Stromboli
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
Learn how to make the best homemade stromboli with this easy, crowd-pleasing recipe. Filled with Italian deli meats, melty cheese, and rolled in pizza dough, it’s perfect for game day, casual dinners, or feeding a hungry crowd.
Stromboli, an Italian-American favorite from Philadelphia, is like a rolled-up version of pizza. Stuffed with cheese and Italian deli meats like pepperoni, salami, and ham, it’s served with marinara sauce for dipping—a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for an easy dinner or casual get-together.
I use my favorite homemade pizza dough to make this easy stromboli recipe, but store-bought dough works great, too. And don’t worry if your stromboli bursts a little while baking—it’s totally normal for some cheese to ooze out. In fact, the dish is said to be named after Mt. Stromboli, one of Italy’s active volcanoes, because the ingredients look like they’re about to explode out of the crust.
What’s the difference between a stromboli and a calzone? While a stromboli is rolled up like a log with fillings like meats and cheese, a calzone is folded into a pocket and often includes ricotta along with mozzarella. Fair warning: stromboli disappears fast, so consider making two rolls if you’re feeding a hungry group!
“Kids and husband asked for something ‘different’ for dinner. This was gobbled up in minutes with immediate requests to make it again very soon!”
What You’ll Need To Make Stromboli
- Homemade or store-bought pizza dough – Acts as the base of the stromboli, holding all the delicious fillings together; you can use store-bought dough for convenience.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – Adds flavor and richness to the filling.
- Garlic – Infuses the stromboli with a subtle garlicky aroma and flavor.
- Dried oregano – A classic Italian seasoning that adds warmth and earthy flavor to the filling.
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional) – Adds a touch of heat and spice for those who like a little kick.
- Pecorino Romano – This sharp, salty cheese that enhances the flavor of the stromboli. Feel free to substitute Parmesan cheese.
- Provolone & Mozzarella – These two cheeses melt beautifully together, providing a mild, creamy, and irresistibly gooey texture.
- Deli ham and Italian Cured Meats – A variety of meats bring savory, salty and bold flavors to the stromboli; use at least two types of cured meats, such as pepperoni, salami, bresaola, or prosciutto. For ideas on different fillings, see the suggestions below.
- Egg (beaten) – Brushed on top to give the stromboli a shiny, golden-brown finish after baking.
- Store-bought or homemade marinara sauce (optional) – Perfect for dipping, adding a tangy and savory complement to the rich filling. The sauce is not added to the filling as it will make the dough soggy.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Stromboli Filling Ideas
Don’t feel limited by the suggested filling options for this recipe—get creative and add your favorite ingredients to make it your own!
- Philly cheesesteak with sliced steak, sautéed onions, and melted cheese
- Buffalo-seasoned chicken and cheese
- Spinach and cheese
- Cooked sausage and peppers
- Pesto sauce, mozzarella, and shredded chicken
Step-by-Step Instructions
On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll the dough into a 10×12-inch rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Position the long side closest to you. Brush the dough with oil, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Evenly distribute the garlic over the oiled surface, then sprinkle with oregano, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and Pecorino Romano.
Shingle the provolone slices evenly over the pecorino romano, followed by the ham, mozzarella, and cured meats.
Lightly brush the edges of the dough with the beaten egg. Fold the bottom third of the stromboli up toward the center.
Fold the top third of the stromboli down over the first fold, forming a wide log similar to a folded letter. Pinch the seam firmly to seal.
Place the stromboli seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Pinch the ends tightly to seal and tuck them underneath. Cover the stromboli loosely with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature for 1 hour. It won’t look significantly different after rising, which is perfectly fine. (Alternatively, you can refrigerate the stromboli for up to 12 hours or freeze for up to 3 months before baking.)
Preheat the oven to 375°F and position a rack in the center. Lightly brush the top of the dough with the remaining egg. With a sharp knife, cut 5 evenly spaced slits, about 1½ inches long and ½ inch deep, across the top of the stromboli.
Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the stromboli is golden brown, puffed up, and bubbling. It’s normal for some grease or cheese to ooze out from the sides or top. If needed, blot any excess grease from the baking sheet with a paper towel.
Cool on the baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board and slice into 1-inch-thick pieces. Serve warm or at room temperature with marinara sauce on the side, if desired.
You May Also Like
Easy Homemade Stromboli Recipe
This easy stromboli is packed with Italian meats, cheese, and plenty of flavor—perfect for game day or any casual gathering!
Ingredients
- 1 lb homemade or store-bought pizza dough (see note)
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- A few pinches crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 tablespoons finely grated pecorino romano
- 4 thin slices (3 oz) provolone cheese
- 4 medium slices (3 oz) deli ham
- 4 thin slices (3 oz) mozzarella cheese
- 14 thin, large slices (3 oz) Italian cured meats, such as salami, pepperoni, bresaola, etc. (use at least two different kinds for best results)
- 1 egg, beaten
- Store-bought or homemade marinara sauce, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Line a 13x18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured work surface, stretch and/or roll the dough into a 10x12-inch rectangle, about ¼-inch thick. (Be sure not to roll the dough too thin.)
- Arrange the dough rectangle so the long side is closest to you. Brush the surface with the oil, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Spread the garlic evenly over the top of the oil, then sprinkle with the oregano, a pinch of red pepper flakes (if using), and the pecorino romano.
- Shingle the provolone slices evenly over the pecorino romano, followed by the ham, mozzarella, and cured meats. Brush the borders of the dough with the egg (reserve the remaining egg for brushing the top of the stromboli). Fold the bottom third of the stromboli in toward the middle. Fold the top third of stromboli down to cover first fold, creating a wide log, like a folded letter. Pinch the seam tightly to seal. Transfer the stromboli to the prepared baking sheet, seam side down. Pinch the ends tightly to seal and tuck underneath the stromboli. Loosely cover the stromboli with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 1 hour. (The stromboli won't look much different after the rise; that's okay.)
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Brush the top of the dough with the remaining egg. Using a sharp knife, make 5 evenly spaced ½-inch-deep slits, 1½ inches long, on top of the stromboli. Bake until golden brown, puffy, and bubbling, about 35 minutes (if you have a thermometer, the center should register 200°F). Some grease or cheese may bubble out of the sides and top; that's normal. Use a paper towel to blot any excess grease on the baking sheet. Let the stromboli cool on the baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board and cut into 1-inch-thick slices. Serve warm or at room temperature, with marinara sauce on the side (if using).
- Note: If you're using the homemade pizza dough, you'll only need 1 lb. of it for the stromboli. You can either cut the recipe in half or make the whole recipe and refrigerate or freeze the other dough ball.
- Make Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The stromboli can be prepared, covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerated for up to 12 hours before baking. Add the egg wash and cut slits right before baking, and allow a few extra minutes in the oven. To freeze the stromboli before baking, fill and roll the stromboli as directed but do not add the egg wash or cut slits. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Add the egg wash and cut slits right before baking, and allow a few extra minutes in the oven.
Nutrition Information
Powered by 
- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 418
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated fat: 9 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Sugar: 1 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Sodium: 1,169 mg
- Cholesterol: 77 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
See more recipes:
Comments
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Jenn, you are my go-to for great recipes and detailed, helpful instructions. I’d like to try making a version of your Stromboli. We follow a pescatarian diet. Do you think I could use smoked salmon? What kind of sauce would you recommend? Thanks so much!!
Hi Barb, I don’t think the recipe as is would work with smoked salmon, but could play around with an “everything bagel” version. Instead of the filling here, you could use cream cheese, smoked salmon, everything bagel seasoning, thinly sliced red onions, capers, and fresh herbs like dill or chives. I’d pair it with a creamy dill sauce. Hope that helps—let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Another family-friendly winner by Jenn! We all looove this one. I make it regularly and don’t change a thing! Thanks, Jenn, for your hard work.
Absolutely delicious beyond compare!
The homemade dough recipe for this stromboli is the best we have ever had! And the easy way of folding it over the fillings makes all the difference.
I made two of these for family movie night and barely have any leftovers! For the chief meats, I used hard salami, pepperoni, and capocollo, and I subbed parmesan for the Romano since I had that on hand. It was absolutely delicious and the recipe was simple. Thank you!
Made this for a birthday get together, it was delicious and easy, so often strombolis are overpowered by the taste of peppers. As usual another winner from Jenn. Thank you
I have been wanting to make this for a long time, as I haven’t had stromboli since I was a kid. Made it last week for my family while watching golf and we all loved it! Great flavors.
I made this, with the homemade pizza dough for the Superbowl. Everyone really liked it, especially the dough. That said, I think next time, and there will be a next time, I will use more cheese and meat. It seemed a bit dough heavy if done with just what the recipe calls for. I thought so when I was making it but my general rule is to always try to follow a recipe as written the first time and then make my adjustments the next time through. I love cooking with Jen’s recipes and this one was no different. Thank you Jen
Kids and husband asked for something “different” for dinner. This was gobbled up in minutes with immediate requests to make it again very soon!