Name: Cheesy Meatball Pull-Apart Pizza Ring: A Comforting and Fun Meal for Any Occasion
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pizza crust (DeLallo pizza kit recommended); ½ cup ricotta cheese (or cream cheese); 15-20 meatballs (store-bought or homemade); 1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 beaten egg; Oregano and sea salt for sprinkling; Marinara sauce for dipping

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If you’ve never tried a pull-apart pizza ring, let me paint a picture for you. It’s essentially pizza, but with a fun twist. The dough forms a ring, and in the center, you’ve got a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping. The best part? The dough is folded around cheesy, meaty pockets of goodness that pull apart so easily, you’ll feel like you’re in pizza heaven. And trust me, once you try it, you’ll be hooked.

But the real magic happens when you add meatballs to the mix. I know, I know—meatballs might sound a little over-the-top for a pizza ring. But I promise, the combination of tender, juicy meatballs, melted mozzarella, and the warm, yeasty dough is next-level. This is comfort food at its finest, perfect for feeding a crowd or indulging on a cozy night in.

Key Ingredients for a Perfect Pull-Apart Pizza Ring

Before we dive into the steps of making this delicious cheesy meatball pizza ring, let’s take a quick look at the ingredients you’ll need:

Pizza dough: I highly recommend using DeLallo pizza dough for this recipe. It’s made with authentic Italian superfine pizza flour, which gives it that perfect chewy, yet crispy texture. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to work with—just add water, stir, and let it rest for about 45 minutes.
Ricotta cheese: This adds a creamy, mild flavor to balance out the boldness of the meatballs and mozzarella. You can also swap it for cream cheese if you prefer a smoother texture.
Meatballs: I used store-bought chicken meatballs for convenience, but you can use any meatballs you like. Whether they’re homemade or pre-made, the key is to ensure they are packed with flavor and juicy goodness.
Shredded mozzarella cheese: A must-have for any pizza. It melts beautifully and creates those irresistible cheesy pockets inside the dough.
Egg: To brush over the dough before baking, giving it a golden, glossy finish.
Oregano and sea salt: These simple seasonings are all you need to sprinkle on top for that authentic pizza flavor.
Marinara sauce: For dipping, of course! It’s the perfect accompaniment to this pull-apart pizza ring and adds an extra layer of flavor.

How to Make the Cheesy Meatball Pull-Apart Pizza Ring

Now that we’ve gathered our ingredients, it’s time to get into the fun part—assembling the pull-apart pizza ring. Here’s how we do it:

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare the Dough

Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the pizza dough onto a piece of parchment paper, making sure to stretch it out to a nice, even thickness. Then, make three small cuts in the center of the dough to create a star-shaped pattern. This is where the magic happens—these cuts will allow us to fold the dough around the filling.

Step 2: Add the Filling

In the space between the center cuts and the outer edge of the dough, spread the ricotta cheese evenly. Next, place your meatballs around the ricotta, ensuring they are spaced evenly. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese over the meatballs, ensuring it’s all nestled in there, ready to melt into cheesy perfection.

Step 3: Fold and Tuck

Now comes the fun part: folding the dough! Take the pointed tip of each star-shaped cut and gently pull it towards the center, tucking it underneath the outer crust. Repeat this process for all the cut sections. Then, go back around and tuck in the remaining edges of the dough to form a wreath shape. This creates those delicious pockets that will hold the cheese and meatballs in place while baking.

Step 4: Brush with Egg and Season

Once your dough is all tucked in, it’s time to give it a little extra shine. Brush the dough with a beaten egg, which will create a beautiful golden finish when it’s baked. Sprinkle the top with oregano and a pinch of sea salt for added flavor.

Step 5: Bake and Serve

Pop your pizza ring into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling. You’ll know it’s done when the crust is perfectly crispy and the filling is hot and melty.

Once it’s out of the oven, place a small bowl of marinara sauce in the center of the ring for dipping. Now, gather your family, friends, or just yourself (we’re not judging) and get ready to dig in. The pull-apart pizza ring is ready to be devoured.

Tips for Success

Tuck the cheese inside: One mistake that can happen when making a pull-apart pizza ring is letting cheese spill out of the dough. To avoid this, make sure you tuck all the cheese and fillings securely inside the dough pockets before baking.
Don’t overfill: It’s tempting to pile on more cheese and meatballs, but too much filling can cause the dough to split during baking. Be sure to keep the filling to a reasonable amount to ensure everything bakes up perfectly.
Use parchment paper: This makes handling the dough much easier, especially when transferring it to the oven.

Variations on the Classic Cheesy Meatball Pizza Ring

While the cheesy meatball version is a fan favorite in our house, there are plenty of other variations you can try. Here are a few ideas:

Spinach and Ricotta: A classic vegetarian option that’s creamy, savory, and absolutely delicious.
Butternut Squash and Sausage: A cozy fall-inspired pizza ring with the sweetness of roasted squash and the richness of sausage.
Cheese-only: For a simpler, fuss-free version, skip the meatballs and load up on mozzarella and ricotta cheese. Brush the dough with garlic butter for extra flavor.
Pepperoni and Green Pepper: For a more traditional pizza flavor, fill the dough with pepperoni slices, green peppers, and mozzarella.

Final Thoughts

There’s no doubt that this cheesy meatball pull-apart pizza ring will quickly become a favorite in your kitchen. It’s the perfect dish for a cozy night in, a family dinner, or even a fun appetizer for a party. The combination of gooey cheese, savory meatballs, and the crispy dough is simply irresistible. And once you make it, I guarantee you’ll be dreaming up new variations for weeks to come.