easy to make and the perfect appetizer for game day or a party. #pizzabraid