Description
This Creamy Chicken Calzone recipe features tender cooked chicken combined with a rich blend of ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses, seasoned with garlic and Italian herbs, all encased in perfectly baked pizza dough. It’s an easy yet indulgent Italian-American main course perfect for a comforting dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough and Oil
- 1 pound pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Filling
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or chopped)
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Egg Wash
- 1 egg (beaten)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- Prepare Filling: In a medium-sized bowl, combine ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth, then fold in the cooked chicken ensuring it is evenly coated with the cheese mixture.
- Roll Dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and divide the pizza dough into two equal portions. Roll each portion into an 8-inch circle, working carefully to maintain shape and even thickness.
- Fill and Seal: Spoon half of the chicken and cheese filling onto one half of each dough circle, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges. Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape and pinch or crimp the edges firmly to fully seal the calzone to prevent filling leakage during baking.
- Apply Egg Wash: Transfer the calzones carefully to the prepared baking sheet. Using a brush, coat the tops with the beaten egg to create a shiny, golden-brown crust once baked.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the calzones for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crisp on the outside.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the calzones from the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes before slicing. This resting time allows the filling to set, making slicing easier and preventing burning when eating.
Notes
- Feel free to enhance the filling by adding sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor and texture.
- Serve your calzones with marinara sauce or ranch dressing for a delicious dipping option.
- For a crispier crust, you can bake the calzones on a preheated pizza stone.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 calzone
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
