Air Fryer Chicken Calzone: The Perfect Easy Dinner!
Looking for a quick, delicious, and family-friendly dinner that everyone will love? These Air Fryer Chicken Calzones are the answer! This recipe combines the comfort of a classic calzone with the speed and convenience of air frying. It’s packed with flavorful chicken, gooey cheese, and your favorite toppings, all wrapped in a perfectly golden-brown crust. Get ready to ditch takeout – this is way better and so easy to make!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Chicken Calzone
- Super Quick: Ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Kid-Friendly: A fun and customizable meal that even picky eaters will enjoy.
- Healthy-ish: Air frying uses less oil than traditional baking, making it a lighter option.
- Easy Clean-Up: The air fryer makes for a mess-free cooking experience.
- Versatile: Easily adaptable with your favorite fillings and toppings.
- Delicious and comforting: Every bite is full of flavor.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Calzone
- Pizza Dough: 1 pound store-bought or homemade pizza dough, divided into 4 equal portions.
- Cooked Chicken: 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced. Use leftover rotisserie chicken for extra convenience!
- Ricotta Cheese: 1 cup ricotta cheese.
- Mozzarella Cheese: 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Parmesan Cheese: 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- Pizza Sauce: 1/2 cup pizza sauce, or marinara sauce.
- Italian Seasoning: 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- Garlic Powder: 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Egg Wash: 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water (optional, for a shiny crust).
- Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon (for brushing the air fryer basket).
- Optional Toppings: Pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, spinach, etc.
Substitutions:
- Dough: Use gluten-free pizza dough for a gluten-free option.
- Cheese: Substitute ricotta with cottage cheese or cream cheese.
- Chicken: Use cooked ground turkey or sausage instead of chicken. For a vegetarian option, use cooked vegetables like mushrooms and spinach.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Calzone
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of pizza dough into a 6-inch circle.
- Mix the Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the cooked chicken, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix well.
- Assemble the Calzones: Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on one half of each dough circle, leaving a ½-inch border.
- Add Filling: Spoon ¼ of the chicken mixture onto each dough circle over the sauce. Add any desired toppings to the chicken mixture.
- Fold and Seal: Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal tightly.
- Prepare the Air Fryer: Brush the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Air Fry: Place the calzones in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. You may need to cook them in batches. If using egg wash, brush the top of each calzone with the egg wash.
- Cook: Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and the filling is heated through. Flip the calzones halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
- Cool and Serve: Carefully remove the Air Fryer Chicken Calzone from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Pro Tips & Variations
- Don’t Overfill: Overfilling the calzones can cause them to burst during cooking.
- Seal Tightly: Make sure to crimp the edges of the dough well to prevent the filling from leaking out.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheating the air fryer for 2-3 minutes helps to ensure even cooking and crispy crusts.
Variations:
- Vegetarian: Replace the chicken with roasted vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the chicken mixture for a kick.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pizza dough.
Serving Suggestions
These Air Fryer Chicken Calzones are delicious on their own, but here are a few side dishes that complement them well:
- Side Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted broccoli, carrots, or Brussels sprouts.
- Marinara Sauce: Serve with extra marinara sauce for dipping.
- Garlic Bread: A classic pairing for any Italian-inspired meal. These calzones are tasty with some garlic bread!
Storage & Reheating
Storage:
- Fridge: Store leftover Air Fryer Chicken Calzones in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: For longer storage, wrap individual calzones tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating:
- Air Fryer: Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through.
- Oven: Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, but the crust may not be as crispy.
FAQ about Air Fryer Chicken Calzone
Q: Can I use frozen pizza dough?
A: Yes, just make sure to thaw the dough completely before using. Let it sit at room temperature for an hour or two until soft and pliable.
Q: Can I make these ahead of time?
A: You can assemble the calzones ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for a few hours before air frying. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time. These are great easy weeknight dinners because you can prep them in advance.
Q: Is this recipe considered one of your healthy dinner ideas?
A: While calzones aren’t typically considered a health food, air frying them reduces the amount of oil needed compared to traditional baking, making them a lighter option. Plus, you can customize the fillings with plenty of vegetables. They are also a part of the air fryer recipes collection and great for your air fryer meals.
Q: What other air fryer food can you recommend?
A: Besides this recipe, there are so many possibilities for air fry recipes. Many people enjoy recipes that include fries, onion rings, and chicken wings.
Final Thoughts on Air Fryer Chicken Calzone
These Air Fryer Chicken Calzones are a winner! Quick, easy, and totally customizable, they’re perfect for a weeknight dinner or a fun weekend meal. Making these can become a tradition and a part of your cheap dinners for a family meal rotation.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out. Don’t forget to save this recipe to your Pinterest boards for later, and subscribe to my blog for more delicious and easy recipes!
Air Fryer Chicken Calzone
Equipment
- Air Fryer,
- Mixing bowl
- Fork
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 pound store-bought or homemade pizza dough divided into 4 equal portions
Filling
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded or diced; use leftover rotisserie chicken for extra convenience
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 large egg wash 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (optional, for a shiny crust)
- 1 tbsp olive oil for brushing the air fryer basket
Optional Toppings
- optional toppings pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, spinach, etc.
Substitutions
- gluten-free pizza dough for gluten-free option
- ricotta substitute cottage cheese or cream cheese
- chicken substitute cooked ground turkey or sausage; for vegetarian option, cooked vegetables like mushrooms and spinach
Instructions
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of pizza dough into a 6-inch circle.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cooked chicken, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix well.
- Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on one half of each dough circle, leaving a ½-inch border.
- Spoon ¼ of the chicken mixture onto each dough circle over the sauce. Add any desired toppings to the chicken mixture.
- Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal tightly.
- Brush the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Place the calzones in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook in batches if needed. If using egg wash, brush the top of each calzone with it.
- Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and heated through. Flip halfway through cooking for even browning.
- Carefully remove calzones from the air fryer and let cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
