Pizza Monkey Bread

This pepperoni pizza monkey bread (or “monkey pizzas” as some call it) is a delicious blend of bread, pepperoni, parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning, baked in a bundt pan creating a delicious appetizer recipe!

With only a 10 minute prep time, and 40 minute bake time, this easy bread recipe is just about as easy as our pizza bagels and pairs perfectly with this side salad recipe!

 

Like with classic monkey bread, this pull apart pepperoni bread is delicious all year long, especially around the holidays and during the summer when you want something quick and light for a main course! Similar to our French bread pizza recipe, it’s an easy one that you can make any time of year.

Jump to:

• 🧾 Ingredients
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Step by Step Instructions
• 🥫 Dipping Sauce Ideas:
• 📖 Substitutions
• 🍄 Pizza Topping Ideas
• 🧈 Optional Buttery Crust
• ❄️ Storage
• 💡 Expert Tips:
• 🍞 Related Recipes
• Recipe
• Comments

🧾 Ingredients

We like to keep things really easy around here so this easy recipe uses store-bought frozen bread dough! You can also use biscuit pieces if that’s what you have on hand! Then, pick out your favorite pizza toppings if they differ from the list below!

• frozen bread dough (thawed 8-12 hours) 
• olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• garlic
• mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• parmesan cheese
• pepperoni slices
• marinara sauce
• fresh basil (optional garnish)

See full, printable recipe card below for quantities and instructions!

👩🏻‍🍳 Step by Step Instructions

1. NOTE: Make sure you allow enough time to thaw frozen bread dough
   Thaw frozen bread dough out according to package directions – or you can put the 2 loaves of frozen bread dough on a plate loosely covered with plastic wrap on the counter overnight to allow the bread dough to thaw completely.  This works great if you are baking early in the day.  Or, if baking later in the day, plan to allow the dough to thaw for 8-12 hours.

Before beginning, heat oven to 350 degrees and spray a bundt pan with cooking spray. (If you don’t have a bundt can, there are optional 9×13 baking pan instructions below.)

How to Bake

2. In a large bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, and Italian seasoning together.
3. Break the bread dough into golf ball size balls.
4. Stir dough balls in the olive oil mixture. 

5. Add cheeses, pepperoni, and 1 cup of marinara.
6. Stir together well and then pour this mixture into the bundt pan. 

7. Let it sit for about 15 minutes until doubled in size. 

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes and it should be golden brown.

9. Take it out of the oven and put it on a cooling rack. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
10. Then turn the monkey bread out onto a serving dish and enjoy!  Serve with extra marinara sauce.

🥫 Dipping Sauce Ideas:

If you’d love to dip your “stuffed pizza bread” in to a delicious sauce, these are our favorites:

• marinana or extra pizza sauce
• jalapeno ranch dressing
• bbq sauce
• queso or melted cheese

📖 Substitutions

1. What if I don't have cloves of garlic?  In this recipe, you could substitute ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon minced garlic (or garlic flakes).  Do not substitute garlic salt as this will make the recipe too salty.  
2. I don't have Italian seasoning- what else could I use?  In this recipe, you could substitute 2 teaspoons of oregano. 

🍄 Pizza Topping Ideas

Want to add your favorite toppings instead of pepperoni? That’s absolutely ok! Just make sure if you add different meats, that they’re already fully cooked before adding them to this bundt pan pizza to avoid any undercooking with the provided directions.

Here are other pizza topping ideas to consider:

• sausage
• bacon
• bell peppers
• mushrooms
• black olives
• ham
• hamburger
• onions
• jalapenos
• red pepper flakes

🧈 Optional Buttery Crust

If you want to kick things up a notch, you can add a buttery crust topping for some extra flavor! Here’s how:

Using a small bowl, mix together a little melted butter and garlic powder. Lightly brush the butter mixture on top of the cooked, pizza crust. Sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese.

❄️ Storage

Refrigerate this pizza monkey bread in an airtight container or wrap securely in aluminum foil for up to 3 days. Or, you may freeze it for up to 3 months. 

💡 Expert Tips:

🍞 Related Recipes

I know you love easy recipes as much as we do, so you’ll also love this focaccia bread, pizza hot dog, and this homemade soft pretzel recipe! Or, if you need a bread side dish recipe, you can’t go wrong with this cheesy pull-apart bread.

Recipe