These rolls are nothing short of sublime. The smell, as they are baking, is intoxicating.
Then once you pull that first warm and cheesy roll out of the skillet and take a bite…you will be transported to a place that dreams are made of. They are wonderful all year round, but, they are especially festive during the holiday season. We place an oven-safe ramekin in the middle, and then serve the ‘wreath’ with our homemade marinara sauce!
How To Make Cheesy Skillet Rolls
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The Tools and Ingredients You Will Need
We love to make these rolls in a cast-iron skillet. Depending on the size of the dough balls you form, you can use a 9-inch skillet (or baking pan) or up to a 12-inch skillet. If you’re making the holiday bread wreath, you’ll need a small oven-proof ramekin to place inverted in the center of the rolls.
For the ingredients, here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:
Flour – All-purpose.
Yeast – Either ‘active’ or ‘instant’ will work. Check the expiration date! Very important!
Salt – Table salt is best (not coarse salt).
Sugar – Granulated.
Water – Warm in the microwave until 120°F to 125°F, or go with warm tap water.
Oil – Olive oil, or extra virgin olive oil is best.
Mozzarella – Fresh is definitely your best option. You can also find small mozzarella balls called “Ciliegine” or “pearls” usually located in the specialty cheese section of your supermarket.
Butter – Unsalted.
Parsley – Fresh, chopped
Seasonings – Dried oregano, basil, and garlic powder.
Parmesan – Grated.
EXPERT TIP: After the dough has nearly doubled in size after the first round of proofing, you’ll want to form the dough balls. They should be slightly larger than a golf ball. After you place them in the greased pan, you’ll want them to proof for at least another 30 minutes.
Tips for Making Perfect Cheesy Skillet Rolls
Use Fresh Ingredients – Opt for high-quality, fresh mozzarella to ensure a gooey, melty center. Additionally, using fresh herbs like parsley or basil in the topping enhances the flavor and aroma of the rolls.
Knead the Dough Properly – Make sure to knead the dough (with your stand mixer or by hand) until it’s smooth and elastic, which helps develop the gluten structure. This will give your rolls a light and airy texture. Allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size for the best results.
Stuff Generously – When forming the rolls, make sure to stuff them generously with mozzarella, but not so much that they burst. Pinch the dough tightly around the cheese to seal in the filling and prevent it from leaking during baking.
Brush with Butter, Cheese, and Herbs – Before baking, you’ll want to brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter. Then for the last five minutes, brush on more butter with a sprinkle of chopped mozzarella and grated Parmesan. Once it’s out of the oven, brush on melted butter mixed with herbs and Parmesan cheese.
How To Serve
You have options on how you want to serve this pull-apart bread. If making a holiday wreath, then you can bake it in a cast-iron skillet or a 9-inch cake pan with a small ramekin in the middle.
Or, you could place parchment paper on a baking sheet with a ramekin in the middle. Form the dough balls and place them around the ramekin on the parchment paper in the shape of a wreath.
If you bake in the skillet or pan, you have the option of removing the ramekin and then carefully removing the baked rolls from the pan to place on a serving platter. If the bread pulls apart a bit during this process, don’t fret. Just place them back together and no one will even notice.
And remember to serve this with homemade marinara or ranch dressing for a wonderful dipping sauce.
These rolls are so good, that they can be served as an appetizer or with the main course. Get ready, they must just steal the show!
Other Awesome Baked Bread Recipes To Try
There’s nothing better than the smell of homemade bread baking in the oven. Here is a collection of some of our favorites that we are certain will be an instant classic in your home.
- Homemade Country White Bread
- Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls
- Irish Soda Bread
- Classic Banana Nut Bread
- Pumpkin Butterscotch Bread
- Zucchini Bread
- Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
- Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread
- Grandma’s Kolaches
- Olive Oil and Rosemary Focaccia
- Grissini (Italian Breadsticks)
These are all absolutely amazing and comforting. But, in the meantime, aren’t these rolls calling your name?
These rolls are spectacular for any occasion. They make a wonderful appetizer or with a main course.
During the holiday season, turning them into a festive wreath is as gorgeous as it is delicious. Be sure to serve with homemade marinara sauce!
Nothing is much more comforting than pillowy, fluffy, delicious homemade rolls. And these are easy to make and always a huge hit.
Ready to make the best cheesy dinner rolls in town? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of them, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Cheesy Skillet Rolls
Equipment
- 1 9-inch cast-iron skillet or cake pan or 12-inch skillet for smaller rolls.
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2¼ tsp instant yeast
- 2½ tsp Kosher salt
- 1½ tsp granulated sugar
- 1¼ cups warm water (120°F to 125°F)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- Cooking spray
- 12 oz. fresh mozzarella cut into small cubes or balls, plus extra chopped
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter divided
- 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated, divided
- 1 tbsp Italian parsley fresh, chopped
- ½ tsp oregano dried
- ½ tsp basil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup marinara sauce for serving (optional)
- fresh herbs for garnishing the wreath, ie, rosemary, sage, bay leaves.
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached, mix the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the warm water and the oil and continue beating until combined.4 cups all-purpose flour, 2¼ tsp instant yeast, 2½ tsp Kosher salt, 1½ tsp granulated sugar, 1¼ cups warm water, ⅓ cup olive oil
- Increase mixer speed to medium, and beat until smooth and elastic, about 7 minutes. If too dry, add small drops of water until smooth.
- Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place dough in it, turning the dough to coat it with the oil. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (about 75°F) until doubled in size, about 1 hour to 90 minutes (but could be longer).Cooking spray
- Spray a 9 to 10-inch cast iron skillet, or 9-inch baking pan, with cooking spray.
- If making a bread wreath, spray the sides of a small oven-proof ramekin with cooking spray. Place the ramekin upside down in the middle of the prepared skillet or pan.
- On a lightly floured surface, turn the dough out of the bowl. Knead for about 30 seconds with the heels of your hands. Pinch off a piece of dough, about 2 ounces. Flatten and place a cubed piece of mozzarella in the center. Form the dough around the cheese and form it into a smooth ball, slightly larger than a golf ball. (Be sure to leave about 1/2 cup of mozzarella to add to the top of the rolls).12 oz. fresh mozzarella
- Place the dough round in the skillet or pan, seam side down. Continue this process until the skillet is full and all of the dough has been used. Place smaller pinches of mozzarella between rolls, filling any holes (about 1/4 cup of the mozzarella, you'll use the rest during the baking process). Cover the rolls with a kitchen towel and then return them to a warm, non-drafty area. Allow to proof for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. (If proofing the rolls in your unheated oven, remove them before preheating).
- Melt 1 tbsp of the butter and brush over the top of the rolls.6 tbsp unsalted butter
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and brush another 1 tbsp butter (melted) over the top. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of grated Parmesan cheese and the remaining chopped mozzarella (about 2 to 3 tbsp) over the top. Bake for another 5 minutes.3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- In a small bowl, melt the remaining 4 tbsp butter, and then stir in the parsley, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese.1 tbsp Italian parsley, ½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp basil, 1 tsp garlic powder
- Brush rolls with butter mixture and then serve immediately. If serving as a wreath, carefully remove the ramekin and then use spatulas to remove the rolls from the skillet or pan. Fill the ramekin with marinara sauce and place in the middle of the rolls. Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired.1 cup marinara sauce, fresh herbs
Notes
Nutrition
POST UPDATE: This was originally published in June 2018, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe with new tips, photography, and a fabulous new video in December 2024!
Omg good!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Thank you, Dianne!! So glad you liked them! Aren’t they super delicious!!! Best, Kris & Wesley