Braided Calzone Pizza with Pillsbury Pizza Dough that Kids Love to Make

Learn how to make this easy braided calzone pizza with Pillsbury Pizza Dough. This is an easy recipe that kids can do on their own!

When I think of a kid’s favorite food, I often think of Pizza. What kid doesn’t love Pizza, right? What about a Calzone Pizza? This simple recipe will have your kids wanting to make dinner for you! I love braided pizza Calzone’s because they blend easy pizza ingredients with a little protein stuffed in yummy dough. I think we’ve found a new favorite in our household. Not to mention that mama is happy because these kiddos can create this all by themselves!

What is A Calzone?

A calzone is like a stuffed pizza pocket. Unlike regular pizza where the topping sit on top of the dough, for a calzone, the ingredients are folded into the pizza dough and baked together.

What makes this recipe easier than others?

This calzone recipe is super easy and made particularly for kids because all it requires is putting the ingredients together. Rather than making your own pizza dough, this recipe calls for unrolling a Pillsbury pizza dough can and adding the ingredients on top! Easy peasy.

Ingredients:

• Pillsbury Pizza Crust
• Blend of Mozzarella and Provolone cheese
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Pizza sauce

Tools:

• Cutting board
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Knife

What is a braided Pizza Calzone

A braided pizza calzone is a regular calzone where the top of the dough is cut and braided together rather than folded over.

How to make an easy braided pizza calzone

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Open the Pillsbury Dough Pizza can and roll out the dough in a rectangle on a cutting board. Make sure to pinch together any holes and work the dough so it’s an even thickness all over.
3. Spread an even amount of pizza sauce down the middle of the dough. Make sure to leave about 2-3 inches on each side without sauce.
4. Lay salami and pepperoni on top of the pizza sauce.
5. Sprinkle cheese blend over the meat.
6. Make horizontal cuts 1″-2″ apart down both the long sides.
7. Fold the strips in toward the center one at a time, alternating each side while you fold.
8. Put the calzone on the baking sheet and bake 15 minutes or until the crust is slightly brown.

Roll the pizza dough out in a rectangle and make sure there aren’t any holes. Pinch the dough with your fingers to remove any holes and work the dough out until it’s an even consistency.

Spread the sauce evenly making sure to leave a few inches without sauce on all sides.

Add the salami, pepperoni and cheese on top!

After you’ve made 2-3″ cuts on the sides, start to “braid” the dough folding it over and alternating sides each time you fold.

Once you’ve braided the dough it’s time to cook for about 15 minutes until the crust is slightly brown.

Once it’s done, cut the calzone in slices and serve!

If you are looking for a healthier kid food option you might be interested in our healthy muffins with fruits and vegetables! Speaking of healthy we also have a post on vegetable pizza for kids! These are great for that picky eater. I’ve also shared a homemade air fryer pizza roll recipe and other easy recipes with pillsbury pizza crust. Also make sure to check out our Nutella Calzone for an awesome sweet treat.

How easy was that! Do you think your kids could make this on their own? Make sure to check out my other easy kid friendly recipes too!

Happy baking!