Stromboli

An Italian Stromboli filled with thinly sliced meats and plenty of cheese is so simple to make from scratch!

Never made a stromboli? That’s ok, I’m here to teach you exactly how to make one, from scratch, at home. Making stromboli is ridiculously easy, and the resulting inside-out pizza is delicious.

I have an easy recipe for homemade pizza dough that is made in a bread machine! Use it to make Stromboli or your own delicious pizzas. Pepperoni Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza or a Buffalo Chicken Pizza can all be made right in your home oven.

No bread machine? No problem at all! Make this pizza dough recipe the old-fashioned way.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Easy Recipe– If you can make a pizza, you can make a stromboli. Just add meat and cheese to dough, roll it up, and bake. It’s that simple!
2. Perfect for Sharing – Stromboli can be a delicious and easy dinner recipe, but it also makes an excellent appetizer to share at parties.
3. Serving Options – You can serve stromboli warm from the oven, but it’s just as good at room temperature, or even cold.

Ingredients In Homemade Stromboli

Here’s what you need to make this homemade Stromboli recipe!

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Pizza Dough: You’ll need a pound of pizza dough to make stromboli. Half a batch of my Bread Machine Pizza Dough is the perfect amount, or you can use a store bought pizza dough from the refrigerated section.
• Pizza Sauce: My homemade pizza sauce is amazing inside of a stromboli! You can use your favorite jarred sauce too. Be sure to have extra pizza sauce or marinara sauce for dipping.
• Meat: This Italian stromboli uses a half pound of deli meat, including sliced pepperoni, salami, and ham. Thin, deli sliced meats are ideal for wrapping up inside of this dish.
• Cheese: Shredded Mozzarella is the perfect cheese for stromboli. You can buy shredded cheese, or shred your own for better flavor. Add a bit of grated parmesan to make it even cheesier!
• Olive Oil: To get a perfectly crispy exterior crust, all you need to do is brush on a thin layer of olive oil before baking.

How To Make Stromboli

1. Get Ready: Start by preheating the oven to 400°F/200°C.
2. Add the Filling: Roll out the pizza dough into a 12 x 15-inch rectangle. A little bit longer is okay too, as long as it will fit on your baking pan. Spread the pizza sauce on the dough, then layer the meat, and top with the cheeses.

1. Roll: Roll up the dough the long way, as tightly as possible, and place on a baking sheet, seam side down. Use a paring knife to score vent holes. Drizzle the roll with olive oil use a brush to spread it all over the stromboli.
2. Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.

Recipe Tips

• Use a Rolling Pin: When making homemade pizza, I always suggest that you shape the crust with your hands, but for stromboli, it’s best to use a rolling pin so that it’s thin and easy to roll up after filling.
• Avoid Overfilling: You might want to stuff your stromboli with extra cheese, but I’d caution against it. Too much cheese could cause your stromboli to burst open in the oven.
• For Easy Clean Up: Line the pan with foil or parchment paper.

Stromboli vs. Calzone

Both of these Italian specialties start with pizza dough and are stuffed with tasty fillings before being baked, but there are some key differences.

A calzone is a half-circle shaped pocket that is stuffed with a mixture of ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, plus your favorite fillings.

A stromboli does not include any ricotta cheese, and instead of a pocket, the dough is wrapped around the fillings creating a spiral that is best eaten in slices.

Storing Tips

• To store leftovers of your homemade stromboli, place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
• Cold slices are delicious added to a packed lunch!
• Reheat leftover stromboli in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes, or microwave until warm.

Stromboli Filling Ideas

This stromboli with pepperoni, deli meat, and cheese is perfect, but you can adjust the ingredients to include any of your favorites. Try some of these stromboli fillings:

• The Base: Pizza sauce can be replaced with olive oil and fresh garlic, or even a bit of Italian dressing. Consider using barbecue sauce, or buffalo sauce to create a specialty chicken stromboli next.
• The Meat: Instead of sliced deli meat, try shredded or diced chicken, or sliced steak. Sliced prosciutto or crumbled bacon would be yummy, or you can leave the meat out to make a vegetarian version of Stromboli.
• The Cheese: Try Provolone instead of or in addition to the mozzarella cheese in this recipe. Cheddar or swiss could be tasty too!
• Other Add-ins: Sometimes I add pickled banana peppers to this recipe. I dry them off on paper towels first. Sauteed mushrooms, green peppers, or onions are delicious as well.
• The Crust: After you brush the outside of the stromboli with oil, add seasonings! Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, everything bagel seasoning, or your favorite herbs will make your meal extra special.

What To Serve With Stromboli

• Turn Stromboli into a delicious meal by adding a healthy salad to your plate. Try my Olive Garden copycat Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, or this amazing Burrata Salad.
• Serve Stromboli as an appetizer or party snack, along with Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings, Lemon Pepper Wings, Baked Potato Skins, and Instant Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip.

FAQs

A homemade stromboli is easy to make with this recipe! Make one for your next get-together with friends, or add it to the menu plan for a busy weeknight. Pin it for more people to enjoy too!