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Home Recipe Index Vegetarian

The BEST Cheese Calzones

★★★★★ 5 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Rachel Tiemeyer
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 5/25/23Updated: 9/20/23

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

Our Cheese Calzone recipe is simply the best! This portable pizza pocket has been tested over and over and is made with a blend of creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and savory Parmesan cheese. In case they aren’t devoured on the spot (doubtful!), we’ve also included freezing instructions.

Or try our Pepperoni Calzones instead.

Calzones on baking sheet after being baked with parmesan and parsley sprinkled on top
Table of Contents
  • What is a Calzone?
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make Cheese Calzones
  • Can You Freeze Calzones?
  • Side Dishes That Go With a Cheese Calzone
  • Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide
  • The BEST Cheese 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

Now, what’s inside this calzone, you ask? This one is similar to a lasagna filling–gooey, comforting, and just plain yummy. Here’s what you’ll need to make these:

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

How to Make Cheese 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, 2 eggs, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Cheese Calzone Filling ingredients pictured in a bowl
Filling for calzone mixed up and ready to be put in the calzone

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.

dough divided into eight equal portions
small calzone dough balls
calzone dough rolled out with a rolling pin

Fill & Seal Calzones

Spoon 3-4 tablespoons 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 them to the two lined 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.

Two calzones on baking sheet getting an egg wash put on with a pastry brush.
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.

Calzones after baking piled on baking sheet with one cut open to see the cheesy insides

Can You Freeze Calzones?

We’re often asked if you can freeze calzones, and the answer is a resounding yes! I LOVE doubling a batch and freezing them for my family. They make for an easy lunch or weeknight dinner, because you can rewarm from frozen in the microwave in minutes.

Baked Calzones in a freezer bag

Here are the simple steps to freeze calzones…

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.

Side Dishes That Go With a Cheese Calzone

Definitely serve your calzones with a side of Pizza Sauce or Marinara Sauce for dipping. Then, try one of these salads to round out your meal.

Summer Strawberry Salad

Wilted Lettuce Salad in a bowl with a fork

Wilted Lettuce Salad

chopped cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, basil, garlic and crumbled feta in a white bowl

Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

shaved brussels sprout salad

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Calzones on baking sheet after being baked with parmesan and parsley sprinkled on top
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Calzones after baking piled on baking sheet with one cut open to see the cheesy insides
★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews

The BEST Cheese Calzones

Indulge in cheesy goodness with our delectable Cheese Calzone recipe, made with a blend of creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and savory Parmesan cheese. We’ve given it a healthier twist by using white whole wheat flour in the quick homemade dough and including some tasteless, chopped parsley in the filling.

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

  • 1 batch of whole wheat calzone dough (or a large dough ball from a local pizzeria)
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for optional topping
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 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, 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, 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.

© 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. AvatarDenise says

    Posted on 7/29/19 at 11:00 am

    I know it won’t be as healthy but can you sub all-purpose flour for the whole wheat flour without any other changes? Also, just a note: I use my bread machine when I make any type of dough. Just use the “dough” setting and it will do ALL of the work for you! Mine takes 2 hours, but this includes that first rising. I then take it out and continue with the recipe for whatever I am making that required the dough. 🙂

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 8/6/19 at 9:31 am

      I think you should be fine just using the all-purpose flour for this, but I haven’t tested it that way personally. Thank you for the tip about the bread machine!

      Reply
  2. AvatarAnne Bright says

    Posted on 5/30/19 at 5:28 pm

    About how many pounds of dough does this recipe make?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 8/6/19 at 9:35 am

      I believe it makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf.

      Reply
  3. AvatarAbbie says

    Posted on 10/20/17 at 10:13 am

    Can these be made with pre-made dough? I’m sure they won’t taste as good but not sure I have time (or energy) to hand knead dough :).

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 10/20/17 at 12:51 pm

      Yes, absolutely! I sometimes pick up some dough from our local pizzaria. It’s a great option.

      Reply
  4. AvatarJill says

    Posted on 10/8/17 at 9:05 am

    Do you have to thaw these before warming in microwave to eat?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 10/11/17 at 10:51 am

      You can definitely heat them up from frozen in the microwave, but I would suggest wrapping in a moist paper towel and using the defrost setting.

      Reply
  5. AvatarAbigail says

    Posted on 8/13/17 at 3:58 pm

    Could you freeze these before cooking, then thaw and bake?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:10 pm

      I think you could for sure! I freeze unbaked pizzas. You’ll just thaw in the fridge for 24 hours first.

      Reply
  6. AvatarRobin says

    Posted on 8/9/17 at 5:00 pm

    How do you mix the dough without a stand mixer or a dough hook?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 8/17/17 at 8:42 am

      You could certainly knead it on the counter with a lot of elbow grease. It will just take you a while. 😉

      Reply
  7. AvatarTina says

    Posted on 7/2/17 at 4:27 pm

    I don’t have a microwave but am interested in this for a freezer meal. How would I go about reheating this in the oven after freezing or would you not recommend this one without a microwave? Thank you.

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 7/5/17 at 8:04 pm

      If you thaw them completely, I think you could wrap in foil and warm up for about 8-10 minutes in a 350°F oven.

      Reply
  8. AvatarRobin says

    Posted on 6/29/17 at 5:45 pm

    I do not have a stand mixer. Can the dough be mixed by hand?

    Thanks for the guidance! Sounds amazing.

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 7/2/17 at 9:21 am

      I haven’t done it myself, but with a little elbow grease I know you can. 😉

      Reply
  9. AvatarKristie says

    Posted on 2/6/16 at 6:09 am

    Have you used your whole wheat pizza dough bread machine recipe for these calzones? The recipe here seems easy enough, I’m just a bit addicted to my bread machine. 🙂

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 2/6/16 at 8:24 am

      I haven’t but I’m sure it would work just fine!

      Reply
  10. AvatarJennifer says

    Posted on 11/16/15 at 12:34 pm

    I have been waiting to put these on my dinner rotation. I had too much filling for the amount of dough, so I just made a second batch of dough. Now I’m making scrambled eggs with ham and cheese to use with the leftover dough. I think I’m going to get four meals out of this. Thanks so much for this great recipe!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 11/17/15 at 10:06 pm

      Nice work! Breakfast calzones? Genius.

      Reply
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