Air Fryer Calzones

These air fryer calzones are stuffed with melted cheese and juicy pepperoni. Made in under 10 minutes in most air fryers, they are perfect for weeknight dinners or fun appetizers! Air fryer calzones are one of the most kid-friendly meals out there. Instead of leaning on greasy, store bought frozen pizza or waiting on the delivery man, I often whip these up when my kids have friends over or for family movie nights. I love how crispy they get on the outside without the need for a ton of oil. Plus, they’re just so fun to eat and dip into different sauces! Before you get started, it’s important to note that you’ll need pizza dough to make these calzones. Use my recipe for homemade pizza dough recipe or grab a premade, store bought variety. Traditional calzones are oven-baked, folded pizza pockets that are stuffed with an assortment of meats, cheeses, and veggies. In this recipe, we nix the need for the oven and will cook them in an air fryer. This significantly cuts down on cooking time and requires minimal clean-up.

Below, find a rundown of the flavor, texture, and cooking time for these crazy easy air fryer calzones.
➺ Flavor: The flavor of these calzones is almost near identical to traditional pepperoni pizza. It’s cheesy and full of tomato sauce and salty pepperoni. The biggest difference is that the pizza dough is much more flavor-forward because there’s simply more of it than in a classic slice.
➺ Texture: These calzones feature a super crispy outer crust and a gooey center of pepperoni, cheese, and pizza sauce.
➺ Time: The cooking time will vary depending on whether you’re using homemade or store bought pizza dough. But once you have the dough in order, it only takes 20 minutes of prep and cook time to pull the calzones together.

Different Fillings – Although this recipe calls for a basic combination of pepperoni and cheese, use whatever fillings your craving. Below, find a couple of winning combinations to get you inspiration:
➺ Shredded rotisserie chicken, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, and white sauce
➺ Baby spinach leaves, sautéed bell peppers, red sauce, and ricotta cheese
➺ Shredded rotisserie chicken, red onion, BBQ sauce, green onions, and mozzarella cheese
➺ Heirloom tomatoes, basil, red sauce, and mozzarella balls
➺ Ham, pineapple, jalapeños, mozzarella cheese, and red sauce

Tasty Dips & Sauces for Calzones – Whether you’re looking for a tasty dip for your calzone or a sauce for the inside, here are some great suggestions to play around with:
➺ Alfredo Sauce – Creamy, cheesy, and perfect for calzones with chicken
➺ Marinara Sauce – Classic red sauce that fits well with just about any cured meats or veggies
➺ BBQ Sauce – Tangy, sweet, and perfect for BBQ chicken pizzas
➺ Chimichurri Sauce – Herby, citrusy, and perfect for dipping most calzones into
➺ Ranch Dressing – Tangy, creamy, and everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure to dip pizza into

3 Tips for Making Air Fryer Calzones – Here you’ll find a handful of pro tips to help you nail this air fryer calzones recipe.
➺ Leave the edges sauce-free. Make sure you leave space at the edge of each calzone for folding. If you spread sauce all the way to the side, it will make it hard to seal the calzone.
➺ Seal the calzones with a fork. Use a fork to seal the edges of the calzone. Press down firmly, but not hard enough to cut through the edges of the dough.
➺ Don’t overcrowd the calzones. The key to air frying is to not overcrowd the food in the basket. You’ll want to make sure there isa bit of space between each calzone so each can crisp up nicely. You will likely have to work in batches, but it’s well worth the wait!

FAQs:
Q: What is inside a calzone?
A: Calzones are filled with an assortment of toppings you would use on a standard pizza. These include cured and fresh meats, cheeses, veggies, and sauces.
Q: Can you freeze calzones?
A: Yes, calzones are great for freezing and meal prep. Freeze them raw or cooked by placing them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer. Pop the baking sheet in the freezer uncovered. Once completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 month.
Q: How long does a calzone last in the fridge?
A: Calzones will last for up to a week when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Q: How long does it take to cook a calzone in the air fryer?
A: It takes anywhere from 7-10 minutes to cook a calzone in the air fryer. The time will vary according to your particular air fryer model.
Q: Do you use regular pizza dough for calzones?
A: Yes, you use regular pizza dough for calzones. To cut down on prep time, pick up a premade store bought dough.

Ingredients:
1 lb pizza dough
½ cup pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella
4 oz pepperoni

Instructions:
Split the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Using your hands, roll out each dough piece into a pizza shape. Using a ladle or spoon, spread the sauce on half of the dough, making sure to leave the edges clean. Top the sauce with a layer of cheese, followed by a layer of pepperoni and another layer of cheese. Fold over the clean side of the dough to create a half-circle shape. Crimp the edges with your fingers to seal the filling inside. Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the calzone into the basket. Air fry the calzones in batches for 7-10 minutes at 375°F, turning them over halfway through. Once they turn golden brown, they are ready. Enjoy!

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