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Meatball Calzone – with savory tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella, colby jack cheeses and Italian meatballs, this is pretty much guaranteed to be the best meatball calzone you’ve ever tasted!
This post has been sponsored by Wewalka, however, as always, all opinions are my own. #ad #wewalka #bakeitbetter
Table of contents
We eat a lot of Italian (or Italian-American) meals in our house. Mr. Juggling Act comes from a long line of great Italian cooks and so we’re always making Homemade Tomato Sauce. My favorite though is when we also have extra Homemade Italian Meatballs. This meatball calzone is a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Plus, it is a great way to use leftover sauce and meatballs.
What is in a calzone?
Calzones are usually stuffed with cheese and may have vegetables or meat. Mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan cheese are all popular. Salami, ground beef and pepperoni are also common in calzones. Today I am showing you how I made Meatball Calzones. They’re SO good!
Homemade Meatballs
Making your own meatballs is easy! We like making a big batch (about 2lbs of beef and pork) and freezing some for later. It’s a great once a month cooking recipe.
To make your own meatballs from our family recipe, you will need dried basil, granulated garlic, and dried parsley as well as salt and pepper from your pantry. In addition, you will also need:
- ground beef
- ground pork
- bread crumbs
- grated Parmesan cheese
How to Make Homemade Italian Meatballs
If you are short on time and want to use frozen meatballs, that’s totally fine! Be sure your meatballs are thawed before you use them for the calzones. Here is how we make our meatballs:
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well, but don’t overmix. (Mr. Juggling Act uses his hands to mix.)
- The mixture will feel a little like bread dough that needs more flour. If the mixture feels too thick and dense, you can add a splash of water.
- Roll the meat mixture into 2″ balls.
- After that, roll them gently between your palms until they just come together. (Do not overwork the meatballs.)
- Arrange the meatballs on a large rimmed baking tray.
- Add about 1/2-inch of water to the tray to prevent the meatballs from sticking or burning.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for about 35-40 minutes, or until meatballs are browned. (You do not need to turn the meatballs while baking).
If you are short on time, you can absolutely use store-bought meatballs and tomato sauce!
Meatball Calzone Shopping List
This recipe starts with Wewalka Bistro Pizza Dough which is part of what makes it SO super easy! You’ll find it in the refrigerator section of your grocery store near pie crust.
- Wewalka Bistro Pizza Dough
- mozzarella and Colby Jack cheeses
- tomato sauce
- dried basil and dried parsley
- granulated garlic
- grated Parmesan cheese
- Italian meatballs (I use the homemade ones above when I have them, but store bought will work also)
You will also need 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 teaspoon fresh garlic and dried basil and dried parsley to brush onto the top of the calzone.
Why I use Wewalka Dough
I love using the Wewalka dough for pizza and calzones because they’re super easy to work with and tastes fabulous! The Bistro Pizza Dough is thin and crispy. For a more traditional crust, use Classic Pizza Dough, which is a little thicker.
Tips for Using Wewalka Dough
Wewalka Dough comes rolled with parchment paper to which makes it super simple to handle. Here are some other tips:
- Don’t let the dough sit on the countertop for too long; handling it is much easier right out of the refrigerator.
- Unroll and keep the dough on the parchment paper while baking. I trim the edges parchment so it doesn’t hang off the baking sheet.
- Note: this paper is oven safe up to 500°F.
For a list of some of my favorite items to use when cooking and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.
How to Make a Meatball Calzone
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Whether you’re using homemade meatballs or store bought, they need to be thawed. Cut each meatball into quarters and toss with about 1/4 cup of sauce.
- Unroll the Wewalka Bistro Pizza dough onto a baking sheet – keep the parchment under the dough – it’s oven safe.
- Add 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce on half of the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch around the edge.
- Next, sprinkle the granulated garlic over the tomato sauce.
- Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese on top of the sauce and then place the quartered meatballs on top.
- Add an additional tablespoon of tomato sauce onto the meatballs and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Use the parchment paper to help fold the dough on top and then crimp the edges tightly with your fingers or a fork, similar to pie dough.
- In a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic. Melt the butter in the microwave.
- Add 1/8 teaspoon each of dried basil and dried parsley to the melted butter and mix.
- After that, use a pastry brush to spread the butter mixture over the entire top of the calzone.
- Sprinkle the top with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the calzone for 12-15 minutes at 425°F until the top is golden brown. You’ll know it’s done if you lightly rap on the top of the calzone with a spoon and it sounds hollow.
- Remove from the oven and let the calzone rest for 3-4 minute before slicing.
- Serve with warm tomato sauce for dipping.
How to Freeze a Calzone
If you love once a week or once a month cooking, calzones are a great way to go! You can make several very quickly for those busy nights when you don’t have time to prep and cook. When I plan ahead and can just pull a dinner out of the freezer after soccer practice or a PTA meeting, life is so much more simple.
- Follow the instructions for making the calzone but do not brush with the butter mixture.
- Place the calzone with the parchment paper on top a large sheet of plastic wrap. Tightly wrap the entire calzone.
- After that, put the wrapped calzone into a freezer bag (if you are making several, they can be frozen together in the same bag, but be sure to wrap each individually.)
- TIP: Be sure to remove as much air as possible.
- Meatball calzones will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months – be sure to label it and add the baking instructions.
- To bake from frozen, preheat the oven to 400°F , carefully unwrap and place on the baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes until heated through.
I always have a couple frozen meals on hand for friends and family that might have a new baby or are not feeling well. These are perfect! Everyone appreciates a home-cooked meal they don’t have to cook.
(Check out my busy Moms Survival Guide for more tips!)
What to serve with Meatball Calzones
Recipe Variations
There are so many ways to make these calzones your own. Here are a couple of ideas:
- For extra flavor, add 1/2 cup finely diced green peppers or onions inside the calzone.
- Use 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese in the calzone for a creamier filling.
Homemade Meatball Calzone Recipe
This easy meatball calzone starts with Wewalka Bistro Pizza Dough. It’s an easy recipe the whole family will love any night of the week!
Not ready to make it yet? Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later.
When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures!
And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Homemade Meatball Calzones
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Equipment
- Knife
- Round pizza tray
Ingredients
To Make Homemade Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
For the Meatball Calzones
- 1 Wewalka Bistro Pizza Dough
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce – for the meatballs
- 6 large meatballs (if frozen, thaw first)
- 2 tablespoons tomato sauce – for the calzone
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced
- 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/8 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
For Serving
Instructions
For the Meatballs
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix really well. Mr. Juggling Act uses his hands to mix. If the mixture feels very dense, you can add a splash of water.
- Roll the meat mixture into 2″ balls. The mixture will feel a little like dough that needs more flour, more dense.
- TIP: Do not overwork the meatballs. Roll them gently between your palms until they just come together.
- Arrange the meatballs on a large baking tray. Add about 1/2-inch of water to the tray to prevent the meatballs from sticking or burning.
- Bake in a 350-degree F oven for about 35-40 minutes, or until meatballs are browned.
- If you wish to freeze some or all of the meatballs, wait until they are completely cooled. Place them in freezer bag and remove as much of the air as possible. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Cooked Meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
For the Calzone
- Preheat the oven to 425-degrees F.
- Whether you're using homemade meatballs or store bought, they need to be thawed. Cut each meatball into quarters and toss with about 1/4 cup of sauce.
- Unroll the Wewalka Bistro Pizza dough onto a baking sheet. Leave the parchment under the dough – it's oven safe.
- Add 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce on half of the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch around the edge.
- After that, sprinkle the granulated garlic over the tomato sauce.
- Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese on top of the sauce and then add the quartered meatballs.
- Add an additional tablespoon of tomato sauce onto the meatballs and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Use the parchment paper to help fold the dough on top and then crimp the edges tightly.
- In a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic.
- Melt the butter in the microwave.
- Add 1/8 teaspoon each of dried basil and dried parsley and stir.
- After that, use a pastry brush to brush the butter mixture over the entire top of the calzone.
- Sprinkle the top with grate Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the calzone for 12-15 minutes at 425-degrees F until the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the calzone rest for 3-4 minute before slicing.
- Serve with warm tomato sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Don’t let the dough it sit on the countertop for too long; handling it is much easier right out of the refrigerator.
- Unroll and keep the dough on the parchment paper while baking. I trim the edges so it doesn’t hang off the baking sheet.
- Note: this paper is oven safe up to 500°F.
- Preheat the oven to 200-degrees F.
- Place a piece of tinfoil onto a baking sheet and put the calzone pieces on top.
- Bake for 5-10 minutes until the calzone pieces are warmed through.
- Follow the instructions for making the calzone but do not brush with the butter mixture.
- Place the calzone with the parchment paper on top a large sheet of plastic wrap. Tightly wrap the entire calzone.
- After that, put the wrapped calzone into a freezer bag (if you are making several, they can be frozen together in the same bag, but be sure to wrap each individually.)
- Meatball calzones will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- To bake from frozen, preheat the oven to 400°F , carefully unwrap and place on the baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes until heated through.
YUM! We love meatballs around here and this recipe seems to take them to the next level! Adding it to our menu for the week! Thanks!
With all the sauce I have from my crazy abundant tomato crop this year I will definitely have to try this out!!!
I absolutely love the puff pastry that this company makes!! We use this exact brand all the time-you should see our fridge!!
Since I had everything in my fridge/freezer, I just made this all I had a time right now so we would have it ready to go after a crazy our crazy afternoon schedule. Delicious!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed this recipe Kacey! It’s totally a go-to for us.
Thanks so much for your sweet note 🙂
You have hit it out of the park with this! Homemade calzones are a favorite in our household-to both make and eat together. And Welwalka pizza dough is better than anything I’ve ever been able to make from scratch. Delish!
Thank you so much! Their dough is SO easy to work with right?!?
I love this meatball calzone! Wewalka is our go to pastry! So easy to make and it is just delicious!
I absolutely love the sound and look of this meal! I have been wanting to try the pizza crust from this company and now I have the perfect recipe to try it out… I also love Authentic meatball recipes passed down from generations of Italians! It might take a little longer to make, but sounds like it would be totally worth it! Thanks for the recipe Ang! I’ve added the ingredients to my shopping list already, can’t wait to give it a try!
Thank you so much for the sweet note! Yes, the homemade meatballs take longer but you’ll love having them in the freezer to pull out whenever 🙂
I hope you get to try this recipe very soon.
I love calzones! Pizza not so much, odd.
Gonna pin! Thanks
That dough makes this look so do-able! Thanks for sharing.
I made these calzones using frozen meatballs and they were really good. Thanks foe the recipe 🙂