Description
This Creamy Chicken Calzone recipe features a delicious blend of tender chicken, fresh spinach, and creamy ricotta cheese, all wrapped in golden, flaky pizza dough. A perfect homemade Italian-inspired dish that’s easy to prepare and delightful to eat, served with optional marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 cup cooked chicken, diced (leftover, breast, or rotisserie)
- ½ cup fresh spinach, chopped
- ½ cup ricotta cheese (full fat)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Other
- 2 large eggs, divided
- 12 ounces pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons flour, for rolling dough
- Marinara sauce, for serving (optional)
- Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or foil and spray them with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prep Filling: Dice the cooked chicken into ½-inch pieces and roughly chop the fresh spinach.
- Make Ricotta Mixture: Separate one egg. Add the egg yolk to a medium bowl and reserve the white in another bowl. To the yolk, add ricotta cheese, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, and salt. Mix well, then add the chopped spinach and stir until combined.
- Roll Dough: Divide the pizza dough into four equal pieces. Lightly flour your work surface to prevent sticking and roll each piece into a 7-inch circle.
- Assemble Calzones: On each dough circle, spread the ricotta mixture over half of the surface, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Evenly distribute the diced chicken and shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer.
- Seal Calzones: Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Press the edges firmly to seal, then fold and roll the edge to form a ridge that prevents the filling from leaking out.
- Egg Wash: Whisk the reserved egg white with the remaining whole egg. Brush this egg wash generously over the top of each calzone for a beautiful golden finish when baked.
- Bake: Place the calzones on the prepared baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve: Optionally, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for extra flavor. Serve the calzones hot with warmed marinara sauce on the side for dipping, if desired.
Notes
- You can use leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or cooked chicken breast for this recipe.
- Ensure the dough edges are sealed well to prevent filling leaks during baking.
- For a crispier crust, you can brush the edges with olive oil instead of egg wash.
- Spinach can be substituted with other leafy greens like kale or arugula if preferred.
- Marinara sauce is optional but adds a delicious tangy contrast to the rich filling.
