Name: Meatball Calzone
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 36 min
Ingredients: 1 can refrigerated pizza dough; 8 meatballs (cooked); ½ cup marinara sauce; ½-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 egg; ¼ teaspoon garlic salt; ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1 tablespoon water

These homemade calzones are so easy to make and ready in no time. Switch up the pizza toppings and you'll never eat the same version twice!

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This meatball calzone only requires 8 ingredients and is a fun and easy 30 minute meal. We love using this easy calzone recipe when we don’t feel like leaving for takeout and because it’s budget friendly.

In case you were wondering, a meatball stromboli is not the same as this meatball calzone, but they are really similar. Strombolis are longer and thinner in shape. Historically there are other differences, but we are breaking the rules and adding a delicious red wine marinara, and you will be glad we did!

four meatball calzones on a baking sheet next to a ramekin of marinara

Table of Contents

MEATBALL CALZONE INGREDIENTS

You may have all of these in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

Meatballs: Choose from our Italian Meatballs, Air Fryer Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, Turkey and Spinach Meatballs or Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs.
Dough: We are using store bought pizza dough but you can also make a homemade pizza crust.
Pizza Sauce: Use store bought sauce or our homemade marinara.
Cheese: shredded mozzarella
Egg.
Spices: Italian seasoning, garlic salt
Water.

ingredients needed to make homemade meatball calzones

POSSIBLE VARIATIONS

Try these popular calzone ideas!

Pepperoni and Mushrooms: Instead of using meatballs, place several pepperonis and sliced mushrooms inside.
Veggie: Go vegetarian and add olives, spinach, onions, and peppers.
Buffalo Chicken: Replace the regular meatballs and skip the marinara. Use buffalo chicken meatballs instead.

a meatball calzone cut open with cheese coming out

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Enjoy this great recipe as a great addition to a full meal with these other recipes:

Italian Salad – Balance this Italian favorite with Olive Garden inspired salad.
Red Wine Sangria – This is one of my all time favorite sangria recipes. Use the rest of the wine leftover from your marinara recipe.
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli – A delicious veggie to round out the meal.

INSTRUCTIONS

If you’d like to print this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card where you can print the recipe or have it scaled to double or triple. You’ll also find nutrition information.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED:

knife
rolling pin (optional)
parchment paper
baking sheet
whisk
pastry brush
aluminum foil

PREHEAT OVEN: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

DIVIDE THE DOUGH: Split the dough into 2 pieces and roll together into balls.

KITCHEN TIP

If you prefer, make your own pizza dough.

two balls of pizza dough next to rolling pin

ROLL IT OUT: Using a rolling pin or your hands, roll the dough doll into two large circles. To prevent the dough from sticking, flour your work surface and rolling pin.

ADD MEATBALLS: Transfer the calzone crust to the baking sheet and add 4 meatballs on one half.

KITCHEN TIP

If you are using larger meatballs, slice them in half.

marinara sauce spooned onto meatballs on pizza crust

TOP WITH SAUCE: Drizzle the marinara or pizza sauce on top of the meatballs, keeping it away from the edges.

KITCHEN TIP

If pizza sauce gets on the edges it will not seal. Make sure you keep pizza sauce away from the edges or dry it off if it does get on the edge.

ADD CHEESE: Cover the meatballs and sauce with mozzarella cheese.

FOLD THE CALZONE: Fold the dough over to make a semi-circle and press edges together. Fold the sealed edges up towards the calzone and press again.

shredded mozzarella cheese on top of meatballs and marinara on pizza crust

pizza crust folded in half over toppings

KITCHEN TIP

Apply the egg wash liberally to the tops of the raw calzones. The egg wash will make the crust crispy and shiny.

MAKE EGG WASH: In a small bowl, whisk the water and egg together. Brush the egg wash using a pastry brush, on the outside of the calzone.

basting brush basting egg wash onto calzone

KITCHEN TIP

Substitute your favorite pizza topping for the meatballs.

SEASON: Sprinkle the garlic salt and Italian seasoning on top. Repeat for the other calzone.

COOKING TIME: Cover the calzones with foil so it does not touch the tops. Bake for 15 minutes then remove the foil. Continue baking for another 15 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

several oven baked calzones on a baking sheet next to a small white bowl of marinara

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat my microwaving or warming in the oven or air fryer.

Freeze: Place the cooled meatball calzones in a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months.

Defrosting: Thaw in the fridge overnight, or cook frozen at 350 degrees in the air fryer or oven until it’s warm all of the way through.

RELATED RECIPES

Pesto Fettuccine and Meatballs: A flavorful twist on a classic pasta recipe.

Chicken Parm Sandwich Bake: All of your favorite Italian flavors packed into one sandwich.

Meatball Sliders: These are filled with gooey mozzarella cheese on a sweet Hawaiian roll.

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits Recipe

Mozzarella meatball biscuit balls are the best appetizer for parties and game days. They are also simple to make, which makes them an easy weeknight dinner idea.

See Recipe

cheesy meatball stuffed pull apart biscuit bombs

Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

These chicken meatball sliders are great for game day appetizers or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

See Recipe

side view of hawaiian roll meatball slider.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do calzones have pizza sauce?

Technically, if a calzone is a traditional Italian recipe, there is no red sauce on the inside. But we really like having the sauce on the inside so they aren’t dry.

Does a calzone taste like pizza?

Our calzones use traditional pizza ingredients, so maybe a little. However, there is a little more dough used in ours compared to other ingredients so the texture is different.

What are the best toppings for calzones?

The options are endless! We recommend using your favorite pizza combo such as all meat, tons of veggies, pepperoni and mushroom, or even sausage and broccoli.

marinara, meatballs, mozzarella, pizza

5 from 7 votes