West Virginia

Pepperoni Roll Pizza

The Mountain State's coal miner lunch becomes pizza! Inspired by West Virginia's beloved pepperoni roll - invented in 1927 in Fairmont - this pizza piles on the pepperoni and provolone for a hearty tribute to WV heritage.

⏱ Total 45min 🍴 Serves 4-6 ⭐ Coal Miner Classic 🧀 Hearty

Equipment Needed

🍕 Pizza Stone
🥣 Mixing Bowls
🥢 Pizza Peel
🥕 Rolling Pin
🎨 Pastry Brush

Instructions

1

Make the dough: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water, let stand 5 minutes until foamy. Add flour, salt, and oil. Knead until smooth and slightly soft (pepperoni roll dough is softer than typical pizza dough), about 8 minutes. Cover and let rise 1 hour.

2

Make garlic butter: Mix melted butter with garlic powder. Set aside for brushing the crust.

3

Prep pepperoni: If using stick pepperoni (traditional WV style), slice into 1/4-inch rounds. For authentic pepperoni roll flavor, you want A LOT of pepperoni.

Tip: Traditional WV pepperoni rolls use stick pepperoni that releases oils into the bread as it bakes. Look for brands like Bridgeford or Margherita.
4

Preheat oven: Place pizza stone in oven and preheat to 475F (245C) for at least 30 minutes.

5

Shape the dough: Punch down risen dough and stretch into a 14-inch round. Transfer to floured pizza peel.

6

Assemble: Spread pizza sauce over dough. Layer provolone and mozzarella cheeses generously. Cover completely with pepperoni slices - be generous, this is pepperoni roll pizza! Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

7

Bake: Slide pizza onto hot stone and bake 12-14 minutes until crust is golden, cheese is bubbling, and pepperoni is crispy with curled edges.

8

Finish and serve: Remove from oven, immediately brush crust edges with garlic butter. Let rest 2 minutes before slicing. Serve with extra marinara and ranch for dipping!

Pro Tips & Variations

  • Pepperoni matters: WV pepperoni rolls use specific stick pepperoni that melts into the bread. Seek out authentic brands.
  • Cheese choice: Provolone is traditional in WV pepperoni rolls. Use it generously!
  • No sauce option: Traditional pepperoni rolls have NO sauce inside - try making half the pizza sauce-less with dipping sauce on the side.
  • Stuffed crust: For ultimate pepperoni roll vibes, stuff the crust edges with pepperoni and cheese.
  • Double pepperoni: Layer pepperoni under AND over the cheese for maximum pepperoni roll energy.
  • History: Giuseppe Argiro invented the pepperoni roll in Fairmont, WV in 1927 as a portable lunch for coal miners!
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