This was served as an appetizer before a big Sunday meal and always at parties and family gatherings growing up.
There are so many ways to make this stuffed pizza dough and many options to add and adapt it to what you like.
If you like hot sausage, sweet or herb-flavored all of them will be fine.
There are also other meat suggestions in this recipe you can use if you're not a sausage lover like pepperoni.
This is a basic filling and it can even be made all vegetarian if you prefer.
Mom's version for this sausage roll recipe was handed down from her mom who was from Bari, Italy and has eggs in it.
If you would like an eggless version, just add more cheese as I will explain in the tips below.
We also always use homemade pizza dough and make many other versions like broccoli rabe and sausage roll a family favorite.
Mom used to have her own business in the 1950s and she would make several local favorite copycat recipes like Tomato Pie,Italian Greens Italian Lemon Ice,Pizza Fritta,Chicken Riggies,Manny's Cheesecake,Oscugnizzo Pizza,Pustiesand Rosato Chocolate Cookies.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for this delicious Italian stuffed pizza dough.
Basic Sausage Roll Recipe
I usually only make sausage rolls with just the sausage, cheese, eggs, and some seasonings.
As the years went by everyone had a request for either hot peppers, olives and also to add pepperoni, the photos I provided are with a mixture.
The recipe is written with those options just to be clear on the differences.
The original recipes will be just the sausage roll and you can adapt and make any additions to the mixture your family likes.
Tips
- For a sausage and cheese filling, add 1 cup more shredded cheese( preferably provolone mixed with mozzarella)
- Always keep the dough at least 1/2 inch in thickness so the filling won't poke through the dough
- Never use a hot filling the dough will rip all fillings must be cool
- Substitute any meats you like with suggestions below
- This roll can be made for all vegetarian
- Frozen bread dough is not recommended it has too much moisture in it
- Bake until the outside of the roll is browned
- For a glistening sheen beat an egg and brush before baking
- These can be made ahead of time for parties and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- For plain sausage roll omit all the eggs, just use 2 cups of mozzarella to 1- 1/2 pound of drained loose sausage and the spices.
Ingredients You Will Need To Make Stuffed Pizza Dough
scroll down to the recipe card for the exact measurements
- fresh homemade pizza dough or use store-bought
- Italian sausage cooked and casing off cooled drained (hot, sweet or herb-flavored).
- eggs
- mozzarella
- grated cheese heaping tablespoons and more for topping the dough before baking
- garlic powder or more to taste
- oregano
- black pepper
- Meats to use and other additions: pepperoni, capicola, peppers, mushrooms, black olives,
- Optional Garnish: grated cheese, granulated garlic powder, olive oil or use one beaten egg for shine, dried Italian seasoning, or freshly chopped herbs
- Dipping sauce- homemade marinara sauce or store-bought
Filling Suggestions
(used in any combinations)
- any kind of peppers
- mushrooms
- chopped tomatoes
- black or green olives
- chopped regular broccoli or broccoli rabe cooked
- spinach or other cooked greens like escarole
- eggplant
- onions
- minced fresh garlic
- cooked sausage
- pepperoni
- capicola
- sauteed shrimp, scallops with mozzarella
- cheese and drained tuna with sharp cheddar
- meatballs in tomato sauce crushed
More Recipes To Try:
Eggplant Parmesan Pizza
Meatball Pizza
Stromboli
Italian Panzerotti
Mom's Stuffed Focaccia Bread
Mom's Homemade Sausage Patties
Pin Mom's Sausage Roll for Later
Sausage Bread, Rolls, and Stuffed Pizza Dough
This Italian sausage roll is just like having a sandwich all in one.
Baked to perfection and delicious it can be served hot or cold.
Perfect for packing in school lunches or work and always welcome when you need a quick snack.
These rolls freezes well, are thawed in the refrigerator overnight, and warmed up for around 15 minutes in the oven so you can even make them ahead of time.
Hope you like mom's recipe, let me know what you think in the comments.
Mom's Sausage Roll

Yield: 1
Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 H & 5 M
Mom always made her own sausage and then mixed it with eggs and spices for a filling to make this delicious sausage roll. It's a pizza dough filled and baked and like having a stuffed bread. This Italian stuffed pizza roll is great hot of cold.
Ingredients
- 1 lb of fresh homemade pizza dough or use store-bought
- 1 1/2 lbs of Italian sausage cooked and casing off cooled drained (hot, sweet or herb-flavored)
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2 eggs hard-boiled (if you don't like hard-boiled eggs just omit these)
- 2 cups of whole milk mozzarella shredded
- 4 tablespoons of grated cheese heaping tablespoons and more for topping the dough before baking
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional Meats to substitute for sausage or in addition to: pepperoni, capicola, peppers, mushrooms, black olives,
- Optional Seasonings: grated cheese, granulated garlic powder, chopped fresh garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes
- Dipping sauce- homemade marinara sauce or store-bought
- Garnish 1 beaten egg with 1 tablespoon of water for a shine on the top before baking brush the loaf
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- In a medium-sized bowl add the cooled cooked sausage that's been drained, with eggs, spices, and cheeses (any additions you prefer mixing together).
- Roll out the pizza dough about 1/4 inch thickness into approx 12x12 rectangular.
- Spread mixture over the dough, roll up tucking the sides of the dough in all the way around to seal.
- The roll should look like a jelly roll when completed.
- Place the sausage roll seam side down on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, place in a warm area, to rise for around 30 minutes.
- Before going into the oven brush either the beaten egg sprinkled with grated cheese, garlic, and black pepper and dried or freshly chopped herbs
- Bake at 375 for around 35 to 45 minutes and check to see if it's nicely browned.
- The sausage roll is done when crispy and brown
- Serve with pizza dipping sauce or marinara.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
- These can be made ahead of time and freeze well up to 3 months.
Notes
- For a sausage and cheese filling, add 1 cup more shredded cheese( preferably provolone mixed with mozzarella)
- Always keep the dough at least 1/2 inch in thickness so the filling won't poke through the dough
- Never use a hot filling the dough will rip all fillings must be cool
- Substitute any meats you like with suggestions below
- This roll can be made for all vegetarian
- Frozen bread dough is not recommended it has too much moisture in it
- Bake until the outside of the roll is browned
- For a glistening sheen beat an egg and brush before baking
- These can be made ahead of time for parties and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- For plain sausage roll omit all the eggs, just use 2 cups of mozzarella to 1- 1/2 pound of drained loose sausage and the spices.
Filling Suggestions
(used in any combinations)
- any kind of peppers
- mushrooms
- chopped tomatoes
- black or green olives
- chopped regular broccoli or broccoli rabe cooked
- spinach or other cooked greens like escarole
- eggplant
- onions
- minced fresh garlic
- cooked sausage
- pepperoni
- capicola
- sauteed shrimp, scallops with mozzarella
- cheese and drained tuna with sharp cheddar
- meatballs in tomato sauce crushed
Pin Mom's Sausage Roll for Later
Try Some Other Recipes We Love Below:
30 Appetizers We LoveFun Party Foods
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2020.
I love Calzones and Stombolis...YUMMY! This is a great recipe. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeletethanks Miranda
ReplyDeletehomemade calzones are like nothing else - mine always seem to explode (because I stuff them TOO much!) but they always taste great.
ReplyDeletemakes me hungry!
ReplyDeleteThis is moreor like strombolis! Actually, I'm planning to make this on this weekend. Can't wait to get my first trial..he he!
ReplyDeleteNice. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCheers !
I calzoni mi piacciono tantissimo! Sono molto invitanti!
ReplyDeleteMy mom always made a roll with sauteed swiss chard, galic, ricotta and mozzarella...good memories, and dish that will warm you up on a chilly night.
ReplyDeleteI love calzones and haven't had one in years. You always find foods I haven't had in a long time and then make me crave it for the next 2 weeks.
ReplyDeleteMMM!! These would do the trick... Calzones are always a hit. Nicely done!!
ReplyDeleteWow, do these sound incredible!!! Comfort food at its finest :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your great directions on these! Yummy!
ReplyDeletedelicious this looks wonderful so many flavours for filling
ReplyDeletemmmm...I just drooled a little! Great ideas for the next time I make a big batch for the freezer. These look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI love Calzones and these look so tasty. Stromboli is also a glorious thing. ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved it! I couldn't wait to make this after reading how it was passed down in your family. Those are always the best recipes.
ReplyDeleteThe sausage roll looks divine!
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious! I know my husband will love it--thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour Sausage Roll looks fantastic and can't wait to make it! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back to see us soon!
ReplyDeleteMiz Helen
This was so delicious and easy to make! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLooks so good! I would love to try this with spicy sausage!
ReplyDeleteThis looks fantastic, and I love that you've included so many ideas for fillings!
ReplyDeleteLooks so good! I can't wait to try this one with my family!
ReplyDeleteThese look amazing!!! They make for such a crowd pleasing appi
ReplyDeleteAs a former resident of New Hartford, NY (just outside Utica), I LOVE Sausage Roll and have made them for many years. I am now living in Colorado and the mention of Oscuguzzio's Pizza caught my eye. That was great stuff!!
ReplyDeleteI am at my vacation home in the Rocky Mountains and decided to make Sausage Roll for dinner tonight. Unfortunately, I do not have my recipe up here, so I checked online. I believe your recipe is almost exactly like the one I have at home, so I will try it here at 8,600 feet. Wish me luck!
I lived in New Hartford for 10 years but originally from East Utica..you will do fine its in your blood :) cheers.
Delete