Pizza rolls are a familiar snack for so many families in America, and it seems that their popularity is just getting bigger and bigger.
But what about them makes them so special, and why are pizza rolls so good?
Pizza rolls are easy-to-make, portion-sized, diverse, flavorful, and shareable. Best of all, though, is that they taste like pizza, which is why they are so popular. It’s the perfect bite-sized, pizza-like snack!
Keep reading this article and find out everything there is to know about these amazing rolls, including the best brand of pizza rolls, how exactly they compare to regular pizza, and who invented them.
Why Do People Love Pizza Rolls?
Pizza rolls are universal. Everyone can agree on a snack so satisfying and irresistible. From their crunchy dough to their luscious filling, there is so much to love about them!
No matter your age or budget, everyone seems to love this easy-to-make appetizer!
Kids love this snack because it basically tastes like pizza.
Parents love them because they’re easy to prepare and far less messy than regular pizza, or most other fast foods, for that matter.
But pizza rolls aren’t just for families with kids! Thanks to their cheesy and saucy fillings, these pockets of flavor appeal to almost anyone.
After a long day at work, you can make them in no time. Alternatively, you can store them in the work freezer for a microwaveable midday snack!
More generally, many people also appreciate that they can be kept in the freezer for a long time. If you’ve got an entire bag of frozen rolls stored in your freezer, you can enjoy them many times.
Just take out the necessary amount and put them in the oven or microwave.
Additionally, there are varieties of this classic for every appetite.
Pizza roll options range from vegetarian to meat-lovers and even fusion-inspired rolls with unexpected ingredients.
No matter your taste, there is sure to be a type for your palate.
Lastly, they are also very budget-friendly, as a back of 50 rolls sells for about $5.50.
Did anyone say perfect snack? Because pizza rolls surely deserve such a title, wouldn’t you agree?
What Is the Best Pizza Roll Brand?
Standing in the grocery store’s frozen section faced with so many snacktime options can feel intimidating, but there is hope!
There is one standout brand in the world of pizza rolls that, according to most people, makes the most delicious rolls of them all. And that is Tonino’s!
They make the perfect pizza roll without a high price tag.
This affordable and delicious brand of appetizers makes a wide range of flavors and styles to suit everyone’s taste buds.
They also offer many choices in package sizes, so you can rest assured that you will have enough pizza rolls for any occasion!
Totino’s product heats reliably and, most importantly, always tastes fantastic if you ask me!
Are Pizza Rolls Actually Pizza?
Would a pizza by any other name taste just as delicious? Yes, it would, and pizza rolls are the proof! They have all the wonderful flavors and textures of your favorite pizza but in a convenient pocket-like package.
Though technically, this savory treat is more like a miniature hand pie than a pizza in structure.
Pizza rolls are tiny pockets with fillings, while a conventional pizza is flat and has toppings, but that is the extent of their dissimilarities.
Traditional-style pizza rolls combine tomato-based pizza sauce, cheese, and sometimes meat inside an extra thin and crispy crust.
It’s impossible to bite into this snack and not think of pizza!
The presentation is a little different, but the flavor is just right to mimic everyone’s favorite dish.
Do Pizza Rolls Taste Better Than Pizza?
The flavor is in the taste buds of the beholder. That said, the answer to this question is probably no!
Well, I’d give it a maybe if we’re talking frozen pizza, but not the freshly oven-baked pizza you made at home or ordered at an Italian restaurant.
Oven-baked pizza is hard to beat, and I don’t think many people would state that pizza rolls can even come close to the delicious flavor of that famous Italian invention!
On the flip side, pizza rolls stand out over traditional pizza in speed and ease.
While delicious, making a pizza from scratch can be a fairly intensive process.
On the other hand, making pizza rolls is super easy and fast. And sometimes, that’s just what you have the time and energy for!
So, if we’re talking convenience and time, pizza rolls can definitely take home the price. Flavor-wise, though, they can’t really compete with an authentic pizza!
But to be fair, few dishes can beat a good homemade pizza. But maybe that’s just me!
RELATED READING: Can You Cook Pizza Rolls in the Microwave?
What Pizza Roll Type Is the Most Delicious?
Just like everyone has a favorite pizza topping, everyone has a favorite pizza roll filling! Today, you can buy all kinds of pizza rolls, from cheese to pepperoni to wild twists like buffalo chicken.
The Triple Cheese Totino’s are outstanding if you observe a vegetarian diet. They have a nice saltiness from the cheese, sweetness from the tomato sauce, and crunch from the herby crust.
For those meat lovers out there, Tontino’s Combination Pizza Rolls are probably the best pick! They have the classic Chicago-inspired flavor of sausage and pepperoni.
It’s a match made in food heaven and ready in no time!
Those two flavors are Totino’s classic rolls and most people’s all-time favorites, including myself!
When Did Pizza Rolls Become Popular?
Pizza rolls have actually been part of American diets since the late 1960s, but their fame has sky-rocketed only in recent decades.
In 1993, the Pillsbury company rebranded the original snack under the brand name Totino’s, and a legend was born.
The brand saw consistent sales throughout the 1990s and 2000s. But ever since the mid-2010s, this small snack has become insanely popular.
This could be due to the buyout of the Pillsbury brand by snack titan General Mills and the subsequent successful marketing campaigns, or possibly due to their convenience in an increasingly busy world.
Today, Totino’s participates in brand partnerships and experiments with new flavors to stay current and delicious.
No matter the origin of the pizza roll’s popularity, it’s clear this snack is here to stay!
RELATED READING: Can You Eat Pizza Rolls for Breakfast?
Who Invented Pizza Rolls?
Pizza rolls have been around for far longer than most people realize. This convenient snack has been satisfying hungry eaters for over 50 years!
They were the invention of Jeno Paulucci, a frozen food salesman.
He specialized in Chinese food products, including frozen egg roll wrappers. One day, Jeno discovered that these wrappers could hold more than traditional Chinese ingredients.
And a few years later, in 1967, Paulucci trademarked the term “pizza roll.”
He continued producing his newly invented snack until 1985 and then decided to sell the business to the Pillsbury Company (for $135 million!).
DID YOU KNOW: Until the rebrand in 1993, Totnio’s pizza rolls went under the name “Jeno’s rolls”.