Deep-Dish Pan Calzones are a stuffed pizza recipe using a large thin pizza dough that literally wraps your favorite pizza toppings in dough in a 13x9 pan. We are pizza lovers. I am a crust lover. However, I do not have time to make homemade pie crust. I do not always want cardboard pizza and who do you think delivers to the middle of nowhere? So, I developed my own pizza dish that I call deep-dish pan calzone for lack of better name but basically stuffed pizza.
Now, this again is one of those recipes that can be doctored to meet your needs and likings. Normally this is a great dish to make when you are feeding a crowd. I make a jelly roll pan size calzone most of the time. But the other night I knew there was no need for enough calzone to feed the entire neighborhood. So, I experimented with my calzone making.
Calzone Ingredients
The ingredients for deep-dish pan calzones are just like the ingredients for a pizza. It is just a stuffed pizza with the toppings filling in between the dough.
Here are the ingredients I used to make this pan of calzones:
- Pizza Crust - Refrigerator Thin Crust
- Pizza Sauce
- Diced Tomatoes
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Sausage
- Ham or Bacon
- Pepperoni
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Garlic Powder
- Olive Oil Parmesan Cheese
Yeah, I use pizza sauce and petite diced tomatoes in my calzones because I like a chunky sauce. Sometimes I even use a chunky spaghetti sauce.
How to Make Deep-Dish Pan Calzones
I brown up the sausage and make sure it is tiny pieces thanks to my pampered chef mix and mash. Feel free to throw in onion and garlic if you so desire. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
Then I prep my pan. Now, I am making this calzone in my metal 9 x 13 pan rather than my stone jelly roll. The key to a good crust for me is in the crispiness. So I start by pouring some olive oil in the bottom of the pan and sprinkling a generous amount of garlic powder on top.
Then, I grab a paper towel and spread the oil and garlic powder all over the bottom and sides of the pan.
Then I grab my tube of Pillsbury thin crust piece dough. Normally I would put the entire crust on the bottom of a jelly roll pan and use an additional tube for the top of the calzone. But this time, I use just one tube. Spread it out in the pan with half hanging over the edge to flip over wants it was filled with my pizza stuffing.
Once the sausage was browned, I drained the fat off and got the rest of my stuffings ready. I roughly chopped some pepperoni.
Tossed it in the skillet right on top of the sausage.
Then did the same with some mushrooms and onions. I really like the taste of onion, so I tend to wait till now to throw in the onion. Gives it a stronger raw onion flavor.
Then I poured in the pizza sauce.
Followed by the tomatoes. Now, remember to drain the water off of the tomatoes. Someone might have forgotten to do that very important step. Not sure who, but I heard someone did. Then, also add in a few pinches of oregano and some salt and pepper.
While your stuffings simmer a few minutes, grab a two cup package of shredded mozzarella. Sprinkle half on the bottom crust.
Once the fillings are thoroughly heated, it is time to start filling your calzone.
I use a slotted spoon to transfer the filling from the skillet to the crust. You don't want too much liquid in the mixture. It makes the crust more doughy and harder to get done.
Finally, once you have the filling all piled onto the crust, finish off by sprinkling the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
Then fold the remaining half of crust over the top of the filling.
I sprinkled the top with garlic powder. But, I have an obsession with garlic. Put into a 400-degree oven for 20 minutes or until the top is done to your liking.
I let it sit about 10 minutes to cool slighting before cutting and serving.
Tasty, quick dinner. Deep dish pan calzones are always a family pleaser.
Pizza Recipes
If pizza-inspired recipes are what you are looking for, then I have plenty of nontraditional pizza recipes for you.
📖 Recipe
Deep-Dish Pan Calzones - Stuffed Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 thin crust refrigerator pizza dough
- 1 pound ground sausage or ground beef
- 1 cup ham pepperoni, bacon or combination of the three
- 4 ounces fresh or canned mushrooms sliced (optional)
- 1 onion diced (Optional)
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1.5 cups pizza sauce
- 1, 15 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes drained
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1-2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Olive Oil
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown ground sausage, onions, and garlic. Drain grease and return to the skillet
- Mix in the cup of extra meats and mushrooms into the meat.
- Pour pizza sauce and diced tomatoes over the meat and veggies. Stir in the oregano. Let simmer for five minutes.
- Prepare the pan by spreading olive oil on the bottom. When coated, sprinkle with garlic powder.
- Lay the pizza dough in pan so the length of the pizza dough goes across the width of the pan. This allows for half the dough to be hanging over the side. Sprinkle with one cup of the shredded mozzarella.
- On top of the dough put the meat and sauce mixture. Top with the remaining cup of shredded mozzarella.
- Fold the remaining half of the dough over the top of the meat mixture to seal the dough over the top.
- Spread olive oil over the top of the dough and sprinkle with garlic powder. I also sometimems sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes on 400 degrees or the crust is golden brown.
Nutrition
So, what do you have cooking this week?
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Farmchick
I have not made this before and it looks great!
Katie
I can't wait to try this Leah! I have never made it but will for sure on Thursday night when I am home for a meaty meal to prepare. I just linked up with Honey Cashew Chicken Stir Fry. Love Hunk of Meat Mondays!
katie
Miz Helen
Hi Leah,
We love Calzones and love your recipe, I am giving it a try. Thank you for hosting and have a great week!
Marcia
Great recipe! Keep bringin' it! That looks delicious and my husband orders calzones when we eat out; now I can surprise him with them at home. 🙂
lou
Looks yummy! Can't wait to try this recipe out!
The Wife of a Dairyman
That calzone looks delicious! I just linked up for my 1st time....hope I did it correctly! Great post, Leah:)
Kristen
My family would totally enjoy this meal. Thanks for sharing.
cheryl@scrapaddict4sure
Wow I am definitely making this my kids love this
meat , bread and pizza food and thanks for the
step by step pictures it looks easier to make than I thought . Please stop by and link this recipe
with me I think my followers would love it,too
Jacqui'
This looks soooo yummy!!!!!!!!
CityGirlChic
Wow you made this look so simple! Hopping over via FTLOB! Happy Blogging!
Trisha
Yummy stuff ... i love how you simply cut this and serve!
carolinaheartstrings
This looks so wonderful. I cannot wait to try it.
April @ The 21st Century Housewife
This looks like a real treat - and great for a busy evening too. Thank you for sharing it with The Hearth and Soul Blog Hop!
Dan
The Calzone looks delicious! I've seen similar with the tomato sauce omitted and poured on top when serving.
apple blossom
I just made this for lunch. Oh, it was yummy!! I made a three meat one.