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–+ servings
A calzone on a plate with a side of salad.
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Chicken Pesto Calzone

Frozen bread dough is a shortcut to creating delicious homemade calzone. This Easy Chicken Pesto Calzone is loaded with chicken, pesto, and goat cheese for a no-fuss, craveworthy meal!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 3 large calzone
Calories: 737kcal
Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts , cut into bite size pieces
  • 3 heaping tablespoons pesto
  • 48 ounce package frozen bread dough (3 loafs) , thawed overnight in refrigerator
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 6 ounces goat cheese
  • 11/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside for later. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and put over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Add chicken and cook and stir until chicken is no longer pink. Add pesto and stir to combine. Turn heat down to LOW and let mixture simmer while preparing bread dough.
  • Place one of the thawed bread loaves on to a large floured board. Roll out with a rolling pin, pulling and stretching with hands if necessary, until it is a 15- x 9-inch rectangle. With a sharp knife make 11 or 12 cuts at edges of dough in towards center about 2-inches in length. Leave at least a 3-inch solid strip down center of dough for filling.
  • Remove chicken from heat and set aside.
  • Pour 1/3 cup of marinara sauce down center of prepared calzone dough. Place 1/3 of pesto chicken mixture on top of marinara. Crumble 1/3 of goat cheese over the chicken and then top with about 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella.
  • Fold strips of dough at edges over the filling in a criss cross pattern, alternating sides. Left, right, left, right, until you reach the end. Using a large spatula to help you lift the calzone, carefully transfer it to the foil lined baking sheet, leaving room for next 2 calzones. Repeat with other 2 loaves and place next to first calzone on baking sheet leaving a little space in between.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or till nice and golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to sit about 5 minutes before slicing into serving size pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 737kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 1443mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 888IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 386mg | Iron: 1mg