Best 2 Easy Mexican Calzones Recipes

Welcome to a culinary journey filled with bold flavors and cheesy goodness! Our Mexican calzones are a delightful fusion of Italian and Mexican cuisine, offering a unique taste experience that will tantalize your taste buds. Picture a crispy golden-brown crust enveloping a flavorful filling of seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and a vibrant blend of Mexican spices. These calzones are perfect for a quick and satisfying meal, a party appetizer, or a fun family dinner. In this article, we'll guide you through two irresistible Mexican calzone recipes: one featuring a classic beef filling and the other showcasing a vegetarian fiesta of black beans and corn. Both recipes come with step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and variations to suit your preferences. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to create a taste sensation that will make you crave Mexican calzones over and over again.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

EASY CALZONES

Easy Calzones image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories main-dish

Time 3h40m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

Ingredients

16 whole frozen, un-risen dinner rolls (I use Rhodes, can also use frozen bread loaves)
1 tablespoon butter
1 whole medium onion, diced
1 pound breakfast or Italian sausage
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
15 ounces whole milk ricotta
1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
Black pepper
2 whole eggs plus 1 whole egg, beaten
All-purpose flour, for dusting
Marinara Sauce, warmed, for serving, recipe follows
Olive oil
3 to 4 whole cloves garlic, minced
1 whole small to medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup white wine (or chicken broth)
Three 15-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
Salt and ground pepper
Pinch sugar
Fresh parsley leaves
Fresh basil leaves

Steps:

Place the frozen rolls (or frozen bread loaves) on a baking sheet to thaw. Cover with a tea towel and let thaw and rise for 2 to 3 hours.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and allow to cook for a couple of minutes. Add the sausage and cook until brown, crumbling the sausage as you stir. Add the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Remove from the skillet and allow to cool on a plate.
In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, some pepper, parsley and 2 eggs.
When the sausage is cool, stir it into the cheese mixture and set aside.
When the rolls are thawed and risen, roll them out on a lightly floured surface until paper thin. Spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons of the filling onto half of the dough circle. Fold half of the dough over itself, and then press the edges to seal.
Brush the surface of each calzone with the beaten egg, and then bake until nice and golden brown, 10 to 13 minutes. Serve with warm Marinara Sauce.
Add a tablespoon or so of olive oil into a hot pan over medium-high heat and throw in the garlic and chopped onions and give them a stir.
Now add the wine (or chicken broth), whisking to deglaze the bottom of the skillet. Cook until the liquid reduces by half.
Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of sugar. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
Toward the end of the cooking process, chop up your fresh parsley and basil and add it to the sauce to taste, stirring to combine.

QUICK CALZONES

Quick Calzones image

Leftover meat sauce makes a hearty calzone that tastes like it's made from scratch. Top the calzones with a sprinkling of Parmesan. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

Ingredients

1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
1 cup Three-Meat Sauce
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 to 2 tablespoons 2% milk
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into four portions. Roll each into a 6-in. circle. Spread 1/4 cup sauce over half of each circle to within 1/2 in. of edge; top with 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese. Fold dough over filling; pinch edges to seal. Place on a greased baking sheet., Brush milk over tops; sprinkle with Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 430 calories, Fat 12g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 26mg cholesterol, Sodium 1037mg sodium, Carbohydrate 63g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 21g protein.

Tips:

Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Fresh, ripe tomatoes, flavorful cheese, and aromatic herbs will make a big difference.
Don't overwork the dough. Overworking the dough will make it tough and chewy. Mix it just until it comes together, then let it rest for a few minutes before rolling it out.
Be careful not to overfill the calzones. If they are too full, they will be difficult to seal and may burst open during baking.
Brush the calzones with olive oil before baking. This will help them to brown nicely and give them a crispy texture.
Serve the calzones with your favorite dipping sauce. Marinara sauce, salsa, or guacamole are all great options.

Conclusion:

Mexican calzones are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are perfect for a quick and easy meal, or they can be dressed up for a special occasion. With so many different variations to choose from, there is sure to be a Mexican calzone recipe that everyone will love.