Authentic Italian Calzones

Create a delicious, restaurant-style Italian meal right at home with this highly-rated calzone recipe.

What Is a Calzone?

A calzone is a savory Italian pastry, typically filled with cheese and wrapped in leavened dough. It's often served with marinara sauce on the side. This dish originated in Naples during the 18th century.

Calzone vs. Stromboli

While 'calzone' and 'stromboli' are often used interchangeably, these two dishes are quite distinct. Here's the difference:

• Calzones have Italian origins and are sealed with a fork. The sauce is traditionally served on the side. 
• Stromboli, meanwhile, originated in the U.S. and are rolled into a spiral. The sauce is usually included in the filling. 

How to Make Calzones

Below you'll find the full, detailed recipe, but here's a quick rundown of the process when making homemade calzones:

1. Prepare the dough, knead, and let it rise.
2. Prepare the filling and refrigerate.
3. Deflate the dough and divide it into two portions.
4. Roll out the dough into circles and add the filling.
5. Fold the dough over and seal the edges with a fork.
6. Brush with a beaten egg and bake until golden brown.

What to Serve with Calzones

Pair these calzones with a classic marinara sauce for dipping, and they’ll also go perfectly with a crisp Italian side salad.

How to Store Calzones

To store leftover calzones, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days, or freeze them for up to three months.

Dinogo Community Tips and Praise

"The dough was absolutely delicious," says Elizabeth Currier. "It had just the right balance of salt and crunch—everything you could want in a crust."

"This recipe is amazing," shares ozarkdaisygirl. "I've made it twice now, and we absolutely love it! The first time I didn’t have ricotta cheese, but it was still fantastic. The second time I added it, and it was even better!"

"This is by far my favorite calzone recipe," says Camille Brandenburg. "It tastes better than any restaurant calzone. We always add olives, spinach, and garlic, and it’s become one of our go-to weeknight meals."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

Dough:

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

• 1 cup warm water

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 teaspoon white sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

• 1 large egg, beaten

Filling:

• 1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

• ½ cup ricotta cheese

• ½ cup diced pepperoni

• ½ cup sliced fresh mushrooms

• 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves

Instructions

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 5 minutes, until it becomes elastic. Place 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a large bowl, then place the dough in the bowl and flip it to coat with the oil. Cover and allow the dough to rise until it’s nearly doubled in size, which should take about 40 minutes.

Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, combine Cheddar cheese, ricotta cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, and fresh basil. Mix thoroughly, then cover and refrigerate to chill.

Punch down the dough and divide it into two equal portions. Roll each portion out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8-inch thick. Place half of the cheese and meat filling on each circle of dough.

Fold the dough over the filling to form a semicircle. Seal the edges by pressing with a fork. Brush the top of each calzone with beaten egg and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve while hot.

Nutritional Information (per serving)