Easy Mini Calzone Recipe

With this easy mini calzone recipe, you can make delicious and cheesy homemade calzones in under 30 minutes. If you love pizza but want something a little more portable (and fun), mini calzones are the perfect little idea. These hand-held pizza pockets are stuffed with gooey cheese, pizza sauce, and your favorite fillings, then baked until golden and crispy. They’re great for parties, family dinners, meal prep, or an easy weeknight snack.

Mini Calzone Recipe

Growing up in New Jersey, there is a pizza place in every strip mall. When you walk in, the counters are full of different types of pizzas on display, as well as different types of strombolis and calzones. That being said, I’ve had my fair share of calzones in my lifetime and I love them. It actually got me to enjoy ricotta cheese. Ricotta is a great addition to calzones. It gives these calzones a creamy and cheesy filling that you will love.

When I use ricotta in a recipe I really need to make sure it is seasoned well. Ricotta has a great creaminess to it, but it is sort of bland on its own. Because of that I added several spices like garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, marjoram, and salt. I also added an Italian cheese blend to the ricotta cheese to give it a good sharp flavor throughout. If you do not like ricotta, you can skip it and just make a Stromboli. Here is my recipe for a deli Stromboli.

Tips for the Best Mini Calzones

• Don’t overfill: Too much filling can cause the calzones to burst open while baking.
• Seal well: Crimping the edges with a fork helps keep the filling inside.
• Add an egg wash: For extra golden tops, brush with a beaten egg
• Make them ahead: Assemble and freeze before baking, then bake directly from frozen (just add a few extra minutes).
• Add fresh basil: For a fresh flavor, I love adding fresh basil to recipes. Just chop some up and add a few pieces to each calzone.

Flavor Variations to Try

• Classic Pepperoni: Mozzarella, ricotta mixture, and mini pepperoni
• Veggie Lover’s: Spinach, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, mushrooms, and bell peppers
• Meat Lover’s: Sausage, pepperoni, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella
• Cheese Only: Ricotta mixture and mozzarella

This easy mini calzone recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re serving them as an appetizer, game-day snack, or a fun dinner idea, these cheesy pockets deliver all the flavors of pizza in a convenient, handheld bite.

What Are Mini Calzones?

Mini calzones are smaller versions of traditional calzones, which originated in Italy. A calzone is essentially a folded pizza filled with cheese, meats, vegetables, and seasonings, then baked until crispy on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside. You can dip them into some warm marinara sauce when they are done.

The mini version keeps everything people love about classic calzones but makes them more snackable. Because they’re smaller, they cook faster, are easier to serve at gatherings, and are perfect for dipping in marinara sauce.

If you’re looking for a creative way to change up your usual pizza routine, mini calzones are a fantastic option. They bring the same comforting flavors everyone loves but in a fun, handheld format that’s perfect for sharing. Once you try them, don’t be surprised if this easy mini calzones recipe becomes a regular part of your recipe rotation.

Ingredients for this Easy Mini Calzone Recipe

• 1 pizza dough I used store-bought. You can also use store-bought french bread dough. The calzones will have a fluffier texture, but less of a pizza dough taste.
• 1 cup pizza sauce or homemade sauce
• 8 oz ricotta cheese part skim
• 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp marjoram
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• fresh basil optional
• 3/4 cup mini pepperoni or other ingredients like peppers, sausage, onions, etc
• 1 egg

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Make the ricotta mixture by combining the ricotta cheese, Italian blend cheese, garlic powder, marjoram, oregano, black pepper, and salt. 8 oz ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend, 3/4 tsp garlic powder, 3/4 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp marjoram, 1/4 tsp salt
• Preheat your oven to 350 F
• Roll out your pizza dough as large as possible without creating any holes. Using a 6” round circle cutter or a knife, cut the dough into 6 equal circles or pieces by hand.1 pizza dough
• Add a little bit of sauce to the center of the circles, followed by a couple of small spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture, then shredded mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and toppings.1 cup pizza sauce, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, 3/4 cup mini pepperoni
• Fold over each calzone, and use a fork to crimp the edges to properly seal them. Add them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Create an egg wash by mixing together an egg and 1 tablespoon of water. Then spread the mixture over the top using a pastry brush.1 egg
• Bake the calzones for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown.