This Buffalo Chicken Calzone is a true crowd-pleaser, with a blend of spicy buffalo sauce, creamy cheese, and tender chicken. Each bite is a perfect combination of heat and comfort, thanks to the crispy, golden crust.
It’s easy to make, and you can customize it by adding extra ingredients like ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, or even a side of celery for crunch. This calzone makes for a perfect dinner or game-day treat, and it will quickly become a favorite in your recipe rotation.
Full recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 lb cooked chicken breast, shredded
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1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
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1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
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1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
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1 tablespoon ranch dressing
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1 package pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
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1/2 cup celery, chopped (optional for garnish)
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
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In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken with buffalo wing sauce, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, blue cheese crumbles, and ranch dressing. Stir well until all ingredients are fully combined.
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Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch circle.
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Spoon the buffalo chicken mixture into the center of the dough, leaving about 2 inches around the edges.
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Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges to seal.
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Brush the top of the calzone with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
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Place the calzone on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
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Let it cool for a few minutes before cutting. Garnish with chopped celery for a refreshing crunch, if desired.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes
Kcal: 450 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
Why Buffalo Chicken Calzone is the Ultimate Comfort Food
Buffalo chicken is a beloved dish on its own, but when combined with the hearty and savory elements of a calzone, it becomes a whole new level of comfort food. The delicious combination of spicy buffalo sauce, shredded chicken, and melted cheese nestled inside a warm, soft dough brings the best of both worlds—spice and comfort—into one irresistible bite. Each calzone is packed with flavors that are sure to satisfy your taste buds, making it the ideal food for when you’re craving something filling, flavorful, and easy to make.
The Appeal of Calzones: A Perfect Handheld Meal
Calzones are essentially pizza’s pocketed cousin, and their appeal lies in the convenience and versatility they offer. Imagine all your favorite pizza toppings wrapped inside a warm, crispy dough—what’s not to love? A calzone allows you to enjoy all the savory, cheesy goodness of pizza, but in a more portable, less messy form. This makes it perfect for lunch, dinner, or even as a fun finger food for parties.
The versatility of calzones is another reason they are so appealing. You can easily customize the fillings based on your preferences, dietary restrictions, or whatever ingredients you have on hand. For the Buffalo Chicken Calzone, it’s the spicy buffalo sauce and creamy cheese that truly take it to the next level, but feel free to add extra ingredients like onions, bell peppers, or even bacon to make it even more indulgent.
How to Make the Perfect Buffalo Chicken Calzone
Making a Buffalo Chicken Calzone at home is much easier than you might think, especially when you use store-bought pizza dough. The dough is the foundation of any good calzone, and by rolling it out and filling it with the delicious buffalo chicken mixture, you’ll have a hearty meal in no time. The key is to balance the flavors of the chicken and buffalo sauce, ensuring that the heat of the sauce isn’t overwhelming but complements the richness of the cheese and the soft dough.
When baking the calzone, it’s important to keep an eye on the crust, ensuring it turns golden brown and crispy. This helps lock in the flavors and gives you that satisfying crunch with each bite. Brushing the dough with a little olive oil before baking enhances the flavor, giving the calzone a beautiful finish.
Customizing Your Buffalo Chicken Calzone
One of the best things about this dish is how customizable it is. While the basic Buffalo Chicken Calzone recipe includes just chicken, buffalo sauce, and cheese, feel free to get creative with additional ingredients. For instance, adding a drizzle of ranch or blue cheese dressing inside the calzone can further elevate the flavor profile.
To add more texture and crunch, you can also incorporate some finely chopped celery, which is often paired with buffalo chicken for a refreshing contrast to the heat. Another great option is to include vegetables like sautéed onions or bell peppers to bring in a touch of sweetness and additional flavor depth. If you’re looking for extra indulgence, consider adding crispy bacon or even a sprinkle of extra cheese like cheddar or parmesan for that melty, golden topping.
Buffalo Chicken Calzone: The Perfect Party Food
The Buffalo Chicken Calzone is not just a dinner dish—it’s also an excellent option for parties, gatherings, or game days. If you’re hosting a casual event or watching a big game, these calzones make a great finger food that your guests will love. You can prepare individual servings or make larger calzones to be sliced into wedges for easy sharing.
Additionally, the spice of the buffalo chicken can be adjusted to suit the crowd. If you know your guests prefer a milder flavor, use a less spicy buffalo sauce or opt for a ranch dressing base to tone down the heat. On the other hand, if you’re serving spice lovers, you can go for extra buffalo sauce, making these calzones an exciting, bold dish for any occasion.
Tips for Perfecting Your Buffalo Chicken Calzone
For the perfect Buffalo Chicken Calzone, a few tips can help ensure your dish turns out just right. First, make sure your dough is properly rolled out and not too thick, as this can lead to a chewy and dense calzone. You want the dough to be thin enough to cook evenly and crisp up nicely.
Next, when assembling the calzone, don’t overfill it. While it may be tempting to add a lot of buffalo chicken filling, too much can make it difficult to seal the dough and result in a messy, overly stuffed calzone. Stick to a moderate amount of filling to ensure the calzone can close properly and bake evenly.
Finally, be sure to give your calzone enough time in the oven to become golden brown and crispy. The baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it and adjust accordingly.
Pairing Your Buffalo Chicken Calzone
A Buffalo Chicken Calzone is a hearty meal on its own, but it can be paired with sides to complement its flavors. For something light, a fresh salad with a tangy vinaigrette or a crunchy coleslaw would balance the heat of the calzone and provide a refreshing contrast. If you prefer something more indulgent, serving it with a side of crispy fries or onion rings can enhance the comfort factor and make the meal even more satisfying.
A cold, refreshing drink like iced tea, lemonade, or a cold beer pairs wonderfully with the spice of the Buffalo Chicken Calzone. For those who enjoy a more tangy note, you can serve it with a side of extra buffalo sauce for dipping, along with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Why You Should Make Buffalo Chicken Calzone at Home
While you can easily grab a Buffalo Chicken Calzone from many pizza shops or restaurants, making this dish at home offers several advantages. For one, it’s more affordable. By using simple ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen, you can make multiple calzones for a fraction of the price it would cost at a restaurant.
Additionally, making it at home allows you to control the ingredients and adjust the flavors to your liking. You can make it as spicy or mild as you want, customize the fillings, and even adjust the amount of cheese to create the perfect combination. Homemade food also tends to be fresher, and there’s a sense of satisfaction in creating a delicious dish from scratch.
Conclusion
The Buffalo Chicken Calzone is a flavorful, customizable, and easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for a variety of occasions, from casual weeknight dinners to parties and game-day gatherings. Its combination of spicy buffalo chicken, gooey cheese, and crispy dough creates a satisfying meal that will leave everyone wanting more. Whether you enjoy it with a cold drink, a refreshing salad, or extra dipping sauces, the Buffalo Chicken Calzone is sure to become a favorite in your recipe repertoire. So why not give this crowd-pleasing dish a try? You’ll be amazed at how easy and delicious it is to make at home!