Best 5 Lunch Calzone Recipes

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**A Culinary Delight: Discover the Authentic Italian Lunch Calzone with its Endless Variations**

In the heart of Italy, there exists a culinary treasure that captivates taste buds and hearts alike - the lunch calzone. This savory turnover, crafted from a pliable dough and stuffed with an array of enticing fillings, is a symphony of flavors and textures that promises a delightful dining experience. Embark on a culinary journey as we explore the classic lunch calzone recipe, along with its tempting variations that cater to diverse preferences. Indulge in the harmonious blend of melted cheese, aromatic herbs, and succulent meats, all enveloped in a golden-brown, crispy crust. Prepare to be tantalized by the vegetarian calzone, a vibrant tapestry of roasted vegetables and creamy cheeses, or succumb to the smoky allure of the barbecue chicken calzone, where tender chicken meets tangy barbecue sauce in perfect harmony.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

EASY CALZONES



Easy Calzones image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h40m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

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.

HOMEMADE CALZONES WITH FILLINGS BAR



Homemade Calzones with Fillings Bar image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for the bowl
1 1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water
8 ounces shredded mozzarella
1 cup whole-milk ricotta
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1/2 cup Homemade Pizza Sauce, recipe follows, plus more for serving, optional
1/2 to 1 cup each of your favorite calzone/pizza toppings, such as pepperoni, cooked crumbled sausage, olives, sauteed onions, pickled jalapenos, chopped basil, roasted red peppers, etc.
Olive oil, for brushing
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
One 32-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 sprig fresh basil
Kosher salt

Steps:

  • For the dough: Lightly oil a large bowl. Combine the yeast, salt, sugar and 2 1/4 cups of the flour in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and stir to combine. With the mixer running, add the water and oil. Beat until the dough comes together, about 2 minutes. If the dough is too wet, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it is still soft and slightly sticky, but you can turn it out. Transfer the dough to the oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  • For the calzones: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Mix together the mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • Lightly flour a work surface. Turn out the dough and divide it into 4 pieces. Gently pull and stretch each piece of dough into a 7- to 8-inch round, trying to keep the thickness of the dough fairly even. Lay out the rounds and spoon one-quarter of the cheese mixture onto one side of each round (about 1/2 cup per round). Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the Homemade Pizza Sauce onto the cheese. Add up to 1/3 cup of your preferred topping onto each of the calzones, then fold the side of the dough over the fillings. Fold and crimp the edges to seal them completely.
  • Transfer the calzones to the prepared baking sheet and brush them lightly with oil. Use a sharp paring knife to cut 1 or 2 vents into each, then bake until deep golden brown, about 18 minutes.
  • Serve with additional Homemade Pizza Sauce on the side, if desired.
  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the oregano, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, with the saucepan loosely covered in foil to avoid splattering and stirring occasionally, until fairly thick, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your tomatoes. Remove the basil.

CALZONE



Calzone image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 10 calzones

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup rice
2 small onions, chopped fine
1/2 bunch fresh parsley leaves, chopped or 2 teaspoons dry parsley
Chopped basil, minced garlic, oregano, salt and black pepper, to taste
1 pound lean ground beef
8 ounces homemade or store bought tomato sauce
8 ounces pizza sauce
1 cup grated Romano
1/2 cup shredded provolone
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 pounds favorite pizza dough

Steps:

  • Cook the rice according to package directions, let cool. Mix the onions, parsley, basil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper into the ground beef. Saute until the meat is browned and all of the red is gone. After sauteing, drain the beef and cool (best if refrigerated). When beef has cooled, add sauces, cheese and bread crumbs 1/2 a cup at a time. Mix in well, result should not be too stiff. Adjust if necessary with bread crumbs or sauces. Check to be sure the seasonings are to taste.
  • Roll out the dough into approximately 6-inch circles, put in 1/3-cup meat mixture and fold over like an apple turnover. Squeeze edges with a fork and deep fry until golden brown.

CALZONE



Calzone image

This recipe can be split in half for 2 regular calzones. We fill them with anything. They are delicious!

Provided by D Adams

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Savory Pie Recipes

Time 3h5m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ¼ cups water
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon dry milk powder
1 ½ tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
¾ cup pizza sauce
4 ounces pepperoni sausage, chopped
1 ¼ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

  • Place water, salt, bread flour, dry milk, sugar, and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle.
  • After cycle ends, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface; shape into a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Transfer to a lightly greased cookie sheet. In a small bowl, mix together chopped pepperoni and mozzarella. Spoon pizza sauce in a stripe down the center of dough lengthwise; add sausage and cheese filling. Make diagonal cuts 1 1/2 inches apart down each side, cutting within a 1/2 inch of the filling. Criss cross strips over filling, sealing with water. Brush top with melted butter.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 285.3 calories, Carbohydrate 34.2 g, Cholesterol 29 mg, Fat 11.1 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 11.3 g, SaturatedFat 5.1 g, Sodium 623.5 mg, Sugar 2.9 g

QUICK PEPPERONI CALZONES



Quick Pepperoni Calzones image

This calzone recipe takes the Italian favorite to the next level with Parmesan and herbs sprinkled on top. -Shannon Roum, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup chopped pepperoni
1/2 cup pasta sauce with meat
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
1 to 2 tablespoons 2% milk
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, optional

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix pepperoni, pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese., On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into four portions. Roll each into a 6-in. circle; top each with a scant 1/3 cup pepperoni mixture. Fold dough over filling; pinch edges to seal. Place on a greased baking sheet. , Brush milk over tops; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and, if desired, Italian seasoning. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 540 calories, Fat 23g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 36mg cholesterol, Sodium 1573mg sodium, Carbohydrate 59g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 21g protein.

Tips:

  • For a crispy crust, use a combination of all-purpose flour and bread flour. Bread flour has a higher protein content, which will give the crust a chewier texture.
  • If you don't have a pizza stone, you can bake the calzone on a greased baking sheet.
  • To prevent the calzone from sticking to the baking sheet, sprinkle it with cornmeal before baking.
  • Be careful not to overfill the calzone, or it will be difficult to seal.
  • For a gooey center, use a combination of mozzarella and provolone cheese.
  • If you are using fresh spinach, be sure to wilt it before adding it to the calzone.
  • To make the calzone easier to eat, cut it into wedges before serving.

Conclusion:

Calzones are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. They are easy to make and can be filled with a variety of ingredients, so you can customize them to your liking. With a crispy crust, a gooey center, and a variety of flavorful fillings, calzones are sure to be a hit with everyone at your table.

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