Easy Calzones
Try this Easy Calzones recipe, or contribute your own.
Try this Easy Calzones recipe, or contribute your own.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- fresh basil leaves
- 16 whole frozen un-risen dinner rolls (i use rhodes can also use frozen bread loaves)
- 1 whole medium onion diced
- 1 pound breakfast or italian sausage
- 15 ounces whole milk ricotta
- 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella
- 2 whole eggs plus 1 whole egg beaten
- all-purpose flour for dusting
- marinara sauce warmed, for serving, recipe follows
- 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
- Carbohydrate 16.862675554437 g
- Cholesterol 291.376976728081 mg
- Fat 81.5118815843515 g
- Fiber 0.693833330531915 g
- Protein 67.9682760784517 g
- Saturated Fat 51.2987781619048 g
- Serving Size 1 1 recipe (966g)
- Sodium 1366.4972202617 mg
- Sugar 16.1688422239051 g
- Trans Fat 4.60628733644494 g
- Calories 1070 calories
Step-by-step
- 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.
- Cook's Note: If you want a larger calzone, use frozen bread loaves and use one-quarter to one-third of the loaf for each calzone.
- 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.
Easy Calzones: A Weeknight Winner
Life as a busy working mom is a whirlwind of early mornings, school runs, demanding deadlines, and the ever-present question: what’s for dinner? Finding the balance between healthy, delicious meals and limited time is a constant juggling act. That’s why recipes like these Easy Calzones have become my absolute lifesavers. They’re surprisingly simple to make, even on a weeknight when energy levels are low, and they’re infinitely customizable to suit everyone's tastes. This recipe isn’t just about feeding my family; it’s about creating those precious moments around the dinner table, where the chaos of the day melts away, replaced by laughter and the comforting aroma of homemade food.
I love how versatile this recipe is. You can easily swap out the sausage for leftover grilled chicken, or add in your favorite vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for a more substantial meal. The filling is truly up to you - the beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. The rich, cheesy filling within the golden-brown crust is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, and the homemade marinara sauce takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness. The warmth of the calzones, the comforting cheese pull, and the vibrant flavors make it the perfect remedy for even the busiest, most stressful of days. It’s more than just dinner; it’s a moment of pause, a reminder that even amidst the chaos, there's always time for a little bit of delicious comfort.
One of the things I appreciate most about this recipe is its ability to be prepped ahead of time. I often make the sauce and the filling on the weekend, storing them separately in the refrigerator. This means that on a busy weeknight, all I need to do is assemble and bake the calzones – a process that takes less than 30 minutes. This makes this recipe a fantastic time-saver for busy families like mine. It also minimizes stress, knowing that dinner is readily prepared when I get home, ready to be baked to perfection and enjoyed by my loved ones.
The other brilliant feature of this recipe is that it utilizes frozen bread rolls or even loaves, thereby simplifying the process even further. This cuts out the time-consuming task of making dough from scratch, a real game-changer for those nights when even the simplest task feels overwhelming. I always keep a stash of frozen rolls in my freezer, perfect for those unexpected dinner emergencies or simply to make life a little easier. There’s no shame in utilizing smart shortcuts; the most important thing is sharing a delicious meal with those you love. Whether they are from a box or homemade, the magic of a happy family meal will always be worth it.
Making these Easy Calzones is not just about cooking a meal; it’s about creating lasting memories, sharing good food, and cherishing time together. So, gather your family, roll up your sleeves, and let’s create some culinary magic. These calzones are more than just food; they’re a testament to the love and care put into creating a warm and delicious meal for the ones we cherish most.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a ritual, a small act of love, transformed into a delicious, fulfilling meal that speaks volumes about the joy of shared experience. It’s about slowing down and appreciating the simple things, and most importantly, enjoying some truly exceptional calzones together.
