These vegetarian calzones are quick, filling and delicious! If you don't know how to make calzones, this is a perfect recipe to start with. (Bonus: they are great for make ahead meals.)
This calzone recipe is a crowd-pleaser anytime of the year. It's super kid-friendly, and even makes a fun cooking activity since there are minimal ingredients and steps involved.
For the rest of the family, it makes a great lunch paired alongside a simple salad of greens topped with apple cider vinaigrette or another favorite dressing. (Or add this mini Caprese salad for even more Italian flair.) And, it goes great with a smoothie!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Minimal and simple ingredients; prepared pizza dough and sauce make this recipe a breeze
- Super kid-friendly (adults love it too)
- Fun for kids to help make and fill with their favorite ingredients
- Only 15 minutes baking time
- Quick & easy dinner
- Great for meal prep lunches and lunch boxes
🌿 Ingredients
The ingredients couldn't be any easier, and you can find all of them at most standard grocery stores.
And, you want to get creative and add some fillings (or let family members choose their own fillings), here are some suggestions:
- sliced pepperoni or chicken
- sliced mushrooms, onions, green pepper or spinach
- diced pineapple
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
Alright, let's make some calzones!
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Then, dust a large cutting board or plate with some flour and coat the dough by rolling it around in the flour a bit. Divide the dough into four even sections and use your hands or a rolling pin to press or roll each of the dough sections into a flat, round shape no more than one centimeter thick.
Step 2: Preparing one calzone at a time, place a little pizza sauce off to one side but away from the edges, and top with some shredded cheese plus any additional toppings you'd like. Then, fold the non-filled half of each calzone over the filled half.
Step 3: And lastly, crimp the edges of the dough together using the back of a fork. That'll keep all of the fillings from escaping during baking (but don't worry if a little escapes!)
Step 4: Place all of the calzones onto your lined baking sheet and bake at 425°F for 15 minutes or until the tops just start to turn golden brown. Let them cool for at least 10 minutes on the baking sheet, and then serve and enjoy.
📋 Substitutions
Here are a couple of modifications to accommodate special diets:
- Gluten free - use gluten free pizza dough mix to make gluten free dough; you can use the same mix as flour to sprinkle on your work surface, or just use any gluten free flour to dust
- Dairy free - use any dairy free shredded cheese
📖 Variations
Feel free to get as creative as you'd like with different fillings! Here are some ideas:
- Cheese calzones - prepare the recipe as is, without optional toppings, and use a couple different kinds of cheese if you'd like!
- Pepperoni calzones - place some sliced pepperoni on the sauce before topping with cheese
- Chicken calzones - if you have any leftover cooked chicken on hand, dice some up and place on top of the sauce (don't use raw chicken)
- Spinach calzones - chop up some fresh spinach leaves or baby spinach to place on the sauce
- Spicy calzones - add chili pepper flakes or sliced hot peppers to the sauce
🔪 Equipment
Just a few pieces of equipment are required for this recipe:
- baking sheet
- parchment paper (optional, but recommended for easy cleanup)
- cutting board to flour and form the calzone (or just use a large plate)
- rolling pin (optional, to roll the dough out quickly)
🍱 Storage
Leftover or make ahead calzones stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or you can freeze for up to 2 months.
🎉 Top tip
Don't worry if your dough isn't perfectly round or the ingredients are not perfectly measured; this recipe is very forgiving. 😉
Have fun making your calzones!
🍳 Recipe
Easy Calzone Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Coat a cutting board or large plate with a generous dusting of flour.
- Form: Place the dough on the floured surface, turning once of twice to coat, and divide the dough into four even sections. Using your hands or a rolling pin, press or roll each of the dough sections into a flat, circular shape no more than one centimeter thick.
- Fill: For each calzone, place a quarter of the sauce off to one side but away from the edges, and top with a quarter of the cheese plus any additional toppings if desired.
- Seal: Fold each unfilled half of each calzone over the filled half and crimp the edges of the dough closed using the back of a fork.
- Bake: Place all of the calzones onto the lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until the tops just start to turn golden brown.
- Enjoy: Let cool for at least 10 minutes on the baking sheet, serve and enjoy! Leftover calzones stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Rudy Leps
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