A calzone is part pizza, part sandwich. Tuck your favorite fillings into a folded piece of Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough for the perfect meal that’s also great for dipping!
You can use your favorite pizza toppings, but ricotta and mozzarella add the perfect touch. Brushing a light coat of egg wash on the outside before baking helps your calzones achieve a crispy, golden-brown exterior.
1. Chicken Pesto Calzone
You can make a calzone with almost anything you like on pizza. Pepperoni, cheese, spinach, sausage and more are all great in these stuffed Italian pockets.
This chicken pesto calzone is perfect for an easy dinner at home. This recipe uses frozen bread dough to save time, but you can make your own pizza dough if you prefer.
Start with lukewarm water and mix in the yeast, honey, sugar and salt. Let the mixture sit until it becomes foamy, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the calzone dough: flour a clean work surface and roll out each piece into a large circle. Add the desired filling, then fold the dough over and crimp the edges. Cut air vents, brush with oil and bake (per the original recipe). This calzone is great for dipping in some homemade marinara sauce. The ricotta and mozzarella cheese give this calzone the classic Italian flavor. You can also try adding a little bit of ham, if you like.
2. Mushroom & Ground Beef Calzone
A super kid-friendly recipe for calzone, this one uses finely chopped mushrooms instead of meat. Mushrooms are high in B vitamins, folic acid and potassium. They’re also rich in natural anti-aging compounds and antioxidants.
This recipe is made with pizza dough and a combination of both ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. Both are creamy and stretchy, bringing a nice cheesy flavor to the calzone. I recommend using whole milk cheeses for the best flavor.
If you use a store-bought pizza dough, it’s a short-cut for making this recipe. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the package to make it.
Unlike stromboli, which are rolled pinwheels, calzones are folded into circular shapes. Be sure to seal the edges well so no filling escapes during baking. Cut a few small holes in the top of each calzone before baking to let steam escape during cooking. Serve with a dipping sauce. Try homemade marinara, or substitute with other red dipping sauces like roasted garlic, ranch, or even Buffalo sauce!
3. Pepperoni & Sausage Calzone
From start to finish, this super simple weeknight dinner comes together in about 35 minutes. It’s basically lasagna in calzone form – a baked, folded pizza. It’s stuffed with sausage and pepperoni and loaded with cheese – just like a traditional pizza!
You can even make the filling and sauce ahead of time, store them in the fridge, then assemble the calzones right before baking. The whole family will love these fun, delicious calzones!
The ricotta, parmesan, and pepperoni are mixed up, then added to a quick meat sauce simmered with onions and bell peppers. Then, the seasoned mixture is tucked into fresh pizza dough, and rolled into cute little calzone shapes. They’re then baked until golden brown and the cheese is melted. These pepperoni calzones are easy to make, and are perfect for any night of the week. This is also an excellent recipe for kids to help with!
4. Vegetable Calzone
All of the hearty Italian flavors of pizza in a single delicious calzone. This veggie-packed version swaps out the red sauce for a creamy homemade vegan pesto, and adds a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese, ricotta, Parmesan, and kale to the filling.
On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough into an oval about 13×10 inches (about the size of a large pizza). Spread half of the filling crosswise over half of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Fold the remaining dough over the filling, crimping edges to seal; cut a few small slits in top. Transfer to a baking sheet or pizza peel dusted with cornmeal; use the baking sheet or peel to transfer the calzone to preheated oven.
Bake until browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping. Alternatively, serve calzones with a drizzle of your favorite plant-based pesto for an extra burst of flavor. Make ahead: Calzones can be baked, then covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated until ready to serve. pizza calzone