Calzones with Cheese, Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper

Name: Calzones with Cheese, Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1½ cups warm water; 1 envelope dry yeast; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1½ teaspoons salt; 4 cups all purpose flour; 1 large red bell pepper; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1¼ pounds red onions; 4 whole Italian sausages; 3 cups mozzarella cheese; 12 ounces ricotta cheese; 4 teaspoons dried oregano

Homemade calzones stuffed with a delicious combination of Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, and a blend of mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. These hearty handheld pizzas are wrapped in a tender, homemade pizza dough.

4 servings

3 hr 20 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•1½ cups warm water
•1 envelope dry yeast
•2 tablespoons olive oil
•1½ teaspoons salt
•4 cups all purpose flour
•1 large red bell pepper
•2 tablespoons olive oil
•1¼ pounds red onions
•4 whole Italian sausages
•3 cups mozzarella cheese
•12 ounces ricotta cheese
•4 teaspoons dried oregano

Cooking Instructions

1.
Pour 1 1/2 cups warm water into large bowl. Stir in yeast. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix in oil and salt. Add 3 3/4 cups flour, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until blended. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, sprinkling with more flour if sticky, about 10 minutes.
15 min
2.
Place dough in oiled large bowl; turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
75 min
3.
Meanwhile, char bell pepper over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed and slice pepper. Heat olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red onions; sauté until brown, about 25 minutes. Set aside. Sauté sausage in heavy medium skillet over medium heat until cooked through, breaking into 1/2-inch pieces with spoon, about 15 minutes. Set aside. Mix both cheeses and oregano in bowl, season with salt and pepper.
50 min
4.
Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Dust 2 baking sheets with flour.
10 min
5.
Punch dough down. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth, about 1 minute. Divide into 4 equal portions; shape each into ball. Roll out dough balls on lightly floured surface to 9-inch rounds. Spread 1/3 cup cheese mixture over half of each round, leaving 3/4-inch border. Cover cheese on each with 1/4 of onions, 1/3 cup cheese mixture, 1/4 of sausage, 1/3 cup cheese mixture, then 1/4 of bell peppers. Fold plain dough halves over filling, forming half circles. Pinch edges of dough firmly together to seal.
20 min
6.
Using spatula, transfer 2 calzones to each prepared sheet. Pierce tops in several places with small knife. Bake calzones 15 minutes. Reverse baking sheets and bake until tops of calzones are golden brown, about 15 minutes longer.
30 min

Calzones with Cheese, Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper

4 servings

3 hr 20 min

Published October 4, 2025

Be the first to rate this recipe

Ingredients

•1½ cups warm water

•1 envelope dry yeast

•2 tablespoons olive oil

•1½ teaspoons salt

•4 cups all purpose flour

•1 large red bell pepper

•2 tablespoons olive oil

•1¼ pounds red onions

•4 whole Italian sausages

•3 cups mozzarella cheese

•12 ounces ricotta cheese

•4 teaspoons dried oregano

Cooking Instructions

Pour 1 1/2 cups warm water into large bowl. Stir in yeast. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix in oil and salt. Add 3 3/4 cups flour, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until blended. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, sprinkling with more flour if sticky, about 10 minutes.

15 min

Place dough in oiled large bowl; turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

75 min

Meanwhile, char bell pepper over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed and slice pepper. Heat olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red onions; sauté until brown, about 25 minutes. Set aside. Sauté sausage in heavy medium skillet over medium heat until cooked through, breaking into 1/2-inch pieces with spoon, about 15 minutes. Set aside. Mix both cheeses and oregano in bowl, season with salt and pepper.

50 min

Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Dust 2 baking sheets with flour.

10 min

Punch dough down. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth, about 1 minute. Divide into 4 equal portions; shape each into ball. Roll out dough balls on lightly floured surface to 9-inch rounds. Spread 1/3 cup cheese mixture over half of each round, leaving 3/4-inch border. Cover cheese on each with 1/4 of onions, 1/3 cup cheese mixture, 1/4 of sausage, 1/3 cup cheese mixture, then 1/4 of bell peppers. Fold plain dough halves over filling, forming half circles. Pinch edges of dough firmly together to seal.

20 min

Using spatula, transfer 2 calzones to each prepared sheet. Pierce tops in several places with small knife. Bake calzones 15 minutes. Reverse baking sheets and bake until tops of calzones are golden brown, about 15 minutes longer.

30 min