Pizza Sticks
OK so pizza sticks have been my go-to for literally every party I’ve hosted in the last year. There’s something magical about these crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside wonders that keeps everyone coming back for more. I’ve perfected this recipe after tons of trial and error, and I’m excited to finally share it! These aren’t just any pizza sticks – they’ve got that perfect cheese pull that’ll remind you of those beloved school cheese sticks we all craved as kids. Stick around to learn how I make these crowd-pleasers that disappear faster than I can serve them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Listen, I get it. Finding snacks that please everyone can be a nightmare. I used to stress about what to make when friends came over until I started making these homemade pizza sticks. Last month, my picky nephew who “hates everything” ate seven of these in one sitting!
What’s great about these pizza sticks is how adaptable they are. Want max cheese sticks? Double the cheese. Craving some meat? Add pepperoni and cheese sticks become an instant hit. They’re basically foolproof – I’ve made them while half-asleep and they still turned out amazing.
And if you’ve ever dealt with cheese not sticking to pizza, this recipe solves that problem too. The technique I’ll show you guarantees perfect cheese adhesion every time. Trust me, these will become your new favorite.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour – the backbone of our dough, but you can swap in bread flour for more chew
- 1 tsp instant yeast – helps the dough rise faster than active dry yeast
- 1 tsp sugar – feeds the yeast and helps with browning
- 1 tsp salt – enhances flavor; don’t skip this!
- 1 tbsp olive oil – adds flavor and helps with texture
- ¾ cup warm water – activates the yeast; temperature matters (105-110°F is ideal)
For the Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella – the classic choice for that signature cheese pull
- ½ cup shredded parmesan – adds that savory depth you need
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning – my secret for that authentic flavor
- 2 tbsp butter – melted, for brushing on top
- 1 garlic clove – minced, for that extra punch of flavor
- ¼ cup pepperoni – finely chopped, optional but highly recommended
For Serving
- 1 cup marinara sauce – store-bought works, but homemade is even better
- Ranch dressing – my kids’ favorite dipping option
- Garlic butter – just mix melted butter with garlic powder for another amazing dip
How to Make Pizza Sticks
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
- Add olive oil and warm water. Stir until everything comes together.
- Dump the mixture onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth. The dough should spring back when you poke it.
- Place in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let rise for 30 minutes. It won’t double in size but will get a bit puffier.
Step 2: Preheat and Prep
- Preheat your oven to 425°F. If you’re using a pizza stone, put it in the oven now to heat up.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil it to stop the pizza from sticking.
- In a small bowl, mix the minced garlic with melted butter. Set aside.
Step 3: Shape and Top
- After rising, punch down the dough and transfer to a floured surface.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut the dough into strips about 1 inch wide and 4-5 inches long.
- Mix the mozzarella and parmesan cheese with Italian seasoning.
- Brush each strip with the garlic butter mixture.
- Sprinkle the cheese mix generously over each strip, pressing gently so it sticks.
- If adding pepperoni, press small pieces into the cheese layer now.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
- Transfer the strips to your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- The bottoms should be crisp and browned – if they’re still pale after 12 minutes, move the baking sheet to a lower rack for the final few minutes.
- Let cool for just 2 minutes before serving – they’re best when hot!
Delicious Variations
Breakfast Pizza Sticks
Add scrambled eggs, bacon bits, and cheddar cheese for the best breakfast treat. Serve with hot sauce for an extra kick.
Buffalo Chicken Pizza Sticks
Mix shredded chicken with buffalo sauce, use blue cheese instead of parmesan, and serve with extra buffalo sauce and celery sticks.
Dessert Pizza Sticks
Skip the garlic and cheese, instead brush with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (like pizza hut cinnamon sticks), and serve with cream cheese frosting for dipping.
Pesto Pizza Sticks
Replace the marinara with pesto sauce, use a mix of mozzarella and fontina cheese, and add pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes.
Taco Pizza Sticks
Top with seasoned ground beef, Mexican cheese blend, and diced jalapeños. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.
Pizza Sticks
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rolling Pin
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush
- Small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- For the Dough:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¾ cup warm water 105-110°F
- For the Topping:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup shredded parmesan
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ¼ cup pepperoni finely chopped (optional)
- For Serving:
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Garlic butter
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
- Add olive oil and warm water. Stir until combined.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth.
- Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat and Prep
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter with minced garlic. Set aside.
- Shape and Top
- Punch down the dough and roll it into a rectangle (about ¼ inch thick).
- Cut into 1-inch wide, 4-5 inch long strips.
- Brush with garlic butter mixture.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella, parmesan, and Italian seasoning.
- Press cheese gently into the dough.
- Add pepperoni if using.
- Bake to Perfection
- Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
- Let cool for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ
Is breadstick dough the same as pizza dough?
Yep, they’re basically the same thing! The dough I use for these pizza sticks works perfectly for both. The main difference usually comes down to how you shape and top them. Pizza dough might sometimes have a bit more oil or sugar, but for home cooking, you can 100% use the same dough recipe for both pizza sticks and breadsticks. School cheese breadsticks use nearly identical dough to what we’re making here.
How to make pizza pepperoni sticks?
Making pepperoni and cheese sticks is super simple! After rolling out your dough and cutting into strips, first add your cheese layer, then press small pieces of pepperoni into the cheese before baking. For extra flavor, you can mix some finely diced pepperoni directly into the dough during the kneading process. Make sure to blot your pepperoni with paper towels first to remove excess grease, otherwise you might get soggy pizza sticks.
What to dip pizza sticks in?
So many options here! Traditional marinara sauce is always a winner, but ranch dressing is surprisingly amazing with pizza sticks. Other great options include:
- Garlic butter sauce
- Pesto
- Alfredo sauce
- Buffalo sauce
- Honey (especially with the pepperoni ones!)
- BBQ sauce My personal fave is mixing equal parts marinara and ranch together for the ultimate pizza stick dip.
What do you put on a pizza stone to keep pizza from sticking?
The key to prevent sticking is preheating your stone properly! Put the stone in the oven during preheat and let it get really hot. Right before adding the pizza sticks, sprinkle some cornmeal or semolina flour on it – this creates a barrier and gives that authentic pizzeria-style bottom. Don’t use parchment paper on a pizza stone as it might burn at high temps. If you don’t have cornmeal, a light dusting of regular flour can work too, but cornmeal gives the best flavor and crunch.
What do Italians use to stop pizza sticking?
Traditional Italian pizzaiolos use a combo of techniques! They dust their peels with semolina flour or a fine ground cornmeal called semola rimacinata di grano duro. This creates tiny “ball bearings” that help the pizza slide easily. They also work quickly once the dough is on the peel – the longer it sits, the more likely it’ll stick. Another Italian trick is making sure the dough isn’t too wet and is properly floured on the bottom. Some also swear by a super-hot wood-fired oven which quickly sears the bottom of the dough before it has a chance to stick.
Can I make pizza sticks ahead of time?
Absolutely! You’ve got a couple options. Make the dough up to 24 hours ahead and keep it in the fridge – it’ll actually develop more flavor this way. Or fully prepare the pizza sticks, flash freeze them for 1 hour on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready to eat, bake them straight from frozen, just add about 3-5 minutes to the cooking time. The texture is almost as good as fresh!
How do I get my cheese to stay on top of the pizza sticks?
The big secret to keep cheese from falling off is pressing it gently into the dough after sprinkling it on. Also, make sure your dough has a slightly tacky surface – brushing with a thin layer of olive oil or egg wash before adding cheese helps it stick. Another trick is using a mix of cheeses that includes some that melt differently – the parmesan in this recipe helps bind the mozzarella to the dough as it bakes.
Final Thoughts
I still remember making these homemade pizza sticks for my daughter’s soccer team last season. It was pouring rain, they lost their championship game, and everyone was soaked and disappointed. I pulled out these still-warm pizza sticks from my insulated bag, and I swear the mood instantly changed. There’s something about good food that brings comfort even on the worst days.
These pizza stick recipe has become part of our family’s story. My kids now request them for movie nights, my husband makes them for his work potlucks, and I’ve had three different parents from school ask me for “that amazing pizza stick recipe.”
Make them your own. Try different toppings, experiment with the dips, adjust the baking time to get them exactly how you like them. Food is about connection, and these simple pizza sticks have somehow managed to create a lot of it in my world. Hope they do the same for you!