My kids take a packed lunch to school every day.
That’s three lunches (soon to be four!) five days a week.
That seems doable – a piece of fruit, a homemade muffin or cookie, maybe some yoghurt, and a sandwich, and we’re done.
Except that my girls don’t eat sandwiches.
Insane I know?
I mean, what kind of kid doesn’t eat sandwiches?
My kind of kids.
Over the last six years I’ve found myself trying to come with lunch options that are not super expensive, that don’t take loads of time to prepare, that travel well, and that are not sandwiches.
The answer to this riddle is homemade pizza rolls.
My kids love pizza rolls, but instead dragging myself to the shops every day to buy expensive pizza rolls, we make them ourselves.
I use my bread machine on the dough setting to do all the hard work of mixing, kneading and rising the dough, so all I need to do is roll them out, top them and bake them. Each kid chooses their own toppings so everyone is happy including me because I know they will actually eat what I send in their lunch boxes!
I make a big batch on a Sunday afternoon and they keep, wrapped, in the fridge for a couple of days, so that’s at least half a week’s lunches sorted!
Here’s our easy recipe for homemade pizza rolls.
- 250 mls luke warm water
- 2 tsp yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 500 gms of bread flour or plain flour.
- pinch of salt
- 1 egg
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 1 tbsp water
- minced garlic and herbs to taste.
- cheese
- Cheese
- mushrooms
- olives
- pineapple
- capsicum
- ham/salami
- Combine the yeast, sugar and warm water and set aside for five minutes until the yeast begins to bubble.
- Add the olive oil to the yeast mixture.
- In a large bowl, or the bowl of your bread machine, combine the flour and salt and make a well in the centre.
- Add the yeast mixture into the flour and slowly combine wet and dry ingredients until you form a dough - add more water if needed.
- Knead the dough and set aside to rise. Or use your bread machine on the dough setting to knead and rise the dough.
- Once the dough has doubled in sized, knock the air out of it with a quick knead and you are ready to make the pizza pockets.
- Crack the egg into a small bowl, add the water and whisk well.
- Add the tomato paste (more or less depending on the number of pizzas you are making), galric and herbs and mix well.
- Add more water if needed.
- Line several large trays with baking paper.
- Gather and prepare your pizza fillings and sauce.
- Cut the dough into 12-15 pieces depending on size.
- One a well floured surface, roll the dough out into circles, approx 1.5cms thick and place them on the baking tray.
- Set the dough aside for 15- 20 minutes and allow it to rest and rise a little again.
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celcius.
- Spread the dough with pizza sauce and top with whatever ingredients you like.
- Bake in a hot oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese just begins to brown.
- Allow to cool completely and store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to three days.
These pizza rolls freeze well with all their toppings on them ready to cook, or freeze just the dough rounds and the kids can top and bake their own pizza rolls. Just flash freeze them on a baking sheet then, if they have the toppings on them wrap them individually and store them in the freezer, or plain dough rounds can be popped in a freezer bag all together.
I first shared this recipe over five years ago and it’s been a firm favourite in our house ever since, so I’ve updated the recipe and made it easy to print so it can become a favourite in your house too.
Annette says
they look delicious
Marita says
Yum. I’m going to try these for sure once it cools down.
Karen (miscmum) says
Nom nom nommy. They look good. Now I just need a bread machine to make the dough properly as I am HOPELESS at it :(
Limor says
go girl!! keep the recipes coming. They look great. i tried the muffins the other day and they were great!! My boy want eat breaky and Mika just loved it!!
Ta!! Hope you are feeling well
Sunnyroad Mum says
Oh these look yummo! I’ve put them on my (very long) list of things to bake when I have an oven again!
Nic says
Yum. Yup Im loving the recipes too, this one looks great.
Ann-Marie says
Ooh you little ripper!! I have to make these as my youngest loves them. Can’t believe I never thought of it .. Thx for the share Kate :)
pixie says
WTG Kate!!!!!!
they look yummy!!
Fiona@innerpickle says
Kate they look awesome. Fabulous idea.
PlanningQueen says
Great idea! I will take a short cut though and make the dough in my bread maker and have the kids help me put on their toppings.
Katy says
Great idea!! I’ll have to give this a whirl, as I’m trying to keep variety in LB’s (and my other littlies) for lunch.
Trish says
A great and yummy idea thanks Kate.
SquiggleMum says
Even I might have a go at this Kate!
Bron says
Hi Kate, I have been saving this recipe for ages and I finally did them tonight. They look and taste yum, although I wonder if I should have squashed them flatter and cooked them a bit longer. Thanks! I love your great tips.
Kate says
I make something similar for my hubby and kids and it’s always a hit. You’ve reminded me to get the bread maker back out!