pepperoni Archives - Family Dinners

Easy Hot Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe

Andrea + Stef — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:07:00 +0000

If you are a pizza lover, this cheesy, gooey and absolutely delicious hot pepperoni pizza dip is perfect for you. Mouthwatering layers of seasoned cream cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and pepperoni combine all your favorite pizza flavors within this oven baked dip.

Served with crusty bread or your favorite crackers, pepperoni pizza dip is an amazing appetizer to an Italian dinner, but can also be served at your next party, movie night or on game days.

You can also easily personalize this dip by adding your favorite pizza toppings instead of slices of pepperoni. Not a meat lover? Make this easy pizza dip vegetarian by topping it with vegetables such as black olives, green bell peppers or red onions.

WHAT IS PIZZA DIP?

This super yummy and addictive oven baked dip starts out with a layer of seasoned cream cheese, that is topped with a layer of tasty pizza or marinara sauce. Then sprinkled with two of Italy’s most popular cheeses: mozzarella and parmesan and finally topped with pepperoni slices. It combines all the flavors of a pepperoni pizza in a mouthwatering dip.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: pizza dip is creamy, cheesy, full of flavor and can easily be personalized with your favorite pizza toppings
Main Ingredients: cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, pepperoni
Cooking Method: air fryer, oven baked
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time and 25 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: crusty bread, pita chips, crackers, bagel chips, tortilla chips, garlic bread, french bread, pita bread, fresh bell peppers
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free
Special Equipment Needed: medium bowl, electric hand mixer, air fryer, oven-proof skillet

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this hot cheesy pizza dip recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this pepperoni pizza dip you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Easy Pizza Dip Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese (softened)
½ cup sour cream
1 ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
1 ¼ cup pizza sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
¼ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
10 pepperoni slices

Optional Garnish

Fresh basil

Substitutions

Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite store bought pizza or marinara sauce or make your own. Check out our recipe for the best, easy to make Marinara Sauce.

Italian Seasoning: You can substitute plain oregano, or make your own Italian seasoning for this easy party dip.

Cheeses: For best results, shred your own cheeses. Pre-shredded cheese contains preservatives and doesn’t melt as well or taste as good.

Pepperoni: Original or turkey pepperoni work well. You can also use mini pepperoni.

Variations:

Add extra cheese or use less cheese, depending on your preference.
Add different meat options: ham, grilled chicken, bacon, or sausage.
Try making your dip vegetarian by topping it with roasted bell peppers, mushrooms, or sliced black olives.
Make it Hawaiian by topping it with diced ham, bacon bits and pineapple chuncks.
Try a Buffalo twist, top with grilled chicken and crumbled up blue cheese, bake, and then top with just the right amount of Buffalo sauce.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this cheesy dip recipe with pepperoni, try our Rotel Dip with Sausage. You’ll love it because you only need 3 simple ingredients to make this super easy, cheesy and absolutely delicious dip.

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Air Fryer – This recipe requires an air fryer. We have both this Cosori air fryer, which is wonderful, and this Cuisinart Air Fryer, which we also love. The Cuisinart also has convection oven and toaster oven capacity. You can buy an air fryer with a basket with high sides that food goes into or a tray type of machine. The trays are shallow but are usually longer and can accomodate more food in a single layer.

Cast Iron Pan — A cast iron skillet works best for this recipe, because it retains heat for a long time. It therefore keeps the dip warm and gooey till it’s all eaten up. However, any oven safe pan, baking dish or a 9-inch pie plate will work as well.

Electric Mixer – Use an electric hand mixer to make the cream cheese layer for this good pizza dip.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook pepperoni pizza dip in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For printable instructions and nutritional information see the recipe card below.

Prep: Firstly, heat oven to 350ºF. Then grate cheeses and measure ingredients.

Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Step 2: Using a hand mixer, beat until creamy and smooth.

Step 3: Spread the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of a cast iron skillet or pie baking dish.

Step 4: Top cream cheese layer with pizza sauce and sprinkle with the two types of cheese.

Step 5: Then top with pepperoni. You can add some extra pepperoni, but note that pepperoni releases grease when cooked, so too much pepperoni could make your dip extra greasy.

Step 6: Bake uncovered in an 350 f oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown. Let rest for 5 minutes then serve with chips, crusty bread, pita crackers or thick slices of bell pepper.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love the delicious flavor of easy to make party dips then you’ll love our Million Dollar Dip. This crowd pleaser is full of yummy cheese, crispy bacon and crunchy almonds.

How To Make Pizza Dip Ahead

Hot pizza dip can also easily be made ahead. Simply assemble the dip, cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Pull the dip out of the refrigerator and bake when you are ready to serve it. You might have to increase cooking time, because the uncooked dip will be very cold.

How To Make Pizza Dip In The Air Fryer

You can also cook this easy pizza dip recipe in the air fryer if you prefer:

Preheat the air fryer to 325ºF.
In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together the cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
Then spread cheese mixture into the bottom of a pie tin or cake pan that fits easily into your air fryer.
Top with pizza sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
Top with pepperoni slices.
Cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
Let the dip rest for 5 minutes, then serve with chips, crusty bread, pita crackers or thick slices of bell pepper.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best baked pizza dip appetizer.

Tip: For best results, use room temperature cream cheese. Cold cream cheese will not mix together well with the other ingredients.
Tip: Taste the pizza sauce before using if it’s store bought. Not all pizza sauce is equal. Make sure you like it!
Tip: Shred your own mozzarella cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has preservatives and doesn’t melt as well or taste as good.
Tip: Do not add too much pepperoni. Pepperoni releases grease when it’s cooked and your dip will be very greasy if there’s too much pepperoni.

More Amazing Dip Recipes

If you love this hot cheesy pizza dip recipe, then you’ll enjoy these other delicious appetizer recipes:

More Delicious Pizza Recipes

If you love love pepperoni pizza dip you’ll also enjoy Grilled Pizza, Thick Crust Pizza and these easy recipes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: You can store uncooked pepperoni pizza dip in the fridge for up to 24 hours. We recommend eating baked pizza dip immediately. You can store hot pizza dip leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing this dip.

How To Reheat

You can reheat leftovers in the microwave, oven or air fryer. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and bake your dip until heated through, about 10-15 minutes. For the air fryer, put your dip in a pie tin or cake pan and air fry at 325ºF for 5-10 minutes.

Common Questions

Are pizza sauce and marinara sauce the same?

Even though they contain very similar ingredients, there are some slight differences. For example pizza sauce has a thicker consistency and often contains olive oil, while marinara sauce has a lighter consistency and often contains onions or shallots. You can use both sauces in this recipe with similar results.

Can I cook hot pizza dip in the air fryer?

Yes, preheat your air fryer to 325ºF. Prepare the hot pizza dip as described in the recipe. Use a cake pan or pie tin that fits your air fryer instead of a cast iron pan. Cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes in the air fryer. Let rest for 5 minutes then serve.

Is it possible to add other toppings to this pepperoni dip?

Of course! Prepare the hot pizza dip as instructed in the recipe until the mozzarella and parmesan cheese layer. Now you can get creative and top the dip with your favorite toppings, such as green peppers, black olives or ham, for example.

What to serve with cheesy pizza dip?

You can serve this delicious pizza dip with different types of crusty bread, such as baguette slices, ciabatta, bread sticks or pizza bread. Pizza dip is also a great way to use up stale white bread. Simple cut the bread in slices and toast them in the oven until golden brown and crispy.
Pita chips, bagel chips, crackers, pretzels or thick slices of bell pepper are other great options to serve with this dip.
Oven baked pepperoni dip also makes a perfect appetizer when served with garlic knots and Italian salad.

Easy Hot Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe

This creamy and cheesy hot pizza dip has everything you love in pizza. Enjoy dipping crusty bread, vegetables or crackers in this game day favorite.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword baked cheese dip, cheesy pepperoni dip, hot pizza dip, pepperoni pizza dip, pizza dip

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 247kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Medium Bowl
hand mixer
spatula
cast iron pan or other oven safe pan, or baking dish

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese softened
½ cup sour cream
1½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ tsp garlic powder
1¼ cups pizza sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
10 slices of pepperoni

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
Using a hand mixer, beat until creamy and smooth.
Spread the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of a cast iron skillet or pie dish.
Spread the pizza sauce over the cream cheese mixture.
Sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses over the top of the pizza sauce.
Top the cheese with pepperoni slices. Add more if you prefer a lot of pepperoni. Note that pepperoni expresses grease when cooked, so too much pepperoni could make your dip extra greasy.
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
Serve while warm.

Notes

RECIPE NOTES:

Add more or less cheese, depending on your taste.
Optional: Add an ⅛ teaspoon of salt to the cream cheese mixture.
Use any pizza toppings you prefer. Try sliced olives, mushrooms, peppers, or sausage.
To make ahead, prepare the dip up until the point of cooking but do not cook. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cooking time may increase if ingredients are very cold.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

Serve with crusty bread, pita chips or crackers.
Serve as an appetizer with Italian Salad and garlic knots.

Nutrition

The post Easy Hot Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy Three Meat Calzones

Andrea + Stef — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:08:59 +0000

Switch up pizza night with these delicious homemade three meat calzones. Stuffed full of salami, sausage, pepperoni and melty cheeses inside a puffy golden crust, they are sure to satisfy every pizza and meat lover.

Using store bought-pizza dough makes this recipe come together in a snap, making it a perfect weeknight or game day meal. You can also make your own dough using Andrea’s pizza crust recipe. Fill them with your favorite flavors, bake them up and get ready to dip them in a robust red sauce or creamy ranch. Yum!

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS EASY CALZONE RECIPE

✔️ Use refrigerated pizza crust for a quick pizza night variation.

✔️ Add your favorite pizza fillings. We suggest our favorite 3 meats but you can use your favorite toppings.

✔️ Just 30 minutes to bake these in the oven. No special equipment required.

POSSIBLE VARIATIONS

PEPPERONI CALZONE – Perfect for pepperoni lovers, swap out sausage and salami with more layers of delicious, savory pepperoni or other Italian sliced meats of your choice.
MEATBALL CALZONE – You can use frozen or leftover meatballs for a simple hearty meal.
VEGGIE CALZONE – Use a mix vegetables such as red peppers, mushrooms, onions, spinach, fresh basil.
PESTO CHICKEN CALZONE – The combination of chicken and pesto is a favorite around here.

THREE MEAT CALZONES INGREDIENTS

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

Pizza dough: Make your own using Andrea’s pizza crust recipe or you can use a canned, refrigerated dough.
Cheeses: We’re using mozzarella, parmesan and/or ricotta can also be added.
Meats: Pepperoni, sliced salami and ground sausage (Italian sausage or regular) but you can also use other meats like capicola or canadian bacon.
Salt: Use a freshly ground sea salt.
Italian seasoning: We love using a premade Italian seasoning but you can also make your own.
Egg: A medium or large sized egg will work.
Water: The water is mixed with the egg to make an egg wash.
Marinara or ranch dipping sauce: Use our red wine marinara recipe to make your own, or use store bought sauce in a pinch. Also ranch dipping sauce goes well with calzones.

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.

PREHEAT OVEN: Heat oven to 375° and line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the calzones from sticking to your pan.

DIVIDE DOUGH: Divide the pizza dough into two. Roll dough into a ball. Roll out each piece to be about 8 inches in diameter. Or, if you’re using a can of pizza dough, you can unroll into rectangles.

🔴 TIP: Dust your work surface with flour to keep the dough from sticking.

ADD FILLING LAYERS: Layer half the pepperoni, sausage, salami, and mozzarella cheese on each dough. We like to put a little cheese between each meat layer.

TOP WITH CHEESE: Top with half the mozzarella cheese.

KITCHEN TIP

When putting ingredients onto the crust, keep ingredients about 1 inch away from the edges.

FOLD CALZONE: Fold calzone over and pinch edges together. Roll pinched edges up and pinch again. Create a 1-inch border along the edge. You can use a fork to pinch the edges by pressing it down all along the edges before rolling it if you’re having trouble getting the edges to stick together.

APPLY EGG WASH: Make an egg wash in a small mixing bowl by whisking together the egg and water. Brush the egg wash over the top and sides of the calzones.

SEASON: Sprinkle the top of each calzone with ⅛ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Optional: sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder or red pepper flakes on each calzone.

PLACE ON BAKING SHEET: Transfer both calzones to the parchment paper covered baking sheet.

BAKE: Loosely tent the baking sheet with foil. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until the crust of the calzone is a deep golden brown. Optional: brush finished calzone with olive oil.

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.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH A CALZONE

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

MORE PIZZA RECIPES

While we love Three Meat Calzones we also love some of these other recipes and think you will as well.

PEPPERONI CALZONE – A classic pepperoni calzone is everyone’s favorite.
PESTO CHICKEN CALZONE – Pesto and chicken were made to go together!
MEATBALL CALZONE – Don’t feel like leaving for takeout? This budget friendly calzone is fun and easy to make.
ANTIPASTO TORTELLINI SALAD – If you need a meal you can make ahead then pull out and eat cold, this is the one!
FIG PROSCIUTTO PIZZA – This yummy, buttery pizza is gourmet made easy.
GRILLED PIZZA – Pizza with your favorite toppings done on the grill cooks up perfect every time.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do calzones have sauce inside?

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.

What’s the difference between a calzone and a stromboli?

Shape is one of the major things that separate a calzone from a stromboli. Calzones are folded into a half moon shape. (Think of them as a pizza taco.) Strombolis, however, are rolled, more like a burrito, and the extra dough is folded over to seal in the contents.

Do calzones 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, and even sausage and broccoli.

Three Meat Calzone

Switch up pizza night with this simple but delicious recipe for three meat calzones.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Keyword 3 meat calzone, how to make a meat calzone, meat lovers calzone

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Servings calzones

Calories 1384kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

11 ounce pizza dough
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14-20 slices pepperoni
14-20 slices salami
1 cup cooked sausage, ground
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the calzones from sticking to your pan.
Divide the pizza dough into two. Roll each into a ball. Roll out each piece to be about 8 inches in diameter.
Layer half the pepperoni, sausage, salami, and mozzarella cheese on each dough. We like to put a little cheese between each meat layer.
Top with half the mozzarella cheese.
Fold calzone over and pinch edges together. Roll pinched edges up and pinch again.
Make an egg wash in a small mixing bowl by whisking together the egg and water. Brush the egg wash over the top and sides of the calzones.
Sprinkle the top of each calzone with ⅛ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Optional: sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder on each calzone.
Transfer both calzones to the parchment paper covered baking sheet.
Loosely tent the baking sheet with foil. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until the crust of the calzone is a deep golden brown.
Serve with an Italian salad and marinara dipping sauce.

Notes

When putting ingredients onto the crust, keep ingredients about 1 inch away from the edges.
You can use a fork to pinch the edges by pressing it down all along the edges before rolling it if you’re having trouble getting the edges to stick together.
Optional: brush finished calzone with olive oil.

Nutrition

The post Easy Three Meat Calzones appeared first on Family Dinners.

Pepperoni Calzone

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 02:12:35 +0000

Piping hot, oven baked pepperoni calzones are a delicious, inexpensive alternative to the same old pizzeria take-out. We’re stuffing our pepperoni calzone with a cheesy ricotta calzone filling made with three cheese and a blend of savory Italian spices. Serve it with a side of marinara for the perfect pizza night delight.

Calzones may seem tricky, but we’ll show you how to make a pepperoni calzone the easy way using store-bought pizza dough. It’s so fun, the kids will want to help! (Want to make your own dough? Try Andrea’s pizza crust recipe.) Speaking of kids, these perfectly portable pizza pockets are also great for school lunches (and work!) so consider making extra.

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS PEPPERONI CALZONE

✔️ Quick and easy! Use premade pizza crust.

✔️ The perfect golden outside and cheesy inside!

✔️ Made in the oven, no special appliances or equipment.

✔️ Easy to make different fillings in each one.

PEPPERONI CALZONES INGREDIENTS

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

Pizza Dough: We’re using store bought pizza dough but you can also make your own using Andrea’s pizza crust recipe.
Cheese: Our ricotta calzone filling uses ricotta, shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan.
Pepperoni: Fresh sliced pepperoni from your deli or pre-packaged work great.
Salt
Italian Seasoning
Egg
Water

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.

PREHEAT OVEN: Preheat the oven to 375°. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the calzones from sticking to your pan.

ROLL DOUGH: Divide the pizza dough into two. Roll each into a ball. Roll out each piece to be about 8 inches in diameter.

COMBINE CHEESE & SEASONING: In a small mixing bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan cheese and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Stir until well mixed.

SPREAD CHEESE MIXTURE: Spread half the ricotta mixture onto the center of each crust, avoiding the edges of the crust.

ADD PEPPERONI: Place half the pepperoni on top of the ricotta mixture. If you prefer, layer pepperoni, cheese mixture then more pepperoni and cheese mixture.

🔴 TIP: When putting ingredients onto the crust, keep ingredients about 1 inch away from the edges.

TOP WITH CHEESE: Top with half the mozzarella cheese.

FOLD DOUGH: Fold calzone over and pinch edges together. Roll pinched edges up and pinch again. You can use a fork to pinch the edges by pressing it down all along the edges before rolling it if you’re having trouble getting the edges to stick together.

MAKE EGG WASH: Make an egg wash in a small mixing bowl by whisking together the egg and water. Brush the egg wash over the top and sides of the calzones.

SEASON: Sprinkle the top of each calzone with ⅛ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Optional: sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder on each calzone.

PLACE ON BAKING SHEET: Transfer both calzones to the parchment paper covered baking sheet.

TIPS FOR MAKING CALZONES

✔️ When putting ingredients into your calzone crust, be careful not to get ingredients caught into the edges you’re sealing. Any moisture will prevent the two sides from sealing.

✔️ Cheese melts and shrinks once cooks so don’t be afraid to put a lot of filling and cheese into the inside. If you don’t put much your calzone will be very flat.

✔️ Don’t skip the egg wash on the top of the calzones. This helps give the crust a nice, golden crispy outside.

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.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH A PEPPERONI CALZONE

Traditionally calzones are served with an Italian Salad and Marinara Sauce for dipping and often with garlic knots as well.

MORE CALZONE RECIPES

Once you learn how easy it is to make calzones you’ll want to make them all the time and will want to make many different versions! Try one of these other great recipes!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do calzones have pizza sauce?

Technically, a traditional calzone has no red sauce on the inside, but if you want to add it, we won’t tell! In this recipe, we recommend serving marinara sauce on the side as a dipping sauce.

Do calzones 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.

Pepperoni Calzone

Piping-hot pepperoni calzones are an easy, delicious replacement for pizzeria take-out.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Keyword homemade calzone, pepperoni calzone

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Servings calzones

Calories 843kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

11 ounces pizza dough
½ cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
20-30 slices pepperoni
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the calzones from sticking to your pan.
Divide the pizza dough into two. Roll each into a ball. Roll out each piece to be about 8 inches in diameter.
In a small mixing bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan cheese and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Stir until well mixed.
Spread half the ricotta mixture onto the center of each crust, avoiding the edges of the crust.
Place half the pepperoni on top of the ricotta mixture. If you prefer, layer pepperoni, cheese mixture then more pepperoni and cheese mixture.
Top with half the mozzarella cheese.
Fold calzone over and pinch edges together. Roll pinched edges up and pinch again.
Make an egg wash in a small mixing bowl by whisking together the egg and water. Brush the egg wash over the top and sides of the calzones.
Sprinkle the top of each calzone with ⅛ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Optional: sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder on each calzone.
Transfer both calzones to the parchment paper covered baking sheet.
Loosely tent the baking sheet with foil. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until the crust of the calzone is a deep golden brown. Serve with marinara dipping sauce.

Notes

When putting ingredients onto the crust, keep ingredients about 1 inch away from the edges.
You can use a fork to pinch the edges by pressing it down all along the edges before rolling it if you’re having trouble getting the edges to stick together.
Optional: brush finished calzone with olive oil.

Nutrition

The post Pepperoni Calzone appeared first on Family Dinners.

Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe

Andrea + Stef — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:32:17 +0000

If you enjoy chilled pasta salad, you’ll love this tortellini pasta salad recipe. It’s a colorful chorus of fresh flavors, loaded with al dente tortellinis, cured meats, fresh veggies and creamy mozzarella. It makes a brilliant summer salad, picnic dish or holiday side. Moreover, it can be the perfect appetizer for game day, potlucks, brunch or anytime. Everyone will love this easy side dish full of fresh ingredients.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: this colorful salad is easy to make ahead of time and full of flavor
Main Ingredients: fresh tortellini, pepperoni, Genoa salami, green olives, kalamata olives, bell pepper, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, peppercinis, artichoke hearts, Italian salad dressing, fresh parsley
Cooking Method: no bake
Nutrients: 21g of protein per serving
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Pairs well with: grilled meats, fish and seafood, crusty white bread, garlic bread, cheesy bread
Special Equipment Needed: large salad bowl

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this tortellini pasta salad recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this easy pasta salad you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Pasta Salad Ingredients

1 20oz package of fresh cheese tortellini (cooked al dente)
6-8 oz pepperoni (chopped into ½” pieces)
6-8 oz Genoa salami (chopped into ½” pieces)
3 oz pitted green olives
3 oz pitted kalamata olives or black olives
1 red or orange bell pepper (diced)
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese (cubed)
10 oz fresh cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
10 peppercinis
8 oz canned artichoke hearts (drained)
2 cups Italian salad dressing (divided)
2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)

Optional Garnish

Fresh parsley or fresh basil, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Optional Additional Ingredients

fresh cucumber (diced)
green pepper (diced)
red onion (diced)
sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)

Substitutions

Meats: You could also use prosciutto, bresaola, or even seafood.

Mozzarella: Use fresh cubed mozzarella, or mozzarella pearls. Additionally, shredded mozzarella (or provolone cheese) is an optional garnish. Moreover, feta cheese would work great with this tortellini salad recipe as well.

Italian Dressing: The best salads have a homemade dressing. Use a bottled one if you must. Our dressing recipe includes garlic, Italian seasoning, granulated sugar, black pepper, sea salt, red wine vinegar and olive oil.

Possible Variations

“Antipasto” translated means before the meal. It’s simply the teaser to whet your appetite for the main course. It can be one food (e.g., just olives or salami) or many different foods. Here are some ways you can put your own spin on this Italian classic.

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN ANTIPASTO – Skip the meats (and cheese for vegan variations) and add fresh veggies such as diced cucumber, green or yellow bell peppers and red onion, for example.
SEAFOOD ANTIPASTO – A southern Italian style uses shrimp, clams, mussels and/or anchovies, for example, instead of cured meats. Don’t forget the capers!
PARTY PLATTER – Arrange veggies, cheeses and meats, unmixed, on a platter. Ideal for a wine and cheese party or any buffet-style setting.
PARTY SKEWERS – Place antipasto ingredients on skewers alternating cheese, crunchy veggies, meat, pasta, etc. for easy, convenient finger foods for parties.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this cheesy tortellini salad recipe, try our Baked Ravioli. You’ll love it because this saucy and cheesy skillet dish is ready to serve in just 30 minutes.

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Big Salad Bowl — We recommend combining and tossing the salad in a large mixing bowl first and then transfering it to a big salad bowl for serving. That way the edges of the bowl stay clean and your salad looks perfect for serving.

Instructions

This section shows how to make tortellini pasta salad, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

COMBINE SALAD INGREDIENTS: Firstly, combine cooked pasta, pepperoni, salami, olives, bell pepper, mozzarella, tomatoes, peppercinis, parsley and artichoke hearts, in a large bowl. Then, pour half the homemade dressing over the top of the ingredients and toss.

SEASON: Afterwards, sprinkle the top of salad with fresh parsley and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, if you like. Finally, garnish with fresh shaved mozzarella cheese or grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

REFRIGERATE: In case you’re serving later, refrigerate until ready to use or for up to 3 days. Before serving, add additional salad dressing until it has the amount you prefer.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this classic pasta salad with mozzarella balls then you’ll love our Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing. This keto friendly and vegetarian dish has a homemade dressing, feta, pecans and is simply bursting with flavor.

Andrea says….

Whip up these easy cheesy garlic rolls to eat with the pasta salad.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best tortellini pasta salad recipe.

Tip: Don’t overcook your tortellini! Your pasta should not be mushy. Rinse with cold water as soon as you drain to stop the cooking and cool your pasta.
Tip: Use fresh tomatoes, peppers and herbs. While canned tomatoes and dried herbs are very useful in many dishes, we think fresh makes a huge difference in a cold pasta salad.
Tip: Use a good and zesty Italian dressing, such as our Italian dressing or your favorite bottled dressing.
Tip: If you are making your pasta salad ahead of time, don’t add the dressing until just before serving.

What To Serve With Tortellini Pasta Salad

We love to eat antipasto salad all by itself. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve easy Italian tortellini salad with Garlic French Bread made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought French bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots. Additionally, Andrea’s Copycat Lion House Rolls also go perfectly with this dish.

Main Dish: Pair this cold pasta salad with Italian Meatballs, Air Fryer Lemon Chicken or a Meatball Sub Sandwich.

Pizza: This super yummy and fresh pasta salad would also make a perfect side dish for our White Pizza with Garlic Pizza Sauce or Air Fryer Naan Pizza. It would also go well with any of our mouthwatering calzones, such as pepperoni, chicken pesto, three meat or meatball, for example.

Stef says….

Even though this Italian pasta salad is so easy to make and comes together in only 10 minutes it is a real show stopper. I love bringing a bowl of cold tortellini salad or Pesto Pasta Salad to potlucks and BBQs.

More Salad Recipes

A fresh and crunchy salads are not only healthy and nutritious, they also go with most main dishes and add some vibrant colors to a dinner plate. Here are some of our other favorite salad recipes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store antipasto salad leftovers in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing tortellini pasta salad leftovers.

Common Questions

What is the difference between antipasto and antipasti?

Antipasto is singular while antipasti is plural. In case you are wondering, what about antipasta? It’s just a colloquialism or mistranslation that’s gotten stuck in our vernacular over time. Serving a traditional Italian meal? Stick with “antipasto.”

What’s the difference between antipasto and charcuterie?

Charcuterie is referring to cold cooked meats while antipasto typically includes cured meats, cheeses and pickled vegetables.

How do you keep this tortellini pasta salad recipe from getting soggy?

Your pasta will soak up some of the dressing while sitting in the pasta salad, so it is important not to overcook your pasta to prevent it from becoming soggy or mushy. Therefore cook your pasta until just al dente (meaning, it is still firm when bitten).

Does antipasto have pasta in it?

Traditional Italian antipasto salad is served before the main (pasta) course, so it does not include pasta. In this recipe, however, we’re breaking the rules and adding a creamy, flavorful cheese tortellini, which makes this dish great as a side or main course for summer picnics, holidays, game day parties, potlucks or anytime.

artichokes, mozzarella, olives, pepperoni

Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe

Full of color and flavor, this traditional Italian antipasto is great as a summer salad or any time.

Course Salad

Cuisine Italian

Keyword antipasto salad, antipasto tortellini salad, italian pasta salad, pasta salad

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings servings

Calories 631kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

large salad bowl

Ingredients

20 ounces cheese tortellini
6-8 ounces pepperoni chopped into ½ inch pieces
6-8 ounces Genoa salami chopped into ½ inch pieces
3 ounces pitted green olives
3 ounces pitted kalamata olives or black olives
1 red or orange bell pepper
10 ounces cherry tomatoes fresh
10 pepperoncinis
8 ounces canned artichoke hearts drained
2 cups Italian salad dressing divided
2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped

Optional Garnish:

fresh parsley chopped
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Instructions

In a large salad bowl, combine tortellini, pepperoni, salami, green olives, kalamata olives, bell pepper, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, peppercinis, parsley and artichoke hearts.
Pour half the salad dressing over the top of the ingredients and toss.
If you’re serving later, refrigerate for up to 3 days. Before serving, add additional salad dressing until it has the amount you prefer.
Sprinkle top of salad with fresh parsley and optional ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Serve with crusty french bread and green Italian salad.

Notes

Optional additional ingredients: diced fresh cucumber, diced green pepper and diced red onion.
Optional: garnish with fresh shaved mozzarella cheese.
This antipasto tortellini salad makes a great make-ahead meal.

Nutrition

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