Stromboli is a crowd-pleaser. It is warm, cheesy, and delicious! This easy recipe has tips and hacks to make stromboli easy and quick. With a few ingredients, you can prepare it in under 30 minutes! Use your favorite pizza sauce. Fill it with cheese, pepperoni, sausage, or whatever makes you happy, and enjoy!

Are Stromboli and Calzone the Same Thing

A calzone and a stromboli have much in common. Both use similar ingredients, like pepperoni, ham, cheese, and onions. Also, they have a crisp crust and chewy insides. But the similarities end there.

Calzone is dough topped with pizza toppings and folded in half like a turnover. The edges are crimped to hold everything, and then baked.

Stromboli is dough topped with the ingredients and then rolled into a log. The roll is sealed and baked.

The Best Stromboli I Ever Had

For those who love pizza but want something unique, stromboli is an ideal dish. Chicago makes the best.

One year, I took a few days off and backpacked through Chicago. I wanted to sample the local cuisine. Chicago hot dogs, deep-dish pizza, and Italian beef sandwiches were on the list. However, I was fortunate that my adventure coincided with the Taste of Chicago Festival. The festival had numerous local restaurants selling small plates of their food.

One food stall had stromboli. I ordered the classic. The filling consisted of hard salami, pepperoni slices, mushrooms, and cheese. The sausage was seasoned well, and the peppers made me feel like I was eating something healthy. A combination of mozzarella and ricotta made it extra cheesy.

The crust was golden brown, slathered with garlic butter, and sprinkled with Parmesan. It had a crispy texture, and the inside was light and soft.

Another highlight was the sauce. It was a tangy tomato-based sauce. The seasonings added a spicy taste without being too hot. It brought the flavors together, making the dish delicious.

I was impressed. The cooking, great ingredients, and delicious sauce made it one of the best strombolis I have eaten. Add it to the list of iconic Chicago foods. If you are ever there, try one. You will not be sorry.

Ingredients

Homemade pizza dough
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped green peppers
1/4 cup chopped mushrooms
2 cloves minced garlic
1/3 cup pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 oz. Italian sausage
2 oz. pepperoni slices
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 cup sliced black olives
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
Add the garlic, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and sauté for 5-7 minutes or until tender.
Roll the pizza dough into a rectangle.
Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the pizza dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly.
Top the cheese with the sautéed vegetables, sliced pepperoni, and black olives.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Roll up the dough, starting with the long end of the rectangle. Crimp the dough to seal it well.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Transfer the stromboli to the baking pan.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Allow the stromboli to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Recipe Tips

Stromboli is a delicious Italian-American dish loved by many. But creating one that will impress your guests can be challenging. Here are some easy tips to help you master it

Start with a Good Dough:

Start with a good dough recipe. Something similar to what Rule 105 Brewery in Greely, Colorado, uses. If you don’t have time to make it, you can use some pre-made dough from the store. Make sure it is fresh and pliable.

Be Gentle with the Dough:

Do not overwork the dough. You will end up with a dense and tough crust instead of an airy one.

Choose Your Filling:

The most important part is the filling. You can use anything from Italian meats and cheese to vegetables and chicken. Get creative and experiment with different combinations to find the perfect mix.

Don’t Overfill:

When adding your filling, don’t overstuff the stromboli. Distribute the filling so it doesn’t spill out during baking.

Rolling the Dough:

Roll the dough as tight as possible. The result is a stromboli that stays together when you cut it.

Use Plenty of Sauce:

Put extra sauce on the side. Dip slices of stromboli in the sauce for added flavor.

Alternatives Ingredients

There are plenty of alternative ingredients to make a delicious stromboli unique.

Try Different Cheeses:

Cheddar, provolone, or pepper jack are great options.

Choose other Meats:

Bacon, meatballs, ham, or Italian sausage go well in stromboli.

Add Vegetables:

Use olives, onion, and peppers for extra flavor.

Remember the Dips:

Serve stromboli with dipping sauces. Garlic butter, ranch dressing, or a balsamic vinaigrette are excellent choices.

Make it Spicy:

Peperoncini and red pepper flakes bring extra heat.

Stromboli Options

What are some other stromboli recipes? Try these clever ways to mix it up and keep things interesting.

Breakfast Stromboli:

Who says a stromboli is just for lunch or dinner? This breakfast version starts with eggs and cheese. Add your choice of breakfast meats like bacon, ham, or sausage. Serve with some fresh fruit and coffee for a yummy start to your day.

Veggie Stromboli:

Swap out the traditional meats with your favorite veggies. Think sautéed mushrooms, peppers, onions, and spinach combined with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce for a hearty and healthy meal.

Chicken Parmesan Stromboli:

Combine two Italian classics by filling the dough with breaded chicken cutlets, marinara sauce, and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve alongside a salad or garlic bread for the ultimate Italian feast.

Philly Cheesesteak Stromboli:

Put a twist on the classic sandwich. Fill the dough with thinly sliced steak, sautéed peppers, onions, and provolone cheese for a tasty version of the iconic Philly Cheesesteak.

Experiment with Flavors:

Bring some Mediterranean tastes to the dish. Add diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Balsamic Glaze, and olives.

Get Creative:

Try something different. How about Alfredo sauce and cooked chicken?

Dessert Stromboli:

Finish off your meal with a sweet treat. Fill stromboli with Nutella and bananas or your favorite fruit and New York Cheesecake filling. It is a decadent dessert everyone will love.

So next time you want stromboli, try one of these clever recipe alternatives for a twist on the classic dish.

Time-Saving Tricks to Make Stromboli Quick and Easy

Stromboli is one of those dishes I enjoy. It is like pizza wrapped up into one big, delicious package. The problem is that I do not always have the time or energy to make it from scratch. Here are some tricks to help make stromboli quicker and easier.

Frozen bread dough, Pillsbury pizza crust, or biscuit dough works well.
There are pre-packaged pizza dough mixes available.
Use precooked frozen peppers and onions.
Crumble fully cooked frozen sausage patties to save time.