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Cheese/ Lunch/ Quick Dinners

Tortilla Calzone

January 29, 2024 (Last Updated: June 23, 2024) by Chris Collins

Here I’ll show you the easiest and most delicious way to make calzone using the mighty tortilla wrap!

If you’ve followed along for a while, you’ll know I’m already going to Italian hell. But this could potentially be the final nail in the coffin 😅 Follow me…

overhead shot of calzone tortilla wrap sliced open on wooden chopping board

Tortilla Calzone

I don’t often follow trends or come up with novelty recipes just for the heck of it, so fear not, these are truly delicious. And so flippin’ easy too!

Using tortilla wraps to make a calzone is a no-brainer for me. Although I’m sure they’re now technically more of a quesadilla now. But nevertheless, here we are.

No need to make homemade pizza dough, the quick fix of the mighty tortilla means dinner is ready in a pinch.

close up overhead shot of hand holding sausage peppers tortilla calzone sliced open

Preparing Tortilla Calzones

First things first, make sure you’re using flour tortillas, which are much more pliable than corn tortillas. If they’re looking a touch dry just give them a short blast in the microwave to loosen them up.

From there, go in with some pizza or marinara sauce on one side and ricotta on the other. Top the pizza sauce with mozzarella and that’s the base of your calzone.

Reducing moisture

Because excess moisture has no easy escape out of the calzone, we want to make sure the filling isn’t too watery. As such, you’ll want to use low-moisture mozzarella (i.e. not the stuff stored in brine). Alongside this, I recommend a thick sauce. Simmer it to reduce and thicken it beforehand if you need to.

4 step by step photos showing how to prepare tortilla calzone

Tortilla Calzone Fillings

In reality, you can fill the calzones with anything you fancy. Here are my two favourite fillings:

Filling idea #1 (sausage and peppers)

  • Sausage – just squeeze the meat from some herby/seasoned sausages and fry until crumbled/cooked.
  • Peppers & Onion – thinly slice and fry in the leftover fat.
  • Parmesan – for a flavour boost.
  • Seasoning – I like a pinch of oregano and chilli flakes with this filling.

Filling idea #2 (ham and mushroom)

  • Ham – I use parma ham, but any thin/wafer ham will work.
  • Salami – or any similar thin cured meat.
  • Mushroom – fry in a drizzle of oil and season with salt and pepper beforehand.
  • Olives – thinly sliced black olives.
  • Basil – roughly torn.
  • Seasoning – I love a pinch of black pepper with this filling.

In general, feel feel to experiment, but just be careful you don’t add too much moisture. Hence why we’re frying the veg beforehand. Also, go easy on fatty cured meats like pepperoni. A small amount is fine, but too much and the calzone will be way too oily. All raw meat also needs to be cooked beforehand.

2 side by side photos showing tortilla calzone filling ideas

Making Tortilla Calzones

Once you’ve stacked the calzones, you’ll want to fold them over and secure the filling. Two steps are important here:

  • Glue – make a ‘glue’ by mixing flour and a dash of water. This will help the tortilla stick together.
  • Crimp – use a fork to press down on the tortilla to secure the filling.

Your calzone should be pretty secure after this! After, just brush with oil, slice in some steam holes then bake until golden.

4 step by step photos showing how to make tortilla calzone

close up over shot of tortilla wrap calzone fresh out the oven on baking tray

Serving Tortilla Calzone

One of these is very hearty, so I tend not to serve it with anything. But you could add a side salad or fries if you fancied!

Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for these tortilla calzones shall we?!

side shot of hand lifting half tortilla calzone showing filling and cheese pull

How to make Tortilla Calzone (Full Recipe & Video)

close up overhead shot of hand holding sausage peppers tortilla calzone sliced open

Tortilla Calzone

Here I'll show you the easiest and most delicious way to make calzone using the mighty tortilla wrap!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Servings (click & slide): 2
Course: Dinner / Lunch / Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Calories per serving: 1023kcal
Cost per serving: $4 / £5

Equipment:

  • Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
  • Frying Pan & Wooden Spoon
  • Small Bowl & Brush
  • Large Baking Tray
  • Fine Cheese Grater

Ingredients (check list):

Tortilla Calzone

  • 2x large Flour Tortilla Wraps
  • 4 tbsp Pizza Sauce (see notes)
  • 4 tbsp full fat Ricotta
  • 100-120g / 3-4oz shredded Mozzarella (see notes)
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan, finely grated
  • 2 tsp Flour
  • Olive Oil, as needed

Filling Idea #1 (for two calzones)

  • 4 Pork Sausages (any herby/seasoned ones)
  • 1/2 Red Pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 Green Pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 small White Onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan, finely grated
  • 2 pinches Dried Oregano
  • 2 pinches Chilli Flakes

Filling Idea #2 (for two calzones)

  • 8 slices of Salami
  • 4 slices Parma Ham (sub any thin/wafer ham)
  • 8-10 small Chestnut Mushrooms, sliced
  • handful sliced Black Olives
  • handful Fresh Basil, roughly torn
  • 2 pinches Black Pepper

Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
  • Spread 2 tbsp pizza sauce on half of a tortilla wrap and 2 tbsp ricotta on the other half, leaving a 2cm/3/4" gap around the outside. Top the pizza sauce with mozzarella then repeat with the second tortilla.
  • For filling #1 - squeeze the sausage meat from the skins and fry in a drizzle of oil in a pan over medium heat until crumbled and cooked. Remove and fry the onion and peppers in the leftover fat until softened and lightly charred. Stack both on the mozzarella and finish with parmesan, oregano and chilli flakes.
  • For filling #2 - fry the mushrooms in a drizzle of oil in a pan over medium heat until browned on both sides. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper then remove. Add salami on top of the mozzarella, followed by ham, mushrooms, olives, basil and a pinch of black pepper.
  • Combine the flour in a small bowl with a dash of water to form a thin paste. Brush around the outside of the tortilla, then carefully fold the ricotta side over the filling side. Crimp with a form so the tortilla sticks together.
  • Place on a baking tray, brush with olive oil then slice in a few steam holes. Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes until light golden and crisp. Immediately sprinkle over parmesan then serve up and enjoy!

Quick 1 min demo!

Notes:

a) Wraps - make sure they're flour as they're more pliable than corn tortillas. If they're looking like they might crack when you fold them, just give them a very quick blitz in the microwave to soften them up.
b) Mozzarella - don't use fresh mozzarella in brine as it'll add too much moisture to the filling. The pre-shredded packet stuff works best here.
c) Meats - you can use different meats, just make sure you pre-cook anything raw. Go easy on very fatty meats like pepperoni as it'll make the filling go oily if there's too much.
d) Veggies - again, use any veggies you fancy, just fry off anything that needs pre-cooking. This is important to remove moisture, otherwise it'll be released into the calzone and turn the bottom soggy.
e) Pizza Sauce - I use my Homemade Pizza Sauce but you can use store-bought. You could also use marinara sauce. In all cases, just make sure the sauce isn't too watery. Simmer it down to thicken if you need to.
f) Calories - per calzone assuming sausage and peppers filling.

Your Private Notes:

Nutrition:

Nutrition Facts
Tortilla Calzone
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1023 Calories from Fat 593
% Daily Value*
Fat 65.84g101%
Saturated Fat 25.671g128%
Trans Fat 0.091g
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.967g
Monounsaturated Fat 29.321g
Cholesterol 140mg47%
Sodium 2748mg115%
Potassium 856mg24%
Carbohydrates 55.65g19%
Fiber 4.2g17%
Sugar 8.07g9%
Protein 50.28g101%
Vitamin A 1851IU37%
Vitamin C 66.9mg81%
Calcium 552mg55%
Iron 5.44mg30%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition is based on the absence of salt unless stated as a measurement in the ingredients. Cost is worked out based on ingredients bought from UK supermarkets, then divided by the number of servings. In both instances these values are just for guidance. Please check out my FAQ Page for more info.
Tried this recipe?Show me how you got on by tagging @dontgobaconmyheart_ on IG and #dontgobaconmyheart
Looking for more?You'll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook 'Comfy'

If you loved these tortilla calzones then give my Puff Pastry Pizza Parcels a go!

For more similar recipes check out these beauties:

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4 Comments

  • Reply
    Helen Immonen
    September 4, 2024 at 9:39 pm

    5 stars
    Super Easy and tasty !
    What a great idea
    Thankyou for all your recipes
    My next shot at these, will be taco like fillings
    Cooking in Australia

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      September 5, 2024 at 3:31 am

      Thanks so much for the review, Helen! 🙂 C.

  • Reply
    Miska Knezevic
    June 12, 2024 at 7:29 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      June 12, 2024 at 7:41 pm

      Thanks Miska! 🙂 C.

    5 KNOCKOUT

    DINNERS

    YOU'LL NEVER STOP MAKING!

    A FREE EMAIL SERIES, FROM ONE FOODIE TO ANOTHER