Sausage and spinach calzones are a satisfying, handheld meal that combines savory sausage, fresh spinach, and melty cheese, all wrapped in a warm, golden-brown pizza dough. These calzones are the perfect way to enjoy the classic flavors of pizza in a portable, easy-to-eat form. Whether you’re serving them for dinner, a casual gathering, or as a delicious snack, they are sure to be a hit.
To start, the filling is made by browning ground sausage in a skillet until it’s fully cooked and crispy on the edges. The sausage provides a rich, savory flavor that pairs wonderfully with the mild, earthy taste of fresh spinach. The spinach is lightly sautéed with garlic until it wilts down, keeping its vibrant color and fresh flavor. Once the spinach is cooked, it’s combined with the sausage, along with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning. You can also add ricotta cheese for extra creaminess, or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
The pizza dough is rolled out into individual rounds, and a spoonful of the sausage and spinach mixture is placed in the center of each. The dough is then folded over to create a half-moon shape, and the edges are sealed tightly to keep the filling inside while it bakes. For an extra touch, the calzones can be brushed with olive oil or melted butter before baking, which helps them turn golden and crispy.
The calzones are baked in the oven until the dough is perfectly browned, and the filling is hot and bubbly. The result is a crispy, savory pocket filled with a delicious combination of sausage, spinach, and melted cheese – all wrapped in a soft, chewy crust.
Sausage and spinach calzones are incredibly versatile. You can swap the sausage for pepperoni, chicken, or even vegetarian fillings like mushrooms or peppers. Serve them with a side of marinara sauce for dipping, and you have a complete, satisfying meal. Whether enjoyed fresh out of the oven or reheated the next day, these calzones make for a delightful, comforting meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage casing removed
- 1 cup spinach fresh, chopped
- 1 pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 egg beaten, for egg wash
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Roll out the pizza dough into a large circle. Spread ricotta cheese on half of the dough, leaving an edge for sealing.
- Top with cooked sausage, spinach, and mozzarella cheese.
- Fold the dough over the filling and seal the edges by pressing with a fork.
- Brush the top of the calzone with the beaten egg.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving.
These calzones are a game changer! The combination of sausage and spinach is simply delicious. Will make again for sure!
I don’t know, it sounds easy, but mine turned out super mushy. Maybe I used too much cheese? Not sure if I’ll try again.
I think maybe you just put in too much cheese! Try using less next time. They’re really good when they’re not overstuffed.
Mushy calzones? Ugh, that’s the worst! Maybe try baking longer or at a higher temp? Just a thought!
Good recipe but where’s the garlic? Sausage needs more flavor! Can’t believe anyone would say it’s perfect. 🤷♂️
Garlic would definitely amp up the flavor! I always add some minced garlic when cooking sausage. It’s a game-changer! 🌟
Totally gross! My dough didn’t cook right, and the insides were a mess. Never again! 1 star.
Calzones = love. These were perfect. Will make again for sure!
I dunno, looks good but I’m not a fan of sausage. Maybe try with chicken?
These calzones are the best! I added some sun-dried tomatoes too. Yum!
Calzones or pizza, it’s all dough, right? LOL. They needs sauce on the side for dipping.
It blinked on me! 😂 I added some mushrooms too because why not? Tasted good!
Mushrooms are a great addition! I love experimenting with different toppings. Glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Blinked? What does that even mean? And mushrooms in calzones? That’s a bit weird, don’t you think? 😒
These calzones are absolutely delicious! I added some garlic for extra flavor.
These calzones are amazing! The sausage and spinach combo is delicious. Will definitely make again!
These were good but I think I prefer my calzones with pepperoni. 🍕
These calzones are absolutely delicious! My family loved them. Definitely making again!
I didn’t have ricotta, so I used cream cheese. They were ok, but I think ricotta would be way better. 3 stars.
These calzones are amazing! I made them for my family and everyone loved them! 😊
Honestly, I don’t think sausage and spinach go together at all. I’ll stick to pepperoni, thanks.
Pepperoni is good, but maybe give this a chance? You might be surprised! Just sayin’!
I totally disagree! Sausage and spinach are a great combo! Have you tried it? It’s delish! 🍕
Yummy and fun to make! Everyone in my fam liked it, even the picky ones 😊.
Looks good, but my family doesn’t like spinach. Can I just leave it out? 🤔
I made these last weekend and my kids went crazy for them! Great recipe, thanks for sharing! 👍
I ain’t never cooked with spinach before, but turned out pretty good! Maybe less cheese next time?
Less cheese? Nah, that’s where the yum is! 😂 Spinach is good for ya anyway, don’t skimp on it!
Glad to hear it turned out good! Spinach can be tricky, but it adds a nice flavor. Less cheese? Maybe try half an amount next time. 🤔
Real delicious! A bit time consuming, but worth it!
I totally agree! These calzones are worth every minute spent! Sooo good!
I was skeptical about using store-bought dough but it turned out great. I added some garlic powder for extra flavor, and it was yum! 4 stars.
I don’t like spinach, so I am not gonna try this. Maybe with something else?
Are calzones supposed to be this oily? Mine looked like a greasy blob.
I’ve made calzones before and they can definitely get greasy if there’s too much filling or oil. Try draining more fat next time!
Too greasy for my taste. I wish there were a healthier version.
My kids didn’t like them, said they taste weird. I thought they were yummy though?!
The recipe said to bake at 400, but mine turned out burnt at that temp. Something’s wrong here!
I had the same issue! I think my oven runs hot. Maybe try 375 next time? It could help.
Yummy! 🙂 Easy recipe, will make again when I want somethin quick.
My dough didn’t rise, are you sure about the times? It was flat as a pancake! 😒
Maybe you forgot to add yeast? Or didn’t knead it enough? Just saying, pizza dough needs some love to puff up! 🤔
I had the same issue! I think it might be the dough. If it’s too cold or old, it won’t rise properly. Try letting it sit at room temp longer next time! 😊
I don’t get why you would use ricotta in calzones. Isn’t it supposed to be just mozzarella? 🤔
These calzones were amazing! Absolutely loved them!
These calzones are da best! My kids lovd it, I make it often.
I’m glad your kids loved it! These calzones are so much fun to make together. Did you add anything special to yours?
I mean, they look great and all, but are they really the best? I feel like some people just say that. What if they don’t like spinach?
I tried making these but my dough was too sticky and the filling spilled out. Not great!
Too much cheese for my liking. Next time I’ll cut back on it.
Sausage and spinach combo? Never thought it could be this good! Thanks for sharing!
I know right? It’s a great combo! The spinach really balances the sausage flavor. Glad you liked it!
I tried making these but ended up with a mess. Dough wouldn’t roll out right. Might need more practice.
Sausage is too greasy, I won’t make these again. Ground turkey might work better.
I get it! Sausage can be super greasy sometimes. Turkey is a good alternative! I’ve used it before and they turned out great!
I don’t know about this recipe, seems a bit too complicated. Why not just order pizza?
Calzones good. I like. Easy cook! Thank you.
I followed the recipe but my calzones fell apart! Need better sealing tips.
I wasn’t sure about using ricotta, but it made the calzone super creamy. Yum!
Ricotta really is a game changer! It gives such a nice texture, I never would have thought of using it in calzones before. Will definitely try this! 😋
I’m not so sure about ricotta in calzones. Isn’t mozzarella enough? Seems kinda weird to me. 🤔
This recipe is super easy and tastes amazing! I added some garlic powder for extra flavor.
These calzones are amazing! I made them for my family, and they disappeared in minutes. Definitely a 5-star recipe!
Can I use other cheese instead of ricotta? I ain’t never tried that before. Looks good tho.
Calzones? Aren’t those just pasties? I don’t see the appeal. 🤷♂️
Pasties? Nah, not really the same. Calzones got cheese and meat, pasties are like vegetable pies, right? 🤔
I mean, calzones are a bit different from pasties! They’re more like pizza pockets. So good! 👍
Sausage and spinach? Sounds weird. I tried it though, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought but still not my fave. 2 stars.
Yesss, my favorite! I love how easy this is, perfect for a weeknight meal.
I tried this recipe last night and my family loved it! So easy to make and delicious. Thank you!
Good recipe, but next time I’ll use less ricotta. It was a bit too creamy for my taste.
I think calzones are just overstuffed pizza. This one was alright but nothing special.
I added some garlic to the sausage and it made such a difference! Really tasty.
This is a quick and easy dinner! Will definitely make again. Simple to follow.
Spinach is healthy but I don’t like it. Maybe try with broccoli instead?
I used leftover chicken instead of sausage. Tasted ok but not the same. Still liked it tho!
Calzones? Thought they were just pizza pockets. But these were really good, kinda fancy even! 4 stars.
Just made these! They make me feel like an Italian chef! So proud 😍
First time making calzones and wow! So much easier than I thought. Great recipe!
Just okay, needed more seasoning. Maybe some oregano or something?
This was a disaster! The dough wouldn’t roll out right and the filling leaked everywhere. 👎
My kids enjoyed helping with the dough! It was fun but I burnt them a little. Oops!
Sausage? Spinach? I dunno what y’all are raving about, but I prefer pepperoni. Just sayin’.
My kids loved them! Super easy to make and they didn’t even notice the spinach. Yay for sneaky veggies!
These calzones turned out amazing, my whole family loved them! Will definitely make again.
Super easy to make! My kids devoured them in minutes. Will definitely make again!
These calzones are fantastic! My family loved them. Easy to make and delicious!
Too much spinach. I like green stuff but this was like a salad inside bread!
I disagree! I think the spinach is what makes it healthy and delicious! You gotta try it with a bit more cheese next time!
Took longer to bake than the recipe said, but still turned out tasty! 😋
Wow, these are like pizza pockets!! Yum! 🍕
Not sure if I did it right, but the dough was tough…maybe I overcooked it? 🤔
It sounds like you might have overworked the dough or rolled it too thin. Don’t worry, it happens! Next time try to handle it gently. 😊