Heavenly Pesto Mozzarella Stuffed Dough Balls Recipe for Beginners

Warm, golden dough balls bursting with homemade pesto mozzarella stuffing offer an irresistible twist on classic appetizers.

Each bite promises a delightful explosion of creamy cheese and aromatic herb flavors.

The soft, pillowy exterior gives way to a molten center that melts in your mouth.

Perfectly seasoned and baked to a beautiful golden brown, these stuffed dough balls make an impressive starter for any gathering.

They combine the rich, fresh taste of basil pesto with the gooey comfort of melted mozzarella.

These little flavor bombs are surprisingly simple to create with just a few ingredients.

Serve them hot and watch as everyone reaches for seconds.

How to Serve Them Right

• Party Platter Paradise: Create a stunning appetizer spread by arranging these golden dough balls on a rustic wooden board with small dipping sauces like marinara, garlic aioli, or herb-infused olive oil.
• Picnic Perfect Companion: Pack these portable treats in a sealed container for outdoor adventures, making them ideal for park gatherings, beach trips, or road trip snacks that everyone will love.
• Movie Night Magic: Serve these warm, cheesy dough balls as a crowd-pleasing alternative to traditional popcorn, creating a delightful shared finger food experience during movie or game nights with friends and family.
• Wine and Cheese Upgrade: Pair these pesto mozzarella dough balls with a crisp white wine or light red, transforming them into an elegant starter for casual entertaining that feels surprisingly sophisticated.

Dough Balls: Keep or Prep Ahead

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover dough balls in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 3 days, ensuring maximum freshness and preventing moisture loss.
• Freezing Friendly Technique: Wrap individual dough balls separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag to maintain quality for approximately 2 months, perfect for future quick meals.
• Reheating Magic Trick: Warm refrigerated or thawed dough balls in a preheated oven at 160°C for 5-7 minutes, restoring their crispy exterior and gooey interior without compromising texture.
• Preparation Advance Plan: Assemble uncooked dough balls up to 24 hours before baking, storing them covered in the refrigerator, which allows flavors to develop and simplifies last-minute entertaining.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 215 kcal

Servings: 9

What Goes in Pesto Mozzarella Stuffed Dough Balls

• Pizza Dough: Homemade or store-bought dough provides the perfect soft and chewy foundation for these delectable balls, ensuring a pillowy texture.

• Mozzarella: Creamy, mild cheese that melts beautifully, creating irresistible stretchy moments when pulled apart.
• Red Pesto: Vibrant sauce packed with sun-dried tomatoes and herbs, delivering a tangy and robust Mediterranean twist.

• Garlic, Parsley: Garlic brings intense, warming depth while fresh parsley adds a bright, clean herbal note that lifts the entire dish.
• Butter: Rich, golden ingredient that helps create a glossy, golden-brown exterior and adds luxurious flavor when brushed on top.

Tools for Stuffed Dough Balls

• Baking Tray: Essential for evenly baking dough balls and catching any drips.
• Greaseproof Paper: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup super easy.
• Pastry Brush: Perfect for spreading melted garlic butter over dough balls.
• Mixing Bowl: Needed for combining butter and garlic.
• Knife: Useful for chopping parsley and cutting mozzarella if needed.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately measure butter and garlic quantities.

Instructions for Dough Ball Assembly

• Kitchen Preparation

Gather all necessary tools and ingredients. Ensure a clean, organized workspace for smooth cooking experience.

• Dough Ball Creation

Gently divide pizza dough into small portions. Carefully tuck mozzarella and pesto inside each piece, sealing edges completely to prevent leakage.

• Flavor Enhancement

Create a delectable garlic butter mixture by combining softened butter with aromatic crushed garlic. Generously coat each dough ball with this flavorful blend.

• Baking Magic

Transfer stuffed dough balls onto a lined baking sheet. Slide into a preheated oven, allowing golden-brown perfection to develop over approximately 15-20 minutes.

• Finishing Flourish

Sprinkle fresh parsley over warm, puffy dough balls. Serve immediately while cheese remains gooey and exterior maintains a crisp, inviting texture.

Expert Tips for Pesto Dough Balls

• Flavor Fusion Tricks: Swap red pesto with green pesto or sundried tomato paste for a flavor twist that keeps things exciting.
• Cheese Adventure: Experiment with different cheese types like feta, gouda, or blue cheese to create unique flavor combinations inside your dough balls.
• Herb Boost: Sprinkle dried Italian herbs or fresh chopped basil into the dough mixture to enhance the overall herbal notes and add depth to each bite.
• Dipping Delight: Create complementary dipping sauces like marinara, garlic aioli, or herb-infused olive oil to elevate the serving experience and add extra flavor dimensions.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the dough balls in advance and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking, making meal preparation more convenient and flexible.

Heavenly Pesto Mozzarella Stuffed Dough Balls Recipe

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4.9 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Savory Pesto Mozzarella Stuffed Dough Balls combine Italian flavors in crispy golden bites. Cheese-filled pockets deliver rich herbal notes that delight senses and invite you to savor each delectable morsel.

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Ingredients

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• 1 pizza dough
• 100 g (3.5 oz) mozzarella, cut into 8 cubes
• 2 tbsps red pesto
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 tbsps butter, melted
• 1 small bunch parsley, chopped

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Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 200°C, preparing a perfect environment for transforming dough into golden, aromatic treats.
2. Portion and Prepare Dough: Divide pizza dough into eight uniform segments, creating a canvas for the upcoming culinary creation.
3. Fill and Seal: Flatten each dough portion, place red pesto and mozzarella cube in the center, then meticulously fold and seal edges to form compact spheres, ensuring no filling escapes.
4. Prepare Garlic Butter: Blend half of the crushed garlic with melted butter, creating an aromatic base for enhancing the dough balls’ flavor profile.
5. Arrange and Coat: Position dough balls on a parchment-lined baking tray, maintaining adequate spacing, then brush generously with the prepared garlic butter mixture to ensure an even, rich coating.
6. Bake to Perfection: Slide the tray into the preheated oven, baking for 15-20 minutes until the dough balls achieve a golden, puffy exterior with crisp edges.
7. Final Touch: Combine remaining butter, garlic, and freshly chopped parsley to create a herb-infused drizzle, then generously coat the freshly baked dough balls, elevating their taste with a burst of vibrant flavor.

Notes

• Precision in Portioning: Divide dough evenly to ensure consistent size and baking time for perfectly uniform dough balls.
• Sealing Technique: Pinch dough edges firmly to prevent filling from leaking during baking, creating a tight, compact seal.
• Butter Brush Tip: Apply garlic butter generously but evenly, using a soft pastry brush to coat each dough ball for maximum flavor infusion.
• Oven Watch: Monitor baking closely between 15-20 minutes, looking for golden-brown color to prevent burning while achieving crispy exterior.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 215
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg