These air fryer mini calzones are a great way to turn a few simple pizza ingredients into a hand-held, snackable version (without waiting for the oven to heat up)!
The pizza dough cooks great in the air fryer while the fillings – mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and a little sauce – get hot and melty.
They’re fun to make, customizable, and perfect for when that pizza craving hits. I really like pizza, and these are great as an on-the-go snack and popular with kids, too.
Ingredients
- Pizza dough – Either homemade or store-bought. It needs to be fully thawed.
- Pizza sauce – Either store-bought pizza sauce or a mix of crushed tomatoes or passata and oregano or Italian seasoning.
- Mozzarella cheese – We use shredded mozzarella, but you can also make this recipe with sliced, fresh mozzarella.
- Pepperoni – For the filling. Smaller pepperoni works better, but you can cut larger ones in half. If you don’t like pepperoni, skip and add other toppings of your choice (see tip section below)
- Water – Optional, but recommended, to close the dough.
- Egg – Optional egg wash. You can brush them with olive oil instead if you prefer.
Recipe Tips
- If using store-bought dough, make sure the dough is fully thawed.
- Use enough flour to ensure the dough doesn’t stick to the work surface, but don’t use too much or the dough can become dry.
- You can customize the filling. Finely diced vegetables like red onion, bell pepper, or olives work well. Just don’t add too much moisture.
- Make sure no cheese or other toppings get on the edges so you can seal the calzones properly.
- Let them sit for 1-2 mins after using the water to close to allow the dough to stick.
- Don’t overfill the mini calzones, or they may burst open in the air fryer.
- You can cut vent holes in the top, but we found that they are not really needed (and the filling may just spill out).
- The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer, the thickness of the pizza dough, and the filling.
- The filling gets very hot, so let them cool slightly before eating.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
Lightly flour your work surface and divide the dough into 4 balls of equal size
Then roll or gently stretch the dough into circles (about 5 inches / 13 cm) in diameter.
Add about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce in the middle of each circle.
Then top with shredded cheese and 2-3 slices of pepperoni. Make sure the edges of the dough don’t have any sauce and toppings so the calzones seal properly.
Lightly moisten the edge of half the dough with water, then fold the dough over to meet the other side, forming a half-moon shape. Press the edges together firmly with your fingers or a fork to seal.
Then let the dough sit for a minute or two while preheating the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
Carefully place the mini calzones into the air fryer basket, leaving space between them. Brush the tops with egg wash (if using).
Air fry for 6-8 minutes, or until the dough is fully cooked and golden brown on the outside, and the filling is hot.
Remove the mini calzones from the air fryer and allow them to cool for a few minutes – they’ll be very hot. Then enjoy as is, with marinara sauce or garlic dip (or another dip of your choice)!
Storage Tips
These mini calzones don’t last long in our house. If you do have leftovers, wrap them in aluminum foil or place them in a sealed container and put them in the fridge. They’ll keep for about 3-4 days.
You can reheat them in the air fryer at a low temperature, such as 300 degrees Fahrenheit, until the outside is hot and the filling is warmed/hot again. It’ll take a few minutes. You can also use the microwave, but expect the dough to get softer.
For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Place the cooled calzones on a small baking sheet and put them in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer the calzones to a freezer-safe bag or container.
Related Recipes
If you liked these mini calzones, here are some more hand-held snacks or quick meal ideas:
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Air Fryer Mini Calzones
Ingredients
- 10.5 ounces pizza dough, thawed
- 4 tablespoons pizza sauce, or 4 tablespoons tomato puree and 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella, more to taste
- 8-12 slices pepperoni
- optional: red onion, bell peppers, olives, finely diced
- water, for sealing
- 1 egg, whisked (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Lightly flour your work surface. Divide the dough into 4 balls of equal size (about 2.6 ounces / 75 grams). Roll each piece into a circle (about 5 inches / 13 cm) in diameter. You can also gently stretch the dough by hand if you prefer.10.5 ounces pizza dough
- Add about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce in the middle of each circle. Top with shredded cheese and 2-3 slices of pepperoni. Make sure the edges of the dough are clear of sauce and toppings so the calzones seal properly.4 tablespoons pizza sauce, ½ cup shredded mozzarella, 8-12 slices pepperoni
- Lightly moisten the edge of half the dough with water, then fold the dough over to meet the other side, forming a half-moon shape. Press the edges together firmly with your fingers or a fork to seal.water
- Let the calzones rest while preheating the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Carefully place the mini calzones into the air fryer basket, leaving space between them. Brush the tops with egg wash (if using).1 egg
- Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 6-8 minutes, or until the dough is fully cooked and golden brown on the outside, and the filling is hot.
- Once done, remove the mini calzones from the air fryer and let them cool for a couple minutes before serving. Then enjoy as is, with marinara sauce or garlic dip (or your dip of choice).
Notes
- If using store-bought dough, make sure the dough is fully thawed.
- Use enough flour to ensure the dough doesn’t stick to the work surface, but don’t use too much or the dough can become dry.
- You can customize the filling. Finely diced vegetables like red onion, bell pepper, or olives work well. Just don’t add too much moisture.
- Make sure no cheese or other toppings get on the edges so you can seal the calzones properly.
- Don’t overfill the mini calzones, or they may burst open in the air fryer.
- You can cut vent holes in the top if you prefer.
- The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer, the thickness of the pizza dough, and the filling.
- The filling gets very hot, so let the mini calzones cool slightly before eating.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
