If you love a quick recipe, then these chicken and pesto calzones are for you. Not only can you whip it up in a matter of a few minutes, but they are so delicious, that you’ll quickly add it as one of your goto recipes that your family is sure to love.

I love recipes that don’t take too much time to prepare, but as a busy mom like you, sometimes, you just don’t have the time to spend hours in the kitchen.

Chicken and peston calzone sitting on a white plate with a tomato sauce from a recipe from Skip to my Lou.
This tasty chicken and pesto calzone is quick to make and delicious!

We have so many excellent recipes on Skip to My Lou, so be sure to check out some of my other favorites including the Perfect Pumpkin Bread Recipe, Yummy Apple Crostata Recipe: 5 Steps to Dessert Heaven, A Superfast Baked Ziti Recipe That Tastes Amazing, and How To Make Vegetarian Chili That’s Super Delicious.

Chicken and Pesto Calzone Ingredients

  • 1 T. olive oil 10 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 20 oz. pizza dough ball (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 c. marinara sauce, divided
  • 1/4 c. basil pesto
  • 4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 oz. parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 c. fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 medium egg, beaten
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

How to make Chicken and Pesto Calzones

Step 1: Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add cubed chicken and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the garlic is fragrant, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

A skillet with cubed chicken, salt, pepper and garlic.
Cube the chicken, add it to a skillet, and season with salt and pepper. Remember to add garlic.
Chicken frying in a skillet.
Fry until golden brown and the chicken is cooked.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, 1/4 cup of marinara sauce, pesto, mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly.

A large mixing bowl containing the cooked chicken, 1/4 cup of marinara sauce, pesto, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh basil and salt and pepper.
Combine all the ingredients for the calzone stuffing in a bowl.
A large mixing bowl containing the cooked chicken, 1/4 cup of marinara sauce, pesto, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh basil and salt and pepper all thoroughly mixed through.
Mix all the ingredients through.

Step 3: Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal portions and roll out into 1/4-inch thick circles.

Four pizza dough balls ready to be rolled out.
You need four pizza dough balls.
A pizza dough ball rolled out.
Roll out each ball, ready to add the calzone stuffing.

Step 4: Divide the filling between the 4 pizza rounds, spreading it only on one-half of the dough. Fold the other side of the dough on top of the filling and pinch the edges to seal.

Calzone filling added to half of the pizza round.
Add the calzone filling to half of the pizza round.
The other half of the pizza round is folded over the filling and the edges are crimped.
Fold over and crimp the edges.

Step 5: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper for easy cleanup. Arrange the calzones on the prepared baking sheet and brush with the beaten egg. Transfer into the oven and bake until deeply golden on top, approximately 14-16 minutes.

Calzones waiting to go in the oven after air holes are cut in them and they are brushed with beaten egg.
Transfer to a baking sheet, make some air holes, and brush with beaten egg.

Step 6: Allow to cool for 10 minutes and serve with a marinara dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Chicken and Pesto Calzones

Calzones are tasty stuffed pizza pocket folder overs. If you would put it on your pizza, then it can go into your calzone. You just roll it, fill it, fold it, then crimp and seal it like an empanada to hold in all the deliciousness! Yum!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
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Ingredients  

  • 1 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 10 Oz Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 2 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 20 Oz Pizza dough ball (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 Cup marinara sauce, divided
  • 1/4 Cup Basil pesto
  • 4 Oz Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 Oz Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 Cup Fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 Medium egg, beaten
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add cubed chicken and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the garlic is fragrant, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper for easy clean up.
  • Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal portions and roll out into 1/4-inch thick circles.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, 1/4 cup of marinara sauce, pesto, mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Divide the filling between the 4 pizza rounds, spreading it only on one half of the dough. Fold the other side of the dough on top of the filling and pinch the edges to seal.
  • Arrange the calzones on the prepared baking sheet and brush with the beaten egg.
  • Transfer into the oven and bake until deeply golden on top, approximately 14-16 minutes
  • Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes.
  • Serve with the remaining marinara as a dipping sauce.
  • Enjoy!
Servings: 4
Author: Cindy Hopper

Other Recipes to Try

This chicken and pesto calzone is just one of the hundreds of tasty recipes on Skip to My Lou. Why don’t you try a few others?

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