This Ham Pizza Roll turns simple pizza ingredients into a golden, cheesy roll that is easy to slice and share.
Pizza dough is layered with thick pizza sauce, sliced ham, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning, then rolled into a log and baked until crisp and golden outside with melted cheese throughout the center.
It is perfect for busy family dinners, pizza night, game day, lunchboxes, parties, potlucks, or an easy weekend meal.
The recipe is also highly customizable. Add pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, jalapeños, bacon, or extra cheese depending on what your family enjoys.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to make. Refrigerated pizza dough keeps preparation simple.
Very cheesy. Mozzarella melts throughout the ham filling.
Family-friendly. Ham, cheese, and pizza sauce are familiar flavors.
Great for sharing. Slice the baked roll into individual pieces.
Perfect for game day. Serve the slices with warm pizza sauce for dipping.
Make-ahead friendly. Prepare the filling or even shape the roll shortly before baking.
Easy to customize. Add your favorite pizza toppings without changing the basic method.
Ingredients
Pizza Roll
- 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough
- ¾ cup thick pizza sauce
- 8 ounces thinly sliced ham
- 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Garlic Butter Topping
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
Optional Add-Ins
- Pepperoni
- Cooked bacon
- Sliced mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Black olives
- Jalapeños
- Green onions
For Serving
- Warm pizza sauce
- Garlic butter
- Ranch
- Marinara sauce
Ingredient Notes
Pizza Dough
Refrigerated pizza dough makes this recipe quick and dependable.
You can also use homemade pizza dough.
Allow cold dough to sit at room temperature for approximately 15–20 minutes before rolling so it stretches more easily.
Ham
Use thinly sliced:
- Deli ham
- Black Forest ham
- Honey ham
- Leftover baked ham
If using leftover ham, slice it very thinly or chop it into small pieces.
Avoid overly wet ham because extra moisture can make the dough soggy.
Mozzarella
Low-moisture mozzarella works best because it melts well without releasing excessive liquid.
Fresh mozzarella can be used, but drain and dry it thoroughly first.
Pizza Sauce
Use a relatively thick pizza sauce.
Watery sauce can leak out during rolling and baking.
Parmesan
Parmesan adds salty, savory flavor to both the filling and garlic-butter topping.
How to Make Ham Pizza Roll
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to:
400°F
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Prepare the Dough
Place the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
Roll or stretch it into a rectangle approximately:
10 x 14 inches.
Try to keep the thickness fairly even.
Step 3: Add Pizza Sauce
Spread pizza sauce over the dough.
Leave approximately:
1 inch around the edges.
Keeping the edges clear makes sealing the roll easier.
Step 4: Add Mozzarella
Sprinkle about half of the mozzarella evenly over the sauce.
Step 5: Add Ham
Arrange the sliced ham evenly over the cheese.
Slightly overlapping the slices is fine.
Step 6: Add Remaining Cheese
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the ham.
Add:
- Parmesan
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
Step 7: Roll the Pizza Dough
Starting from one long side, roll the dough tightly into a log.
Roll slowly so the filling stays in place.
Step 8: Seal the Roll
Pinch the long seam firmly closed.
Pinch the ends closed as well.
Place the roll:
seam-side down
on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 9: Add Steam Vents
Use a sharp knife to make:
3–4 small diagonal slits
across the top.
This gives steam somewhere to escape while baking.
Step 10: Make Garlic Butter
Mix together:
- Melted butter
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
Step 11: Brush the Roll
Brush the top generously with garlic butter.
Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Step 12: Bake
Bake for approximately:
22–28 minutes
until the exterior is deeply golden and the dough is fully baked.
Step 13: Rest
Allow the Ham Pizza Roll to rest for:
8–10 minutes.
This is important.
If you slice it immediately, melted cheese and sauce can spill out.
Step 14: Slice
Use a sharp serrated knife.
Cut into approximately:
1-inch slices.
Step 15: Serve
Serve warm with pizza sauce, marinara, ranch, or garlic butter for dipping.
Expert Tips for the Best Ham Pizza Roll
Use thick pizza sauce. Thin sauce creates excess moisture.
Don’t add too much sauce. More sauce does not necessarily mean better flavor inside a rolled dough recipe.
Keep the edges clean. This helps you seal the roll securely.
Use low-moisture mozzarella. It gives you plenty of melted cheese without making the dough soggy.
Roll tightly but gently. A loose roll creates empty pockets.
Bake seam-side down. This prevents the roll from opening.
Vent the top. Small slits release steam.
Let it rest before slicing. This helps the cheese stay inside.
Delicious Variations
Ham Pepperoni Pizza Roll
Add a layer of pepperoni between the ham and mozzarella.
This is especially good for game day.
Ham Bacon Pizza Roll
Add:
½ cup cooked crumbled bacon
for extra smoky flavor.
Hawaiian Ham Pizza Roll
Add:
- Ham
- Pineapple
- Mozzarella
Drain pineapple extremely well before using.
Ham Mushroom Pizza Roll
Add sautéed sliced mushrooms.
Cook the mushrooms first so they do not release excess moisture inside the dough.
Ham & Pepper Pizza Roll
Add sautéed:
- Green bell peppers
- Red bell peppers
- Onion
Spicy Ham Pizza Roll
Add:
- Pepper Jack
- Jalapeños
- Red pepper flakes
Ham Ranch Pizza Roll
Spread a very thin layer of ranch underneath the cheese instead of using only pizza sauce.
Garlic Parmesan Ham Roll
Increase the garlic butter and Parmesan for a stronger garlic-bread-style flavor.
Extra-Cheesy Ham Pizza Roll
Combine:
- Mozzarella
- Provolone
- Cheddar
for a richer cheese filling.
What to Serve With Ham Pizza Roll
Good side dishes include:
- Caesar salad
- Green salad
- Garlic bread
- Roasted broccoli
- Mozzarella sticks
- Potato wedges
- Vegetable sticks
- Antipasto salad
For game day, serve it with:
- Wings
- Taco pinwheels
- Sausage puffs
- Lil Smokies
- Buffalo chicken dip
Warm pizza sauce on the side is almost essential for dipping.
Make Ahead & Meal Prep
The ingredients can be prepared several hours ahead.
For best results, assemble the roll relatively close to baking so the pizza sauce does not sit against the raw dough for too long.
You can also prepare the roll earlier in the day and refrigerate it for a short period.
Keep it covered.
When ready to bake, brush with garlic butter and place it directly into the preheated oven.
You may need a few additional minutes of baking time if the roll is cold.
Storage, Freezing & Reheating
Refrigerator
Store cooled slices in an airtight container for approximately:
3–4 days.
Freezer
Ham Pizza Roll freezes well after baking.
Let it cool completely.
Slice into portions and freeze individually before transferring to a freezer-safe bag or container.
Individual portions are easier to reheat.
Oven Reheating
Reheat at:
350°F
until hot and lightly crisp.
Air Fryer Reheating
The air fryer works especially well for pizza-roll slices.
Reheat at moderate heat until the cheese is melted and the crust becomes crisp.
Microwave
Microwave individual slices in short intervals until hot.
The crust will become softer than with oven or air-fryer reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use store-bought pizza dough?
Yes. Refrigerated pizza dough is one of the easiest options.
Can I use crescent dough?
Yes, although the finished roll will be softer and more buttery rather than having classic pizza-dough texture.
Can I use leftover ham?
Absolutely. Thinly slice or finely chop it before adding.
What cheese works best?
Low-moisture mozzarella is the easiest choice.
Provolone, cheddar, and Monterey Jack also work well.
Why did my Pizza Roll become soggy?
Too much pizza sauce or wet toppings are usually responsible.
Why did my roll split?
It may have been overfilled, rolled too tightly, or not vented.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Prepare it a few hours ahead and refrigerate until baking.
Can I freeze it?
Yes. Baked individual slices freeze especially well.
Can I add vegetables?
Yes, but cook high-moisture vegetables such as mushrooms first.
Can I make mini Ham Pizza Rolls?
Yes. Divide the dough into smaller rectangles, fill, roll, and reduce the baking time.
Printable Ham Pizza Roll Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 22–28 minutes
Total Time: About 45 minutes
Servings: 6–8
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough
- ¾ cup thick pizza sauce
- 8 ounces sliced ham
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Garlic Butter
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Roll pizza dough into approximately a 10 x 14-inch rectangle.
- Spread pizza sauce over dough, leaving a 1-inch border.
- Sprinkle with half the mozzarella.
- Arrange ham over the cheese.
- Add remaining mozzarella.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Roll tightly from one long side.
- Pinch seam and ends closed.
- Place seam-side down on baking sheet.
- Cut 3–4 small slits in the top.
- Mix melted butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Brush over dough.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan.
- Bake for 22–28 minutes until deeply golden.
- Rest for 8–10 minutes.
- Slice and serve with warm pizza sauce.
Final Thoughts
Ham Pizza Roll is an easy way to turn simple ham-and-cheese pizza ingredients into a warm, shareable dinner that works just as well for family pizza night as it does for a game-day appetizer table.
The combination of savory ham, melted mozzarella, Parmesan, thick pizza sauce, garlic butter, and golden pizza dough gives every slice plenty of familiar pizza flavor.
It is also very adaptable. Add pepperoni, bacon, peppers, mushrooms, pineapple, jalapeños, or extra cheese depending on what you already have.
For the best results, use a thick pizza sauce, keep wet toppings to a minimum, use low-moisture mozzarella, roll the dough evenly, place it seam-side down, vent the top, and allow it to rest before slicing.