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Cheese-Stuffed Breadsticks

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By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Dec 13, 2024
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Oven-baked soft breadsticks, generously filled with a deliciously gooey center of stretchy mozzarella cheese, are irresistible. And making them at home is easier than you might think, starting off with Pillsbury™ Classic Pizza Crust. A trayful of these fragrant, cheese-stuffed breadsticks, ready to be dipped into warm marinara sauce or creamy tomato soup, makes a quick supper special.

Unlike traditional Italian breadsticks, called grissini, which are pencil thin and crisp, these American-style hearty cheese-filled breadsticks can be a small meal in themselves. Often a staple side dish on school lunch menus, they can also be a great addition to main dish salad or soup meals—or enjoyed as an appetizer or simple midafternoon snack. At their best warm from the oven, cheesy breadsticks can be baked ahead and reheated.

Mozzarella sticks are an easy filling for the pizza dough, but you can vary the flavor of the outside of the dough. Use a combination of cheeses, like an Italian blend you can purchase already shredded, or make your own blend with cheddar, Parmesan, or pepper Jack cheeses. An aromatic tomato marinara sauce, seasoned with oregano, basil, and rosemary, is a natural complement for dipping the tender breadsticks. But switch it up up if you have other options on hand, like a creamy pesto dressing or a balsamic vinaigrette.

How to Make Easy Cheese-Filled Breadsticks

Starting with refrigerated pizza dough, these gooey breadsticks take just 30 minutes, start to finish. Details are in the recipe, but here are the highlights.

Unroll Dough

Take the Pillsbury™ Classic Pizza Crust from the fridge, unroll, and press with your fingers into a 14x9-inch rectangle.

Cut Dough into Rectangles

Cut the dough in half, then crosswise into six rectangles. A pizza cutter, kitchen shears, or sharp knife all work well to cut the dough.

Wrap the Cheese

Place a mozzarella stick in the center of each piece of dough. Carefully wrap and roll the dough around the cheese. Press dough firmly together with your fingers to seal. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake Until Golden Brown

Bake the breadsticks until puffed, golden brown, with melty cheese on the inside. Don’t worry if some of the cheese leaks out onto the baking sheet. The parchment paper makes for easy cleanup, and they still will be cheesy and delicious.

Other Kinds of Breadstick Dippers

Refrigerated doughs take you nearly to the finish line when it comes to offering freshly baked bread. Especially ones that complement quick meals. Pillsbury has a wide variety of breadsticks and other dippable bread options—give one a try.

Grilled Cheese Dippers are basically grilled cheese sandwich fingers made from Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Dough Sheets. Sliced American cheese and cheddar or marbled Jack cheese sticks are rolled up in the dough, dusted with crispy Progresso™ panko crumbs, and baked until flaky. Quick to bake, and a fabulous partner with soups!

Pull-Apart Pizza Breadsticks bring the flavors of pepperoni pizza to a cheesy dipper. Perfect for a snack, or make it a meal by adding a salad or fruit.

Olive Crescent Twists will add a bit of Italian flair to any party.

Cheesy Crescent Sticks only take 10 minutes of prep to create a Parmesan dipper that goes great with marinara sauce or pesto.

Pillsbury™ Original Breadsticks twisted and sprinkled with grated cheese, offer up another kitchen hack to a quick appetizer or side dish dipper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Avoid Leaking Cheese?

Cheese leaking out from the inside of the breadsticks can leave you with a hollow breadstick and a mess to clean up on your baking sheet. To help prevent leaking, it’s important to securely wrap and seal the cheese sticks inside the dough. Fold the dough over the cheese stick, firmly pinch the dough along the seam and on the ends to seal. Then, roll the breadsticks to smooth out the dough.

Is Mozzarella the Best Cheese to Fill Breadsticks?

Yes, mozzarella really is the best cheese to use for stuffing breadsticks as it melts easily, creates a great cheese pull, and is readily available. But you can substitute other cheese varieties for the mozzarella. Try experimenting with cheddar, marbled Jack, or provolone. For a little added spice, try pepper Jack cheese. If you cannot find a ready-made cheese stick in the variety of cheese you desire, simply make your own by cutting sticks from a block of cheese or stacking strips cut from sliced cheese.

Cheese-Stuffed Breadsticks

  • Prep Time 15 min
  • Total 30 min
  • Ingredients 5
  • Servings 6
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 400°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.
  • Step 
    2
    Unroll pizza crust; press into 14x9-inch rectangle. Cut dough in half lengthwise, then into thirds crosswise. Separate into 6 pieces.
  • Step 
    3
    Place mozzarella stick in center of each piece of dough. Roll dough around cheese, pinching the seam and ends firmly to seal. Place seam-side down on cookie sheet.
  • Step 
    4
    Bake 10 minutes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with Italian cheese; bake an additional 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Cool briefly; serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping.

Nutrition

320 Calories
12g Total Fat
13g Protein
41g Total Carbohydrate
10g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Breadstick
Calories
320
Calories from Fat
110
Total Fat
12g
18%
Saturated Fat
5g
26%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
25mg
9%
Sodium
840mg
35%
Potassium
500mg
14%
Total Carbohydrate
41g
14%
Dietary Fiber
2g
9%
Sugars
10g
Protein
13g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
15%
15%
Vitamin C
6%
6%
Calcium
25%
25%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
3
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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