4 Ideas for Leftover Pizza Dough (Easy, Delicious & Nothing Goes to Waste)
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15-20 minutes (varies by idea) | Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: Varies by recipe | Calories: Varies by recipe
Leftover pizza dough is one of those things that sits in your fridge and you are not quite sure what to do with it. Throwing it away feels wasteful. Making another pizza feels boring.
Good news. Pizza dough is incredibly versatile. You can turn it into garlic knots, breadsticks, calzones, or even cinnamon rolls. All of them are quick, easy, and use up every bit of that leftover dough.
Here are four simple ideas that transform leftover pizza dough into something completely different and delicious.
Why You Will Love These Ideas
Leftover pizza dough is a gift, not a problem. Here is why these ideas work so well.
You avoid waste. No more throwing away perfectly good dough. Use every last bit and feel good about it.
They are all quick. Each idea takes 30 minutes or less. Faster than ordering takeout.
Kids love helping. Rolling, shaping, and filling dough is fun. Let them get involved.
You get variety. Four completely different things from the same base ingredient. Something for everyone.
They freeze well. Make extras. Freeze them. Reheat whenever you want a quick snack or side.
What You Need (Base Ingredients)
- Leftover pizza dough (any amount works)
- Olive oil or melted butter
- Salt
- Additional ingredients vary by recipe (see each idea below)
Equipment Needed
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Pastry brush
- Small bowls for mixtures
- Oven mitts
Idea 1: Garlic Knots
Additional Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2: Roll out the pizza dough and cut it into strips about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long.
Step 3: Tie each strip into a simple knot. Do not pull too tight or they will tear.
Step 4: Place knots on a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Step 5: Mix melted butter with minced garlic and chopped parsley.
Step 6: Brush the garlic butter over each knot.
Step 7: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
Step 8: Remove from oven and brush with more garlic butter. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese while hot.
Calories: About 80 per knot
Idea 2: Cheesy Breadsticks
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
Step 2: Roll the dough into a rectangle about ½ inch thick.
Step 3: Brush with melted butter mixed with garlic powder.
Step 4: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough.
Step 5: Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top.
Step 6: Cut into strips about 1 inch wide using a pizza cutter.
Step 7: Place on a lined baking sheet.
Step 8: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are golden.
Step 9: Serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping.
Calories: About 120 per breadstick
Idea 3: Mini Calzones
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- Toppings of choice (pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2: Divide dough into 4 to 6 equal pieces.
Step 3: Roll each piece into a circle about 6 inches across.
Step 4: Spoon ricotta, mozzarella, a little pizza sauce, and your chosen toppings onto one half of each circle.
Step 5: Fold the other half over to create a half-moon shape.
Step 6: Press the edges firmly with a fork to seal.
Step 7: Brush the tops with beaten egg.
Step 8: Cut a small slit in the top to let steam escape.
Step 9: Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
Step 10: Let cool for 5 minutes before eating. The filling is very hot.
Calories: About 280 per calzone
Idea 4: Cinnamon Sugar Twists
Additional Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Optional: cream cheese frosting for drizzling
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 2: Roll dough into a rectangle.
Step 3: Brush generously with melted butter.
Step 4: Mix sugar and cinnamon together. Sprinkle evenly over the buttered dough.
Step 5: Fold the dough in half lengthwise.
Step 6: Cut into strips about 1 inch wide.
Step 7: Twist each strip a few times and place on a lined baking sheet.
Step 8: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden.
Step 9: Let cool slightly. Drizzle with cream cheese frosting if using.
Calories: About 110 per twist
Tips & Tricks
Let dough come to room temperature. Cold dough tears easily. Take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before using.
Do not overwork the dough. Too much rolling and handling makes it tough. Work gently.
Flour your surface lightly. This prevents sticking but too much flour makes things dry.
Seal calzones well. Press edges firmly with a fork. Unsealed edges leak filling everywhere.
Brush with butter or egg wash. This gives everything a beautiful golden color and adds flavour.
Watch closely near the end. All these bake quickly. Check at the minimum time to avoid burning.
Make extra and freeze. All four ideas freeze well before or after baking. Reheat in the oven when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does pizza dough last in the fridge?
About 3 to 5 days in a sealed container or bag. After that it starts to smell sour and should be thrown out.
Can I freeze leftover pizza dough?
Yes. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap then put it in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Do I need to let the dough rise again?
No. If it already rose once, you can use it right away for these recipes. Just bring it to room temperature.
Can I use store-bought pizza dough?
Absolutely. All these ideas work with store-bought dough. Buy it from the bakery section or freezer aisle.
What if my dough keeps shrinking when I roll it?
Let it rest for 10 minutes. Cover it with a towel. The gluten needs to relax before it will stay stretched.
Can I make these without an oven?
The garlic knots and breadsticks can be made in an air fryer at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes. Calzones work too but take 10 to 12 minutes.
How do I reheat these?
Oven at 350°F for 5 to 8 minutes works best. Microwave makes them soggy. Air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes also works great.
The Dough That Keeps on Giving
Most people think leftover pizza dough is useless. They are wrong. That ball of dough sitting in your fridge is four different delicious things waiting to happen.
Try one of these ideas this week. Use up that leftover dough. Make something completely different from pizza. You will never see leftover dough as a problem again.
Tried one of these ideas? Tell me in the comments which one you made and how it turned out. I want to know which is the favourite.
