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Skillet Meatball Calzones

5 from 1 vote

Meatballs wrapped in pizza dough with marinara, cheese and slathered in a garlic butter sauce

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Skillet Meatball Calzones with Herbed Butter Sauce

An overhead view of a skillet filled with mini meatball calzones

 

Calling all calzone, pizza and meatballs lovers, have we got the perfect recipe for you!

Whether you’re having a football party, fun family get-together or a teenage extravaganza at your house, this is the recipe everyone will want you to serve again and again. Made with store-bought pizza dough, jarred pizza sauce, and frozen meatballs, this recipe couldn’t be easier, and it tastes amazing.

Served as a hearty appetizer, these cheesy mini-calzones are already a favorite in our house. As a delicious main course, it’s perfect served with a side salad and extra marinara sauce for smothering.

 

A cast iron skillet filled with pizza dough wrapped meatballs topped with Parmesan

While it takes a little time to assemble the Skillet Meatball Calzones, it’s worth every minute of effort.

I’ve made these a few times and wanted to try baking them on a large rimmed sheet pan instead of in a skillet, but nobody would let me.  Their exact words were … “Mom, don’t change anything.” They know me well!

 

Mini Skillet Meatball Calzones served with pizza sauce for dipping\

Slather the tops with herbed garlic butter sauce!

Don’t skip the herbed butter sauce. Garlic, cheese and butter – oh my! No worries if you have leftovers. These Skillet Meatball Calzones rewarm beautifully in the microwave.

 

A skillet with meatballs wrapped in pizza dough sprinkled with cheese and garlic butter sauce

These are like mini-meatball pizzas!

Each calzone is made with a layer of mozzarella, a tablespoon of pizza sauce, one large pre-cooked thawed 2-inch meatball, and 1 ounce of pizza dough.

Feel free to make homemade ingredients if you want. If you don’t have time to make homemade meatballs, good quality frozen meatballs will do nicely. I use all-natural pre-made ingredients and couldn’t be happier with the results. The recipe makes 16 appetizers or enough for 8 for dinner.

 

A sliced meatball wrapped in pizza dough with marinara sauce

Don’t you want to take a big bite?  I do!

 

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A cast iron skillet filled with mini meatball calzones

 

 

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Skillet Meatball Calzones with Herbed Butter Sauce

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 16 appetizers
Course: Main Course
Author: Tricia
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5 from 1 vote
Meatballs wrapped in pizza dough with marinara, cheese and slathered in a garlic butter sauce.

Ingredients

For the calzones:

  • 16 pre-made frozen meatballs (thawed and cooked per package directions) or homemade
  • 16 ounces pre-made pizza dough
  • 8 slices sandwich style mozzarella cheese (from the deli)
  • 16 ounce jarred pizza sauce

For the herbed butter sauce:

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley leaves, plus more for garnish
  • pinch of salt
  • grated Parmesan cheese for serving
  • marinara sauce for serving

Instructions

  • Bake the meatballs according to the package directions.  Set aside to cool.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9" or 10" cast iron skillet or lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.
  • Remove the pizza dough from the refrigerator and divide into 16 equal portions. If you have a kitchen scale, it works well here. Place the 1-ounce dough balls on a lightly floured sheet pan and allow them to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature or a warm location. (I put my pan in the microwave where it is warm when the task light is on)  
  • When ready to assemble take each 1-ounce dough ball and roll out into a 5-6 inch circle.  Place ½ of a slice of mozzarella cheese (folded in half to a square) in the center of the dough. Top with 1 heaping tablespoon pizza sauce, then 1 meatball. Bring the dough up over the top of the meatball so the edges overlap. Moisten with a wet finger to get the dough to stick if needed. Continue until the calzone is sealed. Place the parcel seam-side down in the prepared cast iron skillet. Continue with the remaining meatballs filling the skillet.
  • Once all meatballs are wrapped in dough, combine the herbed butter sauce ingredients and brush the tops of each with about half the butter sauce. Set aside the remaining butter sauce. Bake the calzones in the preheated 400°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until the dough is browned. Remove the skillet from the oven and brush each calzone with the remaining butter sauce. Sprinkle with additional fresh chopped parsley and fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Allow the calzones to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Serve with extra marinara or pizza sauce for dipping and additional Parmesan if desired.
  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container. Warm leftovers in the microwave.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 237IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

We love comfort food at our house and pizza is a personal favorite. You can’t beat gooey cheese, rich tomato sauce and fluffy dough – so delicious!

If you’re looking for more delicious pizza inspired recipes, one of the best appetizers we’ve ever made are these Blackberry & Brie Mini Pizzas. Such a great combination of unexpected flavors.

This Skillet Pizza Margherita is a classic, delicious and so simple too!

These Easy Homemade Pizza Buns and look incredible! Pizza and buns together at last 🙂

Another must try recipe is this Quick Mushroom and Ham Pizza.

Don’t miss these Classic Calzones. I could eat them for breakfast!

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