Easy Homemade Authentic Italian Stromboli Recipe

A fun and easy authentic Italian Stromboli recipe! This recipe has yummy ingredients like thinly sliced salami, pepperoni, capicola, and a blend of Italian cheeses. It’s a family favorite and will remind you of your favorite local pizzeria.

Searching for an easy recipe that feeds a crowd? Look no further than this traditional stromboli recipe! It’s a great appetizer or finger food for game day and just as fitting for a large family gathering where this delicious stromboli is the main dish.

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, you can Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

Stromboli vs Calzone

Side by side, the Italian strombolis and calzones ingredient lists look almost identical! It’s no wonder they are often confused with one another. However, when you put calzone and stromboli next to each other, you notice they look a little different. 

Stromboli is a large rectangular pizza dough topped with meat, cheese, veggies, and sometimes some tomato sauce. Then, the dough is rolled over the ingredients and sliced into individual-sized portions. 

A calzone begins with a smaller circle of dough. It has similar ingredients, like cheese, meats, and vegetables, but no sauce. The dough is then folded in half to create a pocket of delicious filling in the shape of a semicircle. It’s typically served with a side of tomato sauce for dipping, like marinara or pizza sauce. With the shape and size being the biggest difference.

Key Ingredients Italian Stromboli

• Pizza dough | Use room temperature pizza dough, homemade or store-bought pizza dough. Check out my easy no-rise homemade pizza dough recipe.
• Meats | Sliced salami, pepperoni, and capicola, all sliced thin. Use your favorite thin sliced deli meats, and remember all meats are optional; these are only suggestions.
• Cheeses | The cheesy goodness of this recipe comes from sliced provolone and mozzarella cheese. Be sure to use low-moisture mozzarella to prevent a soggy dish.
• Seasoning | You have two options – Sprinkle the filling with Italian seasoning blend and fennel seeds mixed in a small bowl or pizza seasoning alone. Pizza seasoning is a combination of the two. And to top it off, add some freshly chopped parsley. Include red pepper flakes for some heat.

Optional Ingredients

• Egg and water | Lightly beaten eggs and water make an egg wash to brush over the top for a glossy finish.
• Toppings | If desired, sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan cheese, flaky sea salt and some fresh parsley on top.
• Marinara sauce | Either marinara or pizza sauce is perfect for dipping.

How to Make this Authentic Italian Stromboli Recipe

Preheat the oven to 425° F (220° C) and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or spray it well with spray oil. 

Step 1 | Roll out dough

Roll the pizza dough into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface or Silpat. For the 1-pound roll of dough, form it into a rectangle with dimensions around 13×9 inches. And roll into a 10×16-inch rectangle if f you’re using a 1 ½-pound pizza dough ball. If desired, brush with garlic butter or garlic oil.

Step 2 | Layer the meats and cheeses

Starting with the largest meat, create a single layer with a slight overlap. Leave a 1-inch border on each side and at the bottom. There should also be 3 inches at the top to allow the ingredients to push forward when rolling. 

Next, add a layer of provolone cheese and sprinkle it with half the pizza seasoning and a pinch of fresh parsley. Then, layer your capicola or other favorite salami and sprinkle on some mozzarella cheese and the rest of the Italian pizza seasoning. Add the parsley and, finally, top with sliced pepperoni.

Step 3 | Prep and Roll

If preferred, brush the egg wash around the edges of the stromboli dough, helping to hold it together. 

Beginning with the bottom, roll the dough tightly along the long edge, burrito or jelly-roll style, tucking the sides and meat in as you go. Then, pinch the long side edges and ends to seal the roll. Finally, set it with the seam side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

If you want to bake this Italian-inspired dish later, refrigerate the stromboli for up to 8 hours (see the notes below for more details). Next, brush the entire surface with egg wash for a golden and glossy outside. Lastly, sprinkle the top with a dash of flaky sea salt or kosher salt, tasty grated parmesan cheese, and some chopped parsley. 

Slice four vents into the top of the stromboli, then bake it at 425° F (220° C). Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until the stromboli is golden brown. Allow the dish to sit for five minutes. Then, slice it on a cutting board and serve it with a dipping sauce, like hot marinara or pizza sauce– YUM!

Who doesn’t like pizza? It’s cheesy and saucy with an irresistible flavor. Even better, there are many ways to bake recipes using the elements of pizza, just like today’s authentic stromboli recipe. If you’re a big pizza fan, try these easy recipes to switch up the typical pizza night– Italian Pizza Rustica or Easter Pie Recipe, Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza Recipe, or go for the classic Homemade Pizza Recipe.

Freeze Your Stromboli for Later

Refrigerate Unbaked Stromboli – Before adding the egg wash, wrap it tightly in plastic and place it in the fridge. When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and put it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash, cut the slits, and top with parmesan cheese and a little kosher salt. Let the stromboli sit at room temperature while your oven preheats. 

Freeze Stromboli Before Baking – Make one, freeze one! If freezing, don’t cut slits or brush with the egg wash. After you have rolled and sealed the stromboli, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then cover it snugly with aluminum foil. This will help ward off freezer burn. Place the wrapped stromboli in a freezer ziplock baggie and freeze for up to 3 months. 

How to Bake Frozen Stromboli – Remove the frozen stromboli from the freezer and place it in the fridge keeping it wrapped. Let it thaw in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. Next, unwrap it and set it on the baking sheet. Then, brush the surface with egg wash, sprinkle on the toppings, and cut slits into the top. Bake as directed in a 425°F (220° C) oven for about 25 minutes. You may need to bake it for 3 to 5 additional minutes, covering it with aluminum foil if it starts browning too quickly.

Variations & Substitutions

• Bread Dough Pizza – If you’d like, use thawed Italian bread dough instead of pizza dough. 
• Customize the Meat – Use your favorite combination of Italian meats. You need up to one pound of meat, but the choice of what to add to the stromboli is yours– Add all your favorite pizza toppings.
• One Cheese – Try using one type of cheese to get its full flavor. For example, use all mozzarella or all provolone cheese. Ricotta cheese is another popular choice.
• Brush with Butter – Rather than a classic egg wash, brush the stromboli with one tablespoon of melted butter.
• Meatless Stromboli – Use various cooked veggies instead of meat. Spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, red peppers, onions, eggplant, green peppers, and zucchini would all be fabulous! Make sure to add the cheese as well. You need to cook the veggies because they won’t have time to cook in the stromboli.
• Add Pesto- Drizzle a little pesto over the cheese before rolling the stromboli. Make your own nut-free pesto!

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage

Wrap the leftover stromboli in plastic or store them in an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Wrap well and freeze up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Stromboli – Oven | To reheat it in the oven, set the temperature to 350° F (176°C) and bake 15-20 minutes.

Reheat Stromboli – Microwave | Wrap pieces in a paper towel and heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through.

How to Reheat Stromboli in Air Fryer – Set the air fryer to 400°F (204° C) and let it preheat for about five minutes. Lightly spray leftover stromboli with oil. Air fry for 6-8 minutes! For frozen stromboli, reduce the temperature to 350°F (176° C) for 20-25 minutes, watching if getting too brown, and cover it with a little foil.

Can You Freeze Stromboli? – Yes! Stromboli freezes very well. Wrap it tightly and slip it into a freezer baggie. Then, store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

How to Reheat Frozen Stromboli – Reheat frozen baked stromboli by thawing it for about an hour on the counter at room temperature. Then, uncover, place on the baking sheet, and drape loosely with aluminum foil. Finally, bake the stromboli in a preheated 350°F (176° C) degree oven for about 30 minutes. 

Best Side Dishes for Authentic Stromboli

Stromboli is already a heavy entrée, so go for a lighter side dish. These toasted ravioli would be a great option too a fun appetizer to go alongside stromboli! Check out all my side dishes!

Best Desserts to Serve with Italian Stromboli

Remember to leave room for dessert! Go for a classic Italian dessert like the Lemon ricotta cake below, or try something fun like my Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookies or this popular key lime pie recipe.

More Authentic Italian Dishes

• Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells
• One Pot Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
• Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers with Spicy Ale Mustard
• Italian Braised Short Ribs
• Easy Italian Wedding Soup

I hope you loved this Homemade Stromboli Recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!