This Sausage and Cheese Calzone has a made-from-scratch dough that’s stuffed with flavorful sausage and cheese for a delicious dinner that is sure to please.
This recipe is sponsored by Jimmy Dean. All opinions expressed are my own.
Anything pizza related is going to be delicious, this we know, but calzones? They’re even better than we could have imagined. This is the kind of dinner our kids beg us to make over and over again. It is warm, filling, and oh so tasty. Bring out your inner Italian, and let’s get cooking! Buon appetito!
What is the difference between a stromboli and a calzone?
Both stromboli and calzone are a type of turnover filled with meats and cheeses. A stromboli is made from a rectangular piece of dough that has been topped with fillings. It is then rolled into a log shape and baked. A calzone is made from a circular piece of dough and the fillings are placed in the center. It is then folded into a half circle shape and baked.
What does calzone mean?
Calzone is an Italian word that refers to a folded pizza. Calzone originates in the Naples region of Italy.
What kind of sausage should I use in this recipe?
This recipe requires a fresh sausage that needs to be cooked. We recommend Jimmy Dean Premium Pork Sausage. They have several different flavor options so you can choose from Regular, Hot, Sage, or Maple to give your recipe a unique twist. We personally prefer Regular or Hot in this recipe.
Can I use a different type of cheese?
Yes! This recipe calls for shredded mozzarella cheese, but you can switch things up and customize this recipe to your own personal taste preferences. Shredded provolone, fresh mozzarella, gouda, or even cheddar are all great options. The important thing to remember is that you just need a cheese that melts well.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Calzones are best eaten fresh. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through.
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious sausage recipes:
Watch the video below where we will walk you through every step of the recipe with a video demonstration.
Wonder if I could use frozen pie dough? Not big on bakery.
Loved this! So quick and easy to put together. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much – my entire family LOVED these! This was the most complimented meal of the month
I didn’t have mushrooms last time I made these, I added diced onion instead. They were delicious. Love. This chef’s style and recipes.
I made them today with both the chopped onion and mushrooms added. This time there was too much liquid, so I drained it off. We’ll find out tonight how they taste.
This looks so good! I was wondering how I could replace the instant yeast with active dry yeast?
If you want to substitute with active dry yeast, you will simply need to let your yeast dissolve in the warm water first. Using the same amount of yeast called for in the recipe, dissolve into the 1 1/3 cup warm water for 5-10 minutes, then proceed with mixing all of your ingredients together in the stand mixer.
Rachel, you’re amazing; an awesome chef & teacher extraordinaire. God bless you & your loved ones. 😍
I made this recipe with my daughter for the first time. I wasn’t able to get all of the vegetables and sausage on the dough rounds. I was afraid of stuffing with too much. After making I realized that I could have put more filling in the dough. I also had difficulty making round shapes of dough, however, they managed to look more like the pictures. If I made this again, I would add chopped cloves of garlic and chopped onion to the meat mixture to add more flavor. I’ve used Jimmy Dean sausage for years. It’s so affordable and great in spaghetti sauce too. Thanks for the recipe Rachel. My daughter and I loved it.
So good, I did make a little sauce to add to the meat, and use as a did ! I think this will be so good ! First time making a bread dough
Can these calzones be frozen?
Yes, they freeze well.
Absolutely delicious! Made twice now. Second time I divided the dough into 8 parts for smaller calzones. Worked great. Company loved them. I used yellow and red peppers the second time.
Rachel, can the dough be mixed by hand ? I dont have a stand mixer.
Yes. That’s what I do