Description
These Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets are a delicious and convenient twist on traditional pizza. Made with refrigerated or homemade pizza dough, filled with gooey mozzarella, pepperoni, and your favorite toppings, these pockets bake to a golden, bubbly perfection. Perfect as a kid-friendly dinner or a tasty snack, they can also be prepared ahead and frozen for quick meals anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough and Sauce
- 1 can refrigerated pizza dough (or homemade)
- ¾ cup pizza sauce
Filling
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup mini pepperoni slices or chopped pepperoni
- Optional: chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Topping and Finishing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
- Prepare the Dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface and cut it into 6 equal rectangles, ensuring each is large enough to hold the filling comfortably.
- Assemble Pockets: Spread a spoonful of pizza sauce in the center of each rectangle, leaving borders around the edges. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, and any optional vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning for added flavor.
- Seal the Pockets: Fold the dough over the filling to form a pocket and firmly pinch the edges using a fork to seal, preventing any filling from leaking during baking.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the sealed pizza pockets on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with olive oil to promote browning and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese for an extra cheesy crust.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the pockets are golden brown and the cheese inside is bubbly, indicating they’re fully cooked.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow the pizza pockets to cool slightly before serving to avoid burns and to let the filling set.
Notes
- These pizza pockets can be made ahead of time and frozen before baking. When ready to use, bake directly from frozen at 375°F for 20–25 minutes.
- Feel free to swap in your favorite fillings such as cooked sausage, spinach, or various cheeses to customize to your taste.
- Ensure the edges are well sealed to prevent any filling from leaking out during baking.
