Easy Homemade Calzone Recipe
This easy homemade calzone recipe is a delicious and customizable Italian-inspired meal featuring a golden, crispy dough stuffed with pizza sauce, sautéed vegetables, pepperoni, and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a quick dinner or a fun cooking project, these calzones bake to perfection with a crispy crust and gooey filling.
- Author: Bella
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 calzones 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Calzone Dough
Filling
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Topping
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and to make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Dough Circles: Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal parts. Roll each portion into a circular shape approximately 1/4 inch thick to create the base for your calzones.
- Add Fillings: On one half of each dough circle, spread an even layer of pizza sauce. Top with diced onion, green bell pepper, and sliced pepperoni, leaving a margin around the edges to seal the calzone properly.
- Add Cheese and Fold: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the toppings. Fold the other half of the dough over this filling, creating a half-moon shape. Crimp the edges tightly to seal the calzone.
- Vent and Prepare for Baking: Cut 2-3 small air vents on the top side of each calzone to allow steam release while baking. Place the calzones on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Brush and Bake: Lightly brush the tops of the calzones with olive oil to promote a golden crust. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until the dough is fully cooked and the calzones turn golden brown.
Notes
- You can customize the filling by adding other vegetables or meats according to your preference.
- Ensure to leave enough space around the edges of the dough circles to properly seal the calzone and prevent leakage.
- Allow calzones to cool for a few minutes before cutting to avoid losing the hot filling.
- If you prefer a crispier crust, you can bake the calzones on a pizza stone instead of a baking sheet.
- For a vegetarian version, omit pepperoni and add more veggies or plant-based proteins.
Keywords: calzone, homemade calzone, easy calzone recipe, Italian calzone, pizza dough calzone, baked calzone, mozzarella calzone