Cody Casey
Air fryer calzones are a quick, easy, and delicious meal or snack. They are a great alternative to pizza night, especially when everyone in the house prefers different pizza toppings. You can make calzones with pizza dough, either homemade or store-bought, and fill them with your favourite pizza toppings. The calzones are then cooked in an air fryer, which cuts down on cooking time and requires minimal clean-up. The result is a crispy, golden, and flaky crust filled with gooey cheese and toppings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Pizza dough, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, cured meats, fresh meats, veggies, seasonings |
| Preparation | Roll out dough, cut into circles, fill with sauce and toppings, fold dough, seal edges with a fork |
| Cooking Time | 7-12 minutes at 350-375°F |
| Cooking Method | Preheat air fryer, coat basket with cooking spray, place calzones in a single layer, cook until golden brown |
| Serving Suggestions | Serve with warm marinara sauce or other dipping sauces |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your dough
Choosing the right dough is an important step in making calzones in an air fryer. You can either make the dough yourself or buy it pre-made.
If you are making the dough from scratch, you will need to add an extra hour to the prep time. Homemade dough can be trickier to work with as it tends to be thinner and more difficult to manipulate. It is also more likely to tear and leak during the cooking process. To avoid this, make sure you follow a good recipe and allow the dough to rest before rolling it out.
If you are short on time or want a more consistent result, you can use store-bought dough. This is often thicker and easier to work with. You can find pre-made pizza dough in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores, usually in long slender tubes. Trader Joe's is one brand that has been recommended for its refrigerated pizza dough. You can also use puff pastry, which can be found in the freezer section of your grocery store.
Once you have your dough, roll it out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch on a lightly floured surface. You can use a rolling pin or a wine bottle if you don't have one. Cut the dough into circles that are about 9 inches in diameter. A large biscuit cutter or cookie cutter can help you get a perfect circle. You can also trim off any excess dough with a knife or scissors to ensure your calzone fits in your air fryer.
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Filling options
Calzones are usually filled with an assortment of meats, cheeses, and vegetables, similar to pizza toppings. The classic calzone filling is ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and pepperoni. However, you can use whatever fillings you like best. Here are some ideas for filling options:
Classic Calzone
The classic calzone is filled with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and pepperoni. You can also add other types of cured meats such as ham, prosciutto, or sausage. Vegetables such as peppers, onions, and mushrooms can also be added.
Vegetarian Calzone
For a vegetarian option, you can fill your calzone with pesto, squash or zucchini, ricotta, and cheese. You can also add vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, or eggplant.
Barbecue Chicken Calzone
If you're looking for something a little different, try a barbecue chicken calzone. This calzone is filled with shredded chicken, barbecue sauce, and cheese. You can also add smoky spices and bacon for extra flavor.
Buffalo Chicken Calzone
This calzone is filled with shredded chicken, hot sauce, and cheese. If you don't like hot sauce, you can replace it with ketchup or omit it altogether. Serve it with ranch, blue cheese sauce, or marinara sauce for dipping.
Bacon Mushroom Calzone
A bacon mushroom calzone is a perfect blend of savory and sweet. Fill your calzone with bacon, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, olives, and anchovies. Serve it with marinara sauce for a delicious and impressive meal.
Pinwheel Italian Calzone
This calzone is filled with pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and mushrooms. You can also add other ingredients such as sausage, peppers, or onions. Pre-cook the filling so that it's not too runny when you bake the calzones.
Creative Options
You can also get creative with your calzone fillings. Some options include green peppers, spinach, kale, squash, zucchini, bacon, anchovies, and olives. You can also add different types of cheese such as provolone, vegetarian cheese, or parmesan.
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Sealing the calzone
Before folding the dough, you can dip your finger in water and run your damp fingertip along the inside edge of the dough circle. This will help the two sheets of pizza crust stick together. You could also use an egg wash for this step, but water is a simpler option and works just as well.
If your calzone edges are still not sealing, you can add a small amount of water to help the dough stick together.
Some people prefer to seal their calzones by rolling the bottom dough over the top dough and pinching it with their fingers. This method creates a fancier-looking seal.
It is also important to leave space at the edge of each calzone for folding. If you spread sauce all the way to the edge, it will be harder to seal the calzone.
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature for calzones in an air fryer will depend on the number of calzones you are cooking, the type of dough you are using, and the size of your air fryer.
If you are using homemade dough, it is recommended to add an extra hour to the prep time, as the dough should be brought to room temperature before rolling. It is also important to note that the dough should be rolled out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch. If you are using store-bought dough, take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before assembling your calzones.
When cooking, it is best to place 1-2 calzones in the air fryer, ensuring they are spaced about 1/2 inch apart. The calzones should be cooked at a temperature between 350°F and 375°F for 7-12 minutes. If you are cooking more than two calzones, you may need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
For best results, preheat your air fryer with the cooking surface inside, and coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray before placing the calzones inside. This will help to ensure that the dough sets up properly and reduces the chances of leaking.
Additionally, it is recommended to flip the calzones halfway through the cooking process and brush the tops with garlic butter, parmesan, and Italian seasoning for extra flavor. The calzones are done when they are golden brown.
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Reheating and storing
Calzones are great for freezing and meal prep. To freeze them, place the raw or cooked calzones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer. Once they are completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
To reheat frozen calzones, first coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Then, place the calzones into the tray and cook them for 7-10 minutes at 375°F, flipping them halfway through. You can also reheat them in the air fryer if they are just leftovers. Place them in the air fryer basket coated with cooking spray and heat for 3-5 minutes at 375°F.
If you prefer to use the oven for reheating, bake on a baking sheet at 435°F for 15-20 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need pizza dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings of your choice.
You can make the dough yourself or buy it from the store. If you are making it yourself, roll the dough into a large rectangle and use a biscuit cutter to cut out circles. If you are buying it, take the dough out of the fridge about 30 minutes before assembling your calzones.
You can use any pizza toppings you like. Popular options include pepperoni, sausage, vegetables, and different types of cheese.
Spread sauce on one half of the dough, leaving space at the edge. Top with cheese and your desired toppings. Fold the dough in half and seal the edges with a fork.
Preheat your air fryer to 350-375°F. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or coat it with cooking spray. Place the calzones inside, making sure they don't touch each other, and air fry for 7-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
