Description
Homemade Pizza Pockets (Calzones) offer a delightful and quick meal or snack option. This recipe includes two delicious varieties: a classic pizza calzone with pepperoni, mozzarella, and black olives, and a broccoli & cheddar calzone with a flavorful mix of cheeses and seasoned broccoli. Baked to crispy golden perfection, these pockets are easy to make and perfect for any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
For Classic Pizza Calzone:
- 1 refrigerated classic pizza crust
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 oz pepperoni slices
- 4 oz can sliced black olives, drained
For Broccoli & Cheddar Calzone:
- 1 refrigerated classic pizza crust
- 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups finely chopped broccoli (12 oz frozen bag, thawed)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and position the racks in the middle. Grease two baking trays or line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dough Circles: On a lightly floured surface, divide the pizza dough into two halves. Roll each half into a circle approximately 6-8 inches in diameter. Transfer these dough circles to the prepared baking trays.
- Spread Sauce: On one half of each dough circle, spread pizza sauce evenly to create a base for the fillings.
- Add Classic Toppings: For the classic calzone, layer mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, and drained black olives over the sauce.
- Fold and Seal Classic Calzone: Fold the dough over the filling to form a pocket. Press the edges together firmly with your fingers or use a fork to seal well. Cut small slits in the top of the dough to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Brush and Season Dough: Brush the outside of the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning to enhance flavor and promote browning.
- Prepare Broccoli Mixture: In a bowl, combine the finely chopped, thawed broccoli with shredded sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheese, mixing thoroughly.
- Assemble Broccoli & Cheddar Calzone: Spoon the broccoli and cheese mixture onto one half of the remaining dough circle, then fold over the dough and seal edges similarly. Make small slits on top for steam ventilation.
- Bake Calzones: Place the baking trays in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Swap the trays halfway through to ensure even baking. Bake until the crust turns golden brown and crispy.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the calzones from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving for best texture and safety.
Notes
- Use a lightly floured surface to prevent dough from sticking while rolling.
- Seal the edges tightly to avoid filling leakage during baking.
- Allow steam to escape by cutting slits in the dough’s surface to prevent soggy pockets.
- Frozen broccoli should be fully thawed and excess moisture drained to avoid soggy fillings.
- Swapping trays during baking promotes even heat distribution and uniform browning.
- Calzones can be customized with other favorite fillings like mushrooms, bell peppers, or different cheeses.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
