Semi-homemade Easy Calzone Recipe

I’m all about making my life easier in the kitchen.  Yes, some of my recipes are labor intensive but 99% of the time my week night dinner preparations are all about throwing together whatever the heck I can find in the pantry.  This super easy calzone recipe fits the bill.

What I love about these easy calzones is that I didn’t have to go to the trouble to make pizza dough from scratch.  My secret ingredient…Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust.

Ingredients:

1 tube Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can tomato sauce
1 tsp. Italian blend seasoning
pinch of red pepper flakes
shredded mozzarella cheese
olive oil

Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a heavy pan, saute garlic and onion until soft.  Add ground beef and cook until meat is browned.  Drain grease.  Add tomato sauce, red pepper flakes and Italian blend and simmer on low for 15 minutes or until ready to assemble calzones.

Flour surface and spread dough out.  Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch thick.

Use a sharp knife to cut the crust into squares.  I was able to get 5 small calzones out of one crust.

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese in the middle of the crust, top with meat mixture and sprinkle with a little more cheese.  Fold over and seal edges together by pressing with a fork.

Transfer to a greased baking sheet, brush with olive oil and bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Delizioso!