You’ll be parent of the year when you send your kids back to school with mini pepperoni calzones. They’re easy to make in bulk and freeze.
Back-to-school season is approaching — some families are already in full swing, while others wait until after Labor Day. In our household, school starts the Wednesday after Labor Day, and this fall my son will begin preschool. It’s a daycare program that provides lunch and two snacks, so I won’t be packing elaborate lunches every day. As much as I love the idea of cute Bento boxes, our mornings are hectic: I get up before sunrise, dress quietly so I don’t wake my fiancé, walk the dogs early to avoid run-ins with other dogs, then pack my own lunch and rush out the door. Preparing complex lunches just doesn’t fit into that routine.
I remember my own school lunches as pretty repetitive. Without a cafeteria or access to a refrigerator or microwave, options were limited. I avoided deli meat sandwiches and grew tired of peanut butter and jelly. For a long stretch I ate those prepackaged lunch kits with crackers and small slices of turkey and cheese. A few mini pepperoni calzones in my lunchbox would have felt like a real treat.
Mini pepperoni calzones make a great school lunch because they’re portable, customizable, and freezer-friendly. Warm them in the morning and pack in an insulated thermos with boiling water to keep them warm until lunchtime. You can change the filling to suit tastes: swap pepperoni for sautéed bell peppers, mushrooms, or sausage; use pesto instead of pizza sauce; try provolone, seasoned ricotta, or a different cheese in place of mozzarella. Pack one or two for younger kids, and add more as they grow.
Mini Pepperoni Calzones
10 mini calzones
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
- ½ cup pizza sauce, plus more for dipping
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 oz sliced pepperoni, cut into quarters
Instructions
- Divide the pizza dough into 10 pieces, about 1½ ounces each. Roll into balls and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Flatten each ball into a small disc and gently stretch into a mini crust.
- Spread about a scant tablespoon of pizza sauce on each circle, leaving a ¼-inch border. Top with 4–5 quartered pepperoni pieces and a small pinch of mozzarella.
- Fold each circle in half and firmly pinch the edges to seal.
- Place calzones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake about 15 minutes, until golden brown.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
- Mini calzones freeze well for up to a month — freeze baked or unbaked, then reheat before serving.
Did you love this recipe?
Leave a star rating and share your thoughts.
Recipe by The Redhead Baker
Getting Started On School Days
- Caramel Apple Granola by What Smells So Good?
- Cinnamon Chocolate Overnight Oats by Whole Food | Real Families
- Funfetti French Toast by Brunch with Joy
- PB&J Muffins by Sew You Think You Can Cook
Ideas for the Lunchbox
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich by Cooking Chat
- Healthy Lunchbox Snack Mix by Noshing with the Nolands
- Mini Pepperoni Calzones by The Redhead Baker
- Turkey Bacon Ranch Wrap by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls by Curious Cuisiniere
After School Snacks and Beverages
- Back to School Cookies by The Freshman Cook
- Fruit ‘n Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bites by The Weekend Gourmet
- Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits by An Appealing Plan
- Mother’s Ruin Punch by Food Lust People Love
- “Nut Butter” Rice Crispy Balls by Books n’ Cooks
- Parmesan Crisps Recipe by Life Tastes Good
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Monkey Bread by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Apple Nachos by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Waffle Pizzas by Our Good Life
School Night Suppers
- One Pot Bacon-Cheeseburger Pasta by A Gouda Life
- Oven Fried Portabello Mushroom Fries by Food Done Light
- Peanut Chicken Cutlets by Magnolia Days
- Smoked Salmon Ravioli with Cream Sauce by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Turmeric Chicken and Couscous by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Sweets to End the Day
- Gluten-Free Almond Joy Cupcakes by NinjaBaker
- M&M Chocolate Chunk Cookies by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
- Oreo Rice Krispy Treats by The Crumby Cupcake
- Paleo Cherry Blondies by Pies and Plots
- Plum Crumble Bars by Feeding Big
- Stuffed Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
