Wings are great. Dip is fine. But if you want the plate that empties first at your next watch party, make this smoked pizza pull apart bread.
Think pizza rolls on game day mode: pillowy dough stuffed with mozzarella, pepperoni, and jalapeños, brushed in garlic butter, kissed with smoke, then finished with hot honey and parmesan. It's one of the easiest game day appetizers you can put on a smoker, and it works for adults and kids alike.
This recipe comes from our friend Nick "Heatstroke" Keith of @heatstrokesbbq, who prepped the whole thing in his Drip EZ Prep Tub and Secondz containers. Here's how to make it at home, plus a few tips to help you nail it the first time.
Prep time: 30 minutes (includes 20-minute rest) · Cook time: about 25–35 minutes · Smoker temp: 350°F · Serves: 8–10 as an appetizer
What you'll need for this pizza pull apart bread
Filling
- 1 lb shredded mozzarella
- 1 pack pepperoni, chopped
- 1 cup chopped jalapeños
- 2 tbsp parmesan
Dough
- 1 can refrigerated pizza dough
Garlic butter
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 tbsp jarred minced garlic
- 1 tbsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
To finish and serve
- 3 tbsp hot honey
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- 1 tbsp crushed red pepper
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- 1 jar pizza sauce, warmed for dipping
Gear: smoker or grill set up for indirect heat, a greased baking pan or tray, a Drip EZ BBQ Prep Tub, and Secondz food storage containers.
How to make smoked pizza pull apart bread
- Mix the filling. In a Secondz container, combine the mozzarella, chopped pepperoni, jalapeños, and 2 tbsp parmesan. Stir it together, snap on the lid, and set aside. You'll use most of it inside the dough and save a little for the top.
- Fire up the smoker. Preheat to 350°F for indirect cooking. A milder wood like cherry, apple, or pecan keeps the smoke from overpowering the cheese.
- Cut and fill the dough. Roll the pizza dough out on your Prep Tub and cut it into roughly 2-inch squares. Add a small ball of filling to the center of each square, pull the corners up, and pinch them closed.
- Let it rest. Nestle the dough balls side by side in a greased pan so they touch. That's what makes them pull apart. Let them sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Brush with garlic butter. Mix the melted butter, garlic, 1 tbsp crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning, and salt. Brush it over the dough balls, scatter the reserved filling on top, and finish with another drizzle of garlic butter.
- Smoke it. Cook at 350°F until the bread is golden and cooked through and the cheese is bubbling, about 25–35 minutes. Want a deeper brown crust? Slide it under the broiler for a minute or two.
- Finish and serve. Top with crushed red pepper, a drizzle of hot honey, parmesan, and fresh basil. Serve warm with pizza sauce for dipping.
Tips for the best smoker appetizers
- Prep the night before. Mix the filling and store it in a lidded Secondz container in the fridge. On game day, all you have to do is cut, fill, and smoke.
- Keep the mess in the tub. Rolling and cutting dough on the Prep Tub keeps flour and cheese off your counter, and it carries straight out to the smoker. Easy cleanup means more time with your crew.
- Pack it tight. Dough balls that touch in the pan bake into one shareable loaf. Spread them out and you get rolls instead of pull apart bread.
- Dial the heat. Swap jalapeños for banana peppers, or skip the crushed red pepper in the butter for a kid-friendly batch.
- Tailgating? Assemble the pan at home, cover it, and cook it on-site on a portable grill set up for indirect heat.
- Save the leftovers. Store extras in Secondz containers and reheat at 350°F for 5–10 minutes to bring back the crisp.
Smoked pizza pull apart bread FAQ
Can I make pizza pull apart bread in the oven instead of a smoker? Yes. Bake at 350°F for the same time. You'll lose the smoke flavor, but it's still a crowd-pleaser.
What temperature do you smoke pull apart bread at? 350°F. That's hot enough to bake the dough through and melt the cheese, with time to pick up a light smoke flavor.
Can I make it ahead for a tailgate? Yes. Mix the filling up to a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Assemble the dough balls the day of so they stay light and fluffy.
What else can I cook on a smoker for a game day party? Pull apart bread pairs well with smoked wings, smoked queso, and sliders. Check out more game day recipes from Drip EZ.
Prep less mess. Serve up more game day.
The best tailgate food ideas are the ones that leave you more time with your people and less time scrubbing counters. The Drip EZ BBQ Prep Tub gives you one place to prep, carry, and clean up. Secondz keeps your fillings and leftovers organized from fridge to fire. Both are backed by our 90-day guarantee.
Make this one for kickoff, then tag @bbq_dripez and @heatstrokesbbq so we can see your spread. Serve Up™.
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