Description
Easy Calzones offer a warm, cheesy, and satisfying homemade meal perfect for busy evenings or casual dinners. Featuring a golden, crispy crust filled with customizable fresh ingredients like mozzarella, tomato sauce, and your choice of meats or veggies, this recipe is quick, kid-friendly, and great for leftovers.
Ingredients
Dough and Sauce
- Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade, enough for 8-inch circles)
- Tomato sauce (thin layer per calzone)
- Olive oil (for brushing)
Cheese
- Fresh shredded mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling on top)
Fillings
- Cooked meats (pepperoni, sausage) or vegetables (mushrooms, spinach – precooked if needed)
- Italian seasoning (pinch for flavor enhancement)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Roll out your pizza dough into approximately 8-inch circles on a floured surface, ensuring an even thickness to avoid tearing and to create a soft, yet crispy crust.
- Add the Sauce and Fillings: Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over half of each dough circle. Layer your choice of fillings such as mozzarella cheese, cooked meats, and vegetables, leaving about an inch around the edge clear for sealing.
- Fold and Seal: Fold the dough over the filled half to form a half-moon shape. Firmly press and crimp the edges using your fingers or a fork to securely seal in the fillings and prevent leaks during baking.
- Brush with Olive Oil and Season: Lightly brush the top of each calzone with olive oil. Sprinkle a pinch of Italian seasoning and grated Parmesan cheese on top to add flavor and encourage a golden, crisp crust.
- Bake Until Golden: Place the sealed calzones on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is crisp and golden brown.
Notes
- Avoid soggy crust by not overloading with tomato sauce.
- Ensure edges are tightly sealed to prevent filling from leaking during baking.
- Pre-cook any raw meats or watery vegetables to reduce moisture inside the calzone.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets for easy cleanup and removal.
- Let calzones cool briefly before slicing to prevent hot filling from spilling out.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 calzone
- Calories: 350-450 kcal
- Sugar: 3-5 g
- Sodium: 600-800 mg
- Fat: 15-22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7-10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6-9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30-40 g
- Fiber: 2-4 g
- Protein: 15-20 g
- Cholesterol: 30-50 mg
Keywords: calzones, easy calzones, homemade calzone recipe, cheesy calzones, Italian appetizer, pizza pockets, kid-friendly dinner