These golden, bite-sized Garlic Butter Pizza Dough Rolls, served with rich and flavorful garlic butter, offer a unique spin on the classic taste and texture of pizza dough. Quick to make and ready in just 15 minutes, these rolls combine the simple goodness of garlic, butter, and herbs.
For me, a savory dish is not complete without garlic (most of the time). I love the idea that food equals sharing. There is something beautiful about a gathering of loved ones, eating together and sharing. It’s something I admire in many cultures and something we love to do at home.
These dough balls are ideal for sharing (or not sharing) and are pretty quick to whip up! They require a little alone time to rise, but in between this, they are pretty low maintenance and bake in under 15 minutes.
These should be enjoyed straight from the oven, with just enough time to cool down so your fingers don’t melt off, but are still, warm. The butter will melt onto the bread, soaking in the herbs and garlic leaving you with the most flavorful dough ball you have ever tasted!
The recipe for these dough balls is basically the same as for this loaf of bread that we made bruschetta with. I think if you made up a batch of the tomato bruschetta salad to serve with these, it would be absolutely divine alongside the garlic butter!
Overall these are great as a starter, a side, or just for the middle of the table on a summer evening outside with a barbeque.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Prepare. After making the dough you only need to proof it twice, shape it into little balls, and bake it for 15 minutes.
- Budget-Friendly Appetizer. The ingredients used to make these pizza dough balls are flour and butter.
How to Make Garlic Butter Pizza Dough Rolls
These pizza dough rolls are great for parties, or snacking on while watching a movie. You can find the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Key Ingredients
- Bread Flour. Gives these doughballs the perfect chewiness.
- Dried Yeast. Use regular dried yeast instead of instant yeast.
- Olive Oil. Oil makes the dough crispier when baked.
- Butter. Use good quality butter for the best flavor.
- Garlic. Always use fresh garlic instead of prepared minced garlic.
- Parsley. Fresh parsley is best in the garlic butter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Make the Dough. In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the water and olive oil. Stir with a spoon until the dough comes together, then knead the dough for a few minutes.
2. Proof the Dough. Place the kneaded dough into a large covered bowl. Leave to proof until doubled in size.
3. Make into Balls. Knead again for a minute to knock out all the air. Cut the dough into equal balls. Place them on a flat baking tray lined with parchment paper. Proof again.
4. Bake. Brush the top of each doughball with olive oil and sprinkle with a little sea salt. Bake until the dough rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
5. Make the Garlic Butter. Mix the room-temperature butter with the minced garlic, finely chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Serve the dough rolls immediately with the fresh garlic butter for dipping!
Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions
- Stuff with mozzarella cheese for a yummy twist. If you prefer your pizza balls to be stuffed with gooey cheese, add a cube of mozzarella cheese to the center of each dough ball before baking.
- Use marinara sauce for dipping. If garlic butter isn’t your thing, dip these pizza dough rolls into a bowl of marinara sauce.
Storage Recommendations
Store these dough rolls at room temperature in a bread box or an airtight container for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Try These Other Appetizer Recipes
- Green Basil Pesto Hummus with Roasted Garlic Pita Chips – Pesto-flavored hummus that’s ready in minutes with homemade pita chips.
- Potato Wedge Nachos – Crispy potato wedges layered with gooey cheese, savory toppings, and zesty flavors.
- Pomegranate, Green Olive, and Cilantro Relish – A salty and sweet relish with olives, toasted walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and fresh cilantro.
- Cucumber Sandwich – An easy cucumber sandwich recipe that is perfect for party food or light lunches.
Garlic Butter Pizza Dough Rolls
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 mixing bowl large
- 1 pastry brush
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 tbsp. dried yeast
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 1/4 cup water warm
- 6 tbsp. olive oil
For the Garlic Butter
- 1/2 cup butter room-temperature
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced (depending on how garlicky you like things you can add 1 more clove)
- fresh parsley small bunch, chopped
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt and stir thoroughly to combine evenly.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and add the water and 5 Tbsp. of olive oil. Stir with a spoon until the dough comes together, then turn out onto a well-floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.
- Place the kneaded dough into a large bowl lightly greased with the remaining olive oil. Cover the bowl with saran wrap (also oil the side of the saran facing the dough). Leave to proof for about 60-90 minutes or until doubled in size. I like to put the bowl in the oven (leave the oven off!) and place a small bowl filled with just boiled water from the kettle at the bottom of the oven. This creates a warm, damp environment with no drafts for the dough to rise.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out again onto a well-floured surface. Knead again for a minute to knock out all the air. Cut the dough in half, then in half again, and continue until you have 32 equal pieces. Shape them into little balls and place them on a flat baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover again with oiled saran wrap and place back into the oven to proof for another 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes remove from the oven and preheat it to 356°F (180°C). Brush the top of each doughball with olive oil and sprinkle with a little sea salt. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the dough rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
- In another bowl, mix the room-temperature butter with the minced garlic, finely chopped parsley, salt and pepper. All of these elements can be adjusted to suit your taste.
- Serve the dough rolls immediately with the fresh garlic butter for dipping!
Garlic for life ;) I swear I always at least double what’s in a recipe, although I feel you can probably be trusted on your quantities with your garlic butter!
YES, garlic should be it’s own food group! The motto in my house when I was growing up was, “you can never have too much garlic!” And I agree that sharing food is wonderful, but I’m not sure I could share these… I’m pretty sure I’d make a batch and then hoard them all to myself. Garlic, butter, and carbs make me do crazy things sometimes. :P
Totally ;) These were *reluctantly* shared with my husband haha!
Oh yum, my mouth is literally watering, I will definitely be making these…thank you!
:D Thanks!
Oh my gosh, I’m so hungry after looking at those photos lol. These look delish! I’m a garlic lover myself. I’m imagining these with roasted garlic butter… I might have to make up a batch for dinner! I wonder how they’d work with gluten free flour?
Ooh these look so good!! They look so professional!
These look dreamy! I love garlic too, and dough balls are one of my favourite treats. Yours look so beautifully pillowy soft and delicious :)
Jennie // Scarletscorchdroppers
xx
Thanks Jennie!
These dough balls look amazing and I also love adding garlic to my food, just like you! :-)
Thanks Johlene! Garlic is the best haha!
Lauren – these dough balls look amazingly delicious! Your photos are beautiful too!
Thank you!! They were so tasty! Can’t wait to make them again when we have some guests over!