Pizza dough is stuffed with mozzarella, ricotta, and pizza sauce in this easy Homemade Calzone recipe. Customize with your favorite pizza toppings for a fun family dinner!
Homemade Calzone Recipe
This calzone recipe is a new favorite in our home. It’s become one of our Friday night go-to’s instead of ordering pizza and honestly, you can make it in the same amount of time it would take to wait for delivery!
If you want to keep things super easy, grab some premade pizza dough and sauce at the store – though I prefer to use my homemade versions. I kept this recipe simple with just mozzarella, ricotta, and pizza sauce but feel free to add pepperoni, mushrooms, or any other favorite pizza topping. Sometimes I set up a toppings station and let everyone design their own calzone!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Dinner
Here are a few reasons why we love this easy calzone recipe.
- Fun twist on pizza night. Calzones are similar to pizza but different, making them a fun alternative to classic pizza.
- Easy to customize. Feel free to add your favorite toppings to the calzones. You can even let each person customize their own!
- Kid-approved. My boys love these homemade calzones. It’s one of their favorite Friday night dinners and they often ask me to make them for their friends as well.
What Is A Calzone?
A calzone is basically a pizza pocket with some extra toppings. It’s a popular Italian American dish made with pizza dough folded in half and filled with cheese, sauce, and your favorite toppings. Then it’s baked until golden brown and served with pizza sauce for dipping.
Stromboli vs Calzone
What’s the difference between stromboli and calzone? The two are very similar and made with nearly the same ingredients. The main difference ingredient-wise is that calzone is typically made with ricotta and stromboli is not. The other difference is that calzone is made by folding the dough over and pinching the edges and is typically a personal size while stromboli is much bigger, rolled, and sliced.
Recipe Ingredients
Homemade calzones are made with many of the same ingredients as pizza. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.
- Pizza dough – Use my homemade pizza dough recipe or grab some at the store.
- Mozzarella cheese
- Ricotta cheese – One of the key ingredients in any calzone recipe.
- Salt & pepper
- Pizza sauce – I love homemade pizza sauce but you can grab a jar at the store too.
- Parmesan
- Olive oil – Helps the crust brown in the oven.
Calzone Filling Ideas
Feel free to get creative and fill your calzone with toppings other than cheese and sauce! Here are some ideas:
- Veggies like sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, onions or spinach.
- Meats including Italian sausage, grilled chicken, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, salami or ham.
- Fresh basil or other Italian seasoning.
How To Make Calzone
Making a homemade calzone is fun and easy. Scroll down to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Prepare the dough. Divide the pizza dough into two then roll each one into a circle 1/4-inch thick on a surface lightly dusted with flour.
- Assemble. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on half of each circle. Spread ricotta on top of the sauce, followed by mozzarella, grated parmesan, and salt and pepper. Fold the dough over to form a semi-circle then press the edges together to seal. Roll the edges up and crimp with your fingers.
- Bake. Brush each calzone with olive oil and sprinkle with grated parmesan. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool a few minutes before cutting and serve with pizza sauce on the side.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mind when making this easy calzone recipe.
- Use fresh, high-quality cheeses for the best flavor. Fresh mozzarella and ricotta can make a big difference.
- Be sure to seal the edges of the calzones well. This helps to prevent any cheese from leaking out during baking.
- Feel free to customize your calzones with your favorite pizza toppings. Just be careful not to overfill them, as this can make them difficult to seal and could result in a mess in the oven.
- If you’re using a pizza stone, remember to preheat it in the oven. This will help to achieve a crispy, golden crust.
- The calzones are very hot when they come out of the oven. Let them cool for a few minutes before cutting into them. This will also make them easier to handle.
Serving Suggestions
Calzones make a wonderful lunch or dinner. Serve them with extra pizza sauce or marinara sauce on the side for dipping. I like to add a green salad to turn them into a complete meal.
Proper Storage
- Fridge. Store leftover calzones in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer. Once cooled completely, wrap each calzone tightly in plastic wrap then place in a ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat. Reheat the calzones in the oven until heated or pop them in the microwave.
More Easy Pizza Dinner Ideas
- Pepperoni Pizza Pockets
- Easy Air Fryer Pizza
- Pizza Grilled Cheese
- Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders
- Pizza Pasta Bake
Calzone Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 prepared pizza dough homemade or store-bought
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce plus extra for dipping
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.
- Divide the prepared pizza dough into two equal parts. On a floured surface, roll each piece into a circle about 1/4-inch thick.
- Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on one half of each dough circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge.
- Then spread half of the ricotta cheese on top of the sauce, followed by half of the mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Season with salt and pepper.
- Fold the dough over the cheese and sauce to form a semi-circle. Press the edges together to seal, then roll the edges up and crimp with your fingers to ensure a good seal.
- Brush the top of each calzone with olive oil and sprinkle some more grated Parmesan cheese on top.
- If using a pizza stone, carefully transfer the calzones onto the preheated stone. If not using a stone, place the calzones on a baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the calzones are golden brown.
- Let the calzones cool for a few minutes before cutting into them. Serve with extra pizza sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy!
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