Easy Homemade Calzone
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!
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.
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.
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.
They can also be frozen after baked, wrap in foil then place in a freezer bag. They will keep for up to two months in the freezer. Thaw a few hours in the fridge then reheat in the oven.
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!
Easy Homemade Calzone
Ingredients
- 1 ready made pizza dough (store bought, bakery or homemade)
- ½ cup pancetta or bacon or even pepperoni (optional) (cubed or chopped)
- ½ bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms
- 15 grape or cherry tomatoes halved (or you can use canned peeled san marzano tomatoes)
- ½ teaspoon basil or 5-6 fresh basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon oregano (divided)
- ½ teaspoon salt (divided) (or to taste)
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- ¾ cup firm mozzarella shredded
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 450°F (250° C). Lightly grease with 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil a 10 inch/26cm pizza pan or baking sheet.
- In a medium bowl combine, the halved tomatoes, half the spices – (basil, oregano, salt) and one tablespoon of olive oil, mix together. Set aside.
- In a medium pan add 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, the pancetta or bacon, mushrooms, pepper and the remaining half spices cook on medium heat uncovered until golden.
- Place the rolled out pizza dough on the prepared pan, top with in the following order, pancetta mixture or pepperoni slices, tomato mixture (spread both evenly on 1/2 the pizza dough), and the shredded mozzarella on top.
- Gently fold the other half of the pizza dough to cover the mixture filled side and crimp the edges (wet finger tips to help dough stick), so that none of the filling escapes. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until golden, let sit 5 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!
Hi Rosemary –
Any chance this could be made using your yeast free bread recipe?
Hi Jessica, sure I don’t see why not. Let me know how it goes. Take care!
I would like to make these for my son’s family so they can have them on hand. Wondering I would like to freeze them…so do I bake them before freezing them or just freeze them uncook? What would be the method to cook/reheat after freezing them.
Hi Diane, yes you can freeze them, I would freeze them baked, wrap in foil then place in a freezer bag. They will keep for up to two months in the freezer. Thaw a few hours in the fridge then reheat in the oven or microwave. Take care and have a great weekend!
I thought this said vegetarian?
Calls for ham or bacon?
Hi Arnie, you don’t have to add the pancetta if you don’t want. 🙂
Hi. Can I use turkey bacon instead of pancetta?
Hi Zeina, sure that should work. Let me know how it goes.