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. And it goes great with a smoothie!
🌿 Ingredients
The ingredients couldn't be any easier, and you can find all of them at most standard grocery stores.
- all-purpose flour
- pizza dough
- pizza sauce
- shredded pizza blend cheese (or mozzarella)
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
To get started, 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.
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.
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!)
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 Calzones
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup shredded pizza blend cheese or shredded mozzarella
Optional fillings (if desired):
- sliced pepperoni or chicken
- sliced mushrooms, onions, green pepper or spinach
- diced pineapple
Instructions
- 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.
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