This easy and delicious Calzone is pizza dough stuffed with your favorite vegetables and cheese then baked until golden brown. Make it with store bought or my best pizza dough. So good you might prefer it over a slice of pizza!

Calzone on parchment paper with fresh tomatoes.

In the food department Italy is probably best known Pasta, Pizza and Tiramisu. All of which are amazing and delicious but to tell the truth one of my favourites is an overly stuffed Calzone.

A homemade calzone is almost like a pizza, except all the ingredients are inside instead of outside. You can stuff it with all your favourite pizza toppings, although we prefer fresh tomatoes, pepper, mushrooms, a few fresh herbs and of course a good helping of shredded mozzarella.

Table of Contents

Recipe Ingredients

Pizza dough – homemade or store-bought pizza dough
Pancetta – or chopped bacon or make it vegetarian and leave it out
Pepper – bell pepper
Mushrooms – chopped or sliced mushrooms
Tomatoes – halved fresh tomatoes
Basil – ground or fresh basil
Oregano – ground oregano
Salt
Olive oil
Mozzarella – firm shredded mozzarella

You could also use a can of peeled san marzano tomatoes crushed instead of fresh tomatoes if you prefer.

How to make a Homemade Calzone recipe

In a small bowl combine, the halved tomatoes, half the spices – (basil, oregano, salt) and a tablespoon of olive oil, mix together. Set aside.

In a small pan add a tablespoon of olive oil, the pancetta or bacon, chopped mushrooms, chopped pepper and the remaining half spices cook on medium heat uncovered until cooked and browned.

calzone how to make veggies in the pan, tomatoes and cheese on the dough ready for baking

On a small – medium size pizza pan or baking sheet drizzle a little olive oil (approximately 1 -2 teaspoons), place rolled out pizza dough on top, and add in the following order, pancetta mixture, tomato mixture (spread both evenly on half the pizza dough), and then the shredded mozzarella.

Gently fold the other half of the pizza dough to cover the mixture filled side and seal the edges (wet finger tips to help dough stick), so that none of the filling escapes. Bake until golden brown, let sit 5 minutes before cutting.

Different Calzone Filling

Pancetta could be substituted with Italian sausage, bacon, pepperoni or you can leave it out and substitute with another vegetable such as onion or fresh spinach. You could even use grilled vegetables. Or add some olives, artichokes or even baby arugula leaves.

You could substitute the mozzarella cheese or use half and half with provolone, gouda, fontina or even parmesan cheese.

What is the difference between Panzerotti (or Panzarotti) and Calzone?

Both are made with either pizza or bread dough, although Panzerotti dough has a little more fat. Both are stuffed with tomatoes, veggies, some type of meat and of course mozzarella cheese.

The only difference is in the way they are cooked. A Panzerotti is deep fried and a Calzone is baked.

A fried Panzerotti is also very popular in Naples where it is called Pizza Fritta (Fried Pizza). The original “Street Food of Naples”.

What is a Stromboli?

A Stromboli is square shaped pizza dough that is topped with your choice of toppings (usually tomato sauce, veggies and mozzarella cheese) and then rolled into a log and baked.

How to store leftover calzone

Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, it will keep for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can re-heat it in the oven or in the microwave. Be sure not to leave it out at room temperature for more than two hours.

So there you have it, different names to mean different Recipes. Although all are delicious and each worth trying. I hope you try this Homemade Calzone with fresh veggies first. Buon Appetito!