One of my favorite foods to eat is pizza. It never gets old. To mix it up a bit I love eating these homemade easy calzones.
A calzone is pretty much a pizza folded onto itself and originated in Italy. It is made with salted bread dough or of course homemade pizza dough, and stuffed with all the classic pizza toppings, and baked in the oven.
They are normally shaped into a crescent but also sometimes look like a misshapen ball. If you are making pizza why not switch it up a bit and make some delicious calzones. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking!
Step 1: Gather the ingredients
In order to make these easy calzones you need the following ingredients:
- Frozen store-bought bread dough – Or use homemade bread dough, homemade pizza dough, or store-bought pizza dough.
- Pizza Sauce – You can use homemade pizza sauce or your favorite store-bought pizza sauce.
- Cheese – I always use mozzarella, but ricotta, parmesan, and pecorino are great choices as well, or a blend of some or all of those.
- Whatever fillings/toppings you want – I love sausage and olives.
- Egg
- Water
Step 2: How to make easy calzones
Begin by thawing out the frozen bread dough if using that or making the homemade bread dough or pizza dough and let it rise for an hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 F/176 C.
If using Italian sausage, heat a skillet on medium heat, then add the sausage. Sprinkle on a pinch of salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Use a spatula to break apart and flip the sausage until evenly browned. There should be no pink on the inside when broken a part.
Now drain the sausage, if you want some yummy sausage gravy you can use the leftover grease for that.
Step 3: Working with the dough
Now cut the dough with a dough cutter or a knife, into large pieces, about 4 to 6 equal pieces for a pound of bread dough. But you can make them whatever size that you want.
Roll out the dough into a circle 6 to 8 inches on a floured surface with the rolling pin.
Step 4: Calzones filling
Spread on your favorite pizza sauce or tomato sauce. Don’t go all the way to the edge however. Then sprinkle on some grated cheese. I love to use mozzarella.
Fold the dough over and pinch to seal it. Then baste the tops with a simple egg wash by mixing 1 egg and 1 tsp. of water. This will give the calzones a really nice color when baked, or you can also use milk.
Place them on a sheet pan or cookie sheet. I don’t normally spray the pans with cooking spray, but you can if you like.
Step 5: Bake those easy to make calzones
Now bake those calzones in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes until nice and golden brown on top. This is such a fun activity to do with kids or with the family. I feature this recipe in a group date idea in a creative dates book I wrote as well.
Allow the homemade easy calzones to cool for a bit and then serve them up. Enjoy!
Easy Calzones
Equipment
- Dough cutter/scraper or knife
- rolling pin
- sheet pan
- Basting brush
- Fork
Ingredients
- 2 lbs frozen bread dough
- 1 can of olives
- 1 jar pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 lb of ground Italian sausage
- pinch garlic powder
- pinch salt
- pinch ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp. water
Instructions
- Make or thaw out your bread or pizza dough.
- Heat a skillet on medium heat. Then add in the Italian sausage along with a pinch of salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Brown the meat until there is no pink, stir and flipping with a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F/176 C. Divide the dough into 6 pieces or whatever size that you want. It doesn't have to be exact. Roll out the dough into a 6 to 8-inch circle on a floured surface.
- Spread on some marinara or pizza sauce, but don't go to the edge. Then sprinkle on the cheese, cooked Italian sausage, and olives in the middle.
- Fold the dough over in half and then pinch and crimp the edges to seal it. Place the unbaked calzones on a sheet pan or cookie sheet.
- Take one egg and whisk it together with a teaspoon of water. Baste the tops of the calzones with the egg wash. (optional)
- Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until nice and golden brown. Let cool then serve. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
 Do you like this recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.
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Usually when I want a good calzone, I just go ahead and make one. This is a fantastic way to make them, never going back!
Glad you like it, Jessie! 🙂
Nnniiiiccceeeee….this is a first for me. I want to make one of these!
Awesome!
I love calzones, but my kids do even more! Yet I have never even thought to make them. I think they will fully enjoy them as a surprise dinner this week!
Awesome! 🙂
I am already drooling! This looks really perfect – soft and flavourful!
Awesome!! 🙂 Thank you!
I should really try your Easy Calzones recipe. It sounds so yummy! Can’t wait to cook it myself.
Good luck!! Let me know how it turns out if you make it.
I haven’t had calzones in such a long time. I’m wondering if utilising gluten-free flour to make the dough would change the taste or the texture?
Yes, gluten-free flour would definitely change the taste and texture.
i love calzones. this is a great reminder to make them. they look so good. love your recipe.
Thank you! 🙂
We would truly enjoy these calzones! It’s great to have something to get the kids involved with again.
Glad to hear it, Lucy!
As always, Matt, it looks delicious and super simple to make, which I think is very important for people getting out there learning to cook.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Wow very professional, loved the process, layout, easy to follow and the photos! I will bookmark this! I am enjoying your blog, will check out the rest!
Thank you, Christine! 🙂
Oh we are suppose to be making homemade pizza tonight, but maybe I can convice the family to do Calzones 😀 Thanks for the tip Matt!
You are welcome, Ann! 🙂
OMG Matt! If I make these for my husband he would be over the moon! Printing out now!
Nice!! 🙂
Aww yeah. Those look awesome. I love calzones. I tried making them once, but it was a disaster. The recipe wasn’t good. I can’t wait to make these.
Thanks, Bill! Yeah give these a try and let me know what you think.
Great recipe idea. I hadn’t ever tried making a Calzone pizza and now, it’ll be one of our staples! Thank you!
Thank you, Anita! 🙂 You are welcome!
My kids adored these! Thanks for the easy recipe.
That is great to hear! You are welcome!
So delicious! Love these and how soft and fluffy the outside is
Thank you so much, Rachael! 🙂
Who knew how easy this would be to make! I’ve ordered these at our restaurant before but LOVED how easy this was to make at home. My kids helped make this dinner and they loved it!
That is awesome, Lisalia!! 🙂