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Home Lunch & Dinner

Pepperoni Calzones

★★★★★ 5 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Rachel Tiemeyer
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 5/25/23Updated: 5/30/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

After 10 years of making these portable pizza pockets, my family still requests this Pepperoni Calzone recipe all the time. Our quick and healthy homemade calzone dough is stuffed with a ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan filling, and pepperoni, making every bite cheesy and addictive. Make enough to freeze for later, too!

Or try our Cheese Calzones instead.

Pepperoni Calzones after baking piled on baking sheet with one cut open to see the cheesy insides with pepperoni slices as well
Contents hide
What is a Calzone?
Ingredients Needed
How to Make Pepperoni Calzones
Freezing Directions
More Pizza-Inspired Recipes
Pepperoni Calzones

What is a Calzone?

A calzone is an Italian turnover made of pizza dough, filled with ingredients like cheese, vegetables, and meats. It is folded over, sealed, and baked (or fried) until crispy. It’s like a portable pizza pocket.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s the team line-up in this recipe:

  • 1 batch of whole wheat calzone dough (or a large dough ball from a local pizzeria)
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Uncured pepperoni, chopped
  • Eggs
  • Minced fresh parsley
  • Italian seasoning
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Marinara Sauce, for serving
Ingredients pictured for Pepperoni Calzones

How to Make Pepperoni Calzones

Before beginning, be sure to prep your Calzone Dough. This will take about 45 minutes and can be done a few days in advance. Or, take a shortcut and get a large dough ball from your favorite local pizzeria.

Prep

Preheat oven to 400°F degrees. Adjust oven racks to be equidistant from the middle. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper (or foil).

Make Filling

In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, pepperoni, 2 eggs, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Cheese Calzone Filling ingredients pictured in a bowl with pepperoni being put in

Roll Out Dough

Dust flour on a clean surface to work with the dough on. Divide the dough ball into 8 equal pieces. Working with one piece at a time, roll it into a ball and then roll it out into a very thin circle, about 1/4 inch thick.

calzone dough rolled out with a rolling pin

Fill & Seal Calzones

Spoon filling onto half of each dough circle, leaving a little room around the edges. Fold half of the dough over itself to close it, then press edges to seal. Use the back of a fork or roll and pinch the edges to make sure it’s sealed well. Poke a few holes with a fork in the top of each calzone. Transfer to the baking sheets.

Calzone Dough on a baking sheet with scoops of the cheesy filling on them. One has been folded over and fork marks are being made along the edges to seal it.

Egg Wash

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg and a splash of water. Brush the surface of each calzone with the egg wash using a pastry brush (or your fingers if you don’t have one!). Optional: Sprinkle a little grated Parmesan and Italian seasoning over the top of each one.

Calzones on baking sheet before baking with parmesan being sprinkled on top

Bake

Place the pans in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until nice and golden brown, rotating the pans halfway through the bake time. Let cool for about 10 minutes and serve with ramekins of warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Pepperoni Calzones on baking sheet with one cut in half and being held above the others after having been dipped in marinara.

Freezing Directions

I highly suggest doubling this Pepperoni Calzone recipe and making LOTS for the freezer. You can take out one or many to rewarm directly from frozen when you’re ready. Here’s how…

Baked Calzones in a freezer bag

Freeze For Later: Cook according to instructions and let calzones cool completely. Place in an airtight freezer bag or container, dividing layers with parchment paper. Seal, squeezing out any extra air, and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: Wrap a frozen calzone in moist paper towel. Microwave on defrost setting until warmed through. Or, let the calzone thaw in the refrigerator, place on a baking sheet, and warm in a 350°F oven for about 5-10 minutes, just until warmed through.

More Pizza-Inspired Recipes

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Stromboli Pizza

Calzones on baking sheet after being baked with parmesan and parsley sprinkled on top

The BEST Cheese Calzones

Pizza Quesadillas

Pizza Bread

English Muffin Pizzas

a bowl of pizza soup

Pizza Soup

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

Fruit Pizza Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Pepperoni Calzones after baking piled on baking sheet with one cut open to see the cheesy insides with pepperoni slices as well
★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

Pepperoni Calzones

A quick and healthy homemade calzone dough is stuffed with a ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan filling, making every bite of our Pepperoni Calzones cheesy and addictive. Serve with warm Pizza Sauce or Marinara Sauce for dipping and freeze any leftovers for later meals.

Yield: 8 large calzones (or 16 small calzones) 1x
Prep: 45 minutesCook: 15 minutesTotal: 1 hour
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Ingredients

  • 1 batch of calzone dough (or a large dough ball from a local pizzeria)
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for optional topping
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 5-ounce package uncured pepperoni, chopped
  • 3 eggs, divided
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, plus more for optional topping
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Marinara Sauce or Pizza Sauce, for serving

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

(You’ll need to prepare the calzone dough ahead of time. This will take about 45 minutes from start to finish. Or you can prep it up to 3 days in advance, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge until ready to use it.)

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F degrees. Adjust oven racks to be equidistant from the middle. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper (or foil).
  2. Make Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, pepperoni, 2 eggs, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper. Set aside.
  3. Roll Out Dough: Dust flour on a clean surface to work with the dough on. Divide the dough ball into 8 equal pieces. Working with one piece at a time, roll it into a ball and then roll it out into a very thin circle, about 1/4 inch thick.
  4. Fill & Seal Calzones: Spoon 3-4 tablespoons (approximately) filling onto half of each dough circle, leaving a little room around the edges. (Do not overfill the calzone or it will split open while baking.) Fold half of the dough over itself to close it, then press edges to seal. Use the back of a fork or roll and pinch the edges to make sure it’s sealed well. Poke a few holes with a fork in the top of each calzone. Transfer them to the two lined baking sheets.
  5. Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg and a splash of water. Brush the surface of each calzone with the egg wash using a pastry brush (or your fingers if you don’t have one!). Optional: Sprinkle a little grated Parmesan and Italian seasoning over the top of each one.
  6. Bake: Place the pans in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until nice and golden brown, rotating the pans halfway through the bake time. Let cool for about 10 minutes and serve with ramekins of warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Freeze For Later: Cook according to instructions and let calzones cool completely. Place in an airtight freezer bag or container, dividing layers with parchment paper. Seal, squeezing out any extra air, and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: Wrap a frozen calzone in moist paper towel. Microwave on defrost setting until warmed through. Or, let the calzone thaw in the refrigerator, place on a baking sheet, and warm in a 350°F oven for about 5-10 minutes, just until warmed through.

Equipment

Pastry Brush

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Rolling Pin

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Measuring Cups

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Chefs Knife

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Mixing Bowl

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baking sheet

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Notes/Tips

Cheese Calzones: For a cheesy vegetarian version, try our Cheese Calzone Recipe.

© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: Italian Method: Baked

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Photos and video by Whitney Reist of Sweet Cayenne.

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarKayla says

    Posted on 5/30/23 at 9:13 am

    Pepperoni Calzones are a family favorite. We love to dip them in your homemade pizza sauce!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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