12 Recipes That Start With a Ball of Pizza Dough

From savory breakfasts to sweet treats, ready-made pizza dough does a lot more than just support cheese and pepperoni.

Maybe you passed by the fresh balls of pizza dough in the grocery store and grabbed one on a whim and now you need inspiration. Maybe you made a double batch of dough a while back and have half of it in your freezer. Or maybe you just feel like being creative today.

Having a ball of pizza dough to use doesn't mean you have to make a classic pizza. With these 12 recipes, you can get creative—from breakfast pizza to calzones to sweet monkey bread. Or go pizza-ish with calzone, stromboli, or pepperoni rolls.

Each of these recipes works with store-bought dough or homemade dough. If you're new to making your dough, I suggest starting with no-knead pizza dough recipe or no-knead whole wheat pizza dough to take the intimidation out of the process.

Easy Stuffed Stromboli

Stromboli is so simple to make and such a crowd-pleaser. Roll ham, salami, provolone, and mozzarella in pizza dough and bake until the dough is cooked through and golden and the cheese is gooey and melted. You can serve tomato sauce for dipping, but it's not necessary.

Get Recipe: Easy Stuffed Stromboli

Homemade Bagel Dogs

Trade your hot dog buns for pizza dough to make these bagel dogs. Yes, I know pizza dough isn't the same as bagel dough, but this recipe allows you to use either. To make them more bagel-like, top them with everything bagel seasoning.

Get Recipe: Homemade Bagel Dogs Recipe

Garlic Knots

Tie strips of pizza dough in knots. Brush with olive oil. Let them proof. Bake. Then brush a garlicky butter sauce on the still-warm knots. Make more than you think you'll need because everyone loves them.

Get Recipe: Garlic Knots

Cheeseburger Pizza

Pizza that tastes like a cheeseburger. Why not? Instead of putting ground beef, "special sauce," cheese, pickles, and tomato on a bun, put them on pizza dough. Once you get the idea, you can have whatever kind of cheeseburger pizza you want—add bacon, onions, mushrooms, or any other favorite topping.

Get Recipe: Cheeseburger Pizza

Pepperoni Rolls

Pepperoni rolls are so simple and hard to resist. The yeast dough bakes up soft and fluffy. True West Virginia-style pepperoni rolls are made with a soft roll dough, but pizza dough will work nicely as a stand-in. The pepperoni soaks the dough with greasy, salty deliciousness. Make these at least once. I promise they'll be a hit.

Get Recipe: Pepperoni Rolls

Greek Pizza

Shake up pizza night with the flavors of Greece. Add the grilled potatoes plus olives, feta, zucchini, and tomatoes to the dough and grill until the crust is crispy and the toppings are warmed through.

Get Recipe: Greek Pizza on the Grill

Pepperoni Calzones

Stuff pizza dough with pepperoni, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella cheese. Bake them until golden brown. Serve jarred marinara on the side for dipping. The hardest thing about these pockets of goodness is waiting for them to cool off enough so you don't burn your mouth with the hot filling.

Get Recipe: Pepperoni Calzones

Pickle Pizza

You'll never look at dill pickle slices the same after you taste what they can do as the star of a pizza. The pickles go on top of a layer of freshly made garlic dill sauce. Then add a layer of mozzarella, Parmesan, more pickles, and fresh dill. The combination of sour pickles, savory cheese, and pizza crust can't be beat.

Get Recipe: Pickle Pizza

Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread

This recipe comes from Trader Joe's test kitchen, and it's super quick and easy. You need just a handful of ingredients to make warm, gooey, monkey bread: fresh pizza dough, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, butter, and vanilla. The sum is exactly as delicious as its parts suggest.

Get Recipe: The Easiest 4-Ingredient Dessert, According to Trader Joe's Test Kitchen

Taco Pizza

If you've ever switched up your taco night by making our one-pot taco pasta, you know that traditional tacos can inspire other taco-like configurations, including pizza. Refried beans, seasoned ground beef, Mexican cheese, and black olives top the pizza. After baking add salsa, scallions, shredded lettuce, and sour cream to complete the taco vibe.

Get Recipe: Taco Pizza

Sausage Rolls

Cut the pizza dough into strips to wrap around pieces of cooked fresh pork sausage links. These rolls are great for potlucks or snacks while watching the game. Serve with plenty of yellow or Dijon mustard for dipping.

Get Recipe: Sausage Rolls

Breakfast Pizza with Cheddar, Bacon, and Eggs

When you think of eggs and bacon, you probably picture a breakfast plate with the duo along with a slice of toast. Breakfast pizza is like that but it turns pizza dough into the bread of choice and adds cheese and tomatoes. Great for a lazy weekend brunch or even dinner.

Get Recipe: Breakfast Pizza with Cheddar, Bacon, and Eggs

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.