By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 4, 2026
Serves 4
312 cal · 40 min
Pesto Chicken Calzone
Recipe GLPR547c5c2e188c1b
A warm, golden-baked Italian calzone filled with tender shredded chicken, creamy mozzarella cheese, and vibrant fresh basil pesto. This pocket-style pastry is a hearty main course perfect for lunch or dinner, featuring a crispy exterior and savory herb-infused filling.
Save recipes you love
Create a free Grocery List Plus account to save recipes, rate them, and add every ingredient to your grocery list in one tap.
Ingredients
1 pound All-purpose pizza dough (about 1 pound)
1 cup Cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
½ cup Fresh basil pesto
1 cup Whole milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup Ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons Olive oil for brushing
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the pizza dough into four equal portions. Shape each portion into a 6-inch round.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cooked chicken, fresh basil pesto, shredded mozzarella cheese, and ricotta cheese. Mix gently until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Spoon approximately 1/4 of the filling mixture onto one half of each dough round, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges for sealing.
Fold each dough round in half over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Using a fork, press and seal the edges firmly to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
Transfer the sealed calzones to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the top of each calzone lightly with olive oil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, until the calzone exterior is golden brown and crispy. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) if measured with a meat thermometer.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving. Serve warm as a main course.
Comments
This delivers solid weeknight payoff with ingredients that Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and Walmart stock reliably—no special stops needed. Budget around $2.50 to $3.00 per serving depending on whether you use store-bought dough and pre-made pesto, both of which are available everywhere and ease the actual work. The stated 40 minutes ignores prep and assembly; expect closer to 50–55 minutes with rising time for dough, though using refrigerated pizza dough cuts that meaningfully. The calzone itself reheats well for next-day lunch and holds together without fussiness, making it genuinely family-friendly for a weeknight, though constant oven attention is not required.
Sign in or create a free account to add your review.
