Need more pepperoni in your life? Check out these Pepperoni Bread Knots, Pepperoni Pizza Bites, and this One Pot Pepperoni Pizza Pasta!
Dinnertime is always fun in the Gomez household.
I feel lucky that the kids have my husband’s tastebuds and are willing to try just about anything, while I still slowly work on overcoming my aversion to things like mushrooms, custards, and puddings (it’s a texture thing, folks). This gives me a chance to experiment with foods and flavors without fear of the kids poo-pooing it right off the bat, which is such a relief to me and my wallet, ha!
I knew, though, when I decided to combine the girls’ love for pizza and waffles into these super amazing Pepperoni Pizza Waffles, that I wouldn’t have any problems with the girls gobbling these right up. You gotta have some love for Hormel Pepperoni, they make these waffles super delish!
When I first thought about making waffles that weren’t exactly…waffles, I spent a lot of time struggling with the notion that I needed to make a waffle batter for the recipe to be a success, which was a total waste of time, because you can use pizza dough, no problem!
I took a very basic dough recipe and added some fun spices to give it a flavor boost, then stuffed it full of tomato sauce, Hormel Pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, then covered it with a sprinkling of extra spices and cheese before putting it in the best damn waffle iron to cook!
This dinner can be on the table in less than an hour, the longest time being devoted to the dough rising, which, if you’re scared of a yeast dough, don’t be! This recipe is so foolproof, you’ll feel like a pro when you’re done!
Get ready to make a meal your family is sure to enjoy!
Ingredients
For the Dough
- ¾ C Warm Water 110 degrees
- 1 ½ tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 1 ¾ C All-Purpose Flour + extra for kneading
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Basil
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
For the Sauce
- 1 Can Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Oregano
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
For the Waffles
- 8 Slices Fresh Mozzarella
- ½ C Grated Parmesan
- 24 Pepperoni Slices
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the warm water, then gently sprinkle the yeast over the top. Allow to sit for a few minutes, or until the yeast has dissolved into the water.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, then pour the yeast water over it. Using a spatula, mix the water and flour just until everything is wet, then add the olive oil and seasonings and continue to mix until a sticky ball forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes, adding a little flour as needed until the dough is no longer sticky, but not dry and cracking. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and allow to sit in a warm spot to rise for 25 minutes.
- While the dough rises, place the tomatoes and seasoning in a food processor and pulse until smooth, then transfer to a bowl and set aside. Prep the remaining ingredients for the waffles.
- Once the dough is ready, cut it in half, then again, to create four balls. Cut each ball in half and stretch into round discs around 5 inches in diameter. Add a couple tablespoons of sauce and spread it around, leaving an inch around the edge clean. Add six pepperonis, followed by two slices of fresh mozzarella and a generous sprinkling of Parmesan. Cover with the second stretched piece of dough, pinch the edges together, then place in a waffle iron to cook, on high, for around 4 minutes. Serve with the remaining tomato sauce for dipping.
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Looking for more recipes inspired by Hormel Pepperoni? Then check out these amazing Pepperoni Knots, or these Pepperoni Bites! What kind of dish do you love to use Hormel Pepperoni in? Tell me in the comments!
Lee says
The grandkids LOVED this. They ask me to make it every time they visit. It is a bit time consuming, but worth it.
Billie says
The idea of this recipe excited me a lot, as I wanted alternative uses for my waffle iron. IF I make it again, I’ll not put the spices into the dough mix, and I’ll cut way back on the salt and spices in the sauce. Also, I’ll set my waffle iron to Manual, and cook them longer. We used the Dark setting twice for a total of 8 minutes, and the insides of the waffles were undercooked. The best part was the cheese that escaped and grilled to hot chewy perfection! Tip: Assemble the little pizzas on a lightly cornmealed cutting board and lift with a large spatula onto the waffle iron.
Jen says
WOW! We’ve tried tofu waffles and falafel waffles (and of course regular waffles) but you just totally blew my mind. Can’t wait to try this!
Gustavo says
?????????????????????????pizza is great for you
Gustavo says
I don’t think this recipe is true