Spinach Artichoke Calzone

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

You’re either a fan of calzone or you’re not.

I waffle back and forth….because sometimes I’m just not in the mood for ricotta.

Too much ricotta in a calzone ruins it for me. Ricotta can sometimes make the calzone soggy and WHO WANTS SOGGY CALZONE?

We were out to eat a few weeks ago and I saw calzone on the menu that didn’t have the obligatory HEAPING PILE of ricotta in it. Nope. None.

It was one of the best calzones I’ve ever had and here my recreation.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

When I watched the guy in the back baste the top with garlic infused oil, I knew it was a match made in heaven.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

What we have here is a Spinach Artichoke Calzone that’s stuffed with a mix of mozzarella, feta, spinach, marinated artichokes, pesto and red pepper flakes. It’s topped with garlic infused oil and a sprinkle of cheese to crisp up in the oven. I served it with a side of marinara for light dipping action.

This has turned me back into a calzone lover. Maybe it will do the same for you? Or maybe it will help remind you that calzone would make a good addition to your meal rotation soon?

Let’s gather our ingredients.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Spinach and artichokes get chopped. Mostly because we don’t want to bite into large chunks.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Release the tension with chop therapy.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Stir in the cheeses + red pepper flakes.

Sidenote- I used Trader Joe’s Quatro Formaggio blend in this. It’s nice to have a few different cheese options going on for flavors. We also have some crumbled feta up in the mix.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Pizza dough has been cut into 4 pieces.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Start shaping them. Turn them into circles.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Or don’t make them perfect circles.

Life is not perfect. But as long as it tastes good and looks pretty good, what’s the problem?

Pesto layer. Then filling.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Put the filling on one half. Fold the half over and join the sides.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Crimp. Curl up and inward.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

4 perfectly imperfect calzones are off to the oven.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

After about 5 mins at 500F we do a little basting action with the oil.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Top with cheese.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

BAKED.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

I might have purposely spilled cheese on the baking sheet for snacking on later…

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

A thing of beauty.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

They’re nice and portable.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

Kinda like a hot pocket…but OH MY GOD. Look at that filling.

If you're looking for a great vegetarian weeknight meal, check out this Spinach Artichoke Calzone recipe on Shutterbean.com!

It kind of tastes like spinach artichoke dip + a calzone had a baby.

These would be great to have in the freezer for quick weeknight meals.

Spinach Artichoke Calzone

serves 4

  • 3 cups chopped spinach
  • 1/2 cup chopped marinated artichokes
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded, plus more for topping
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled feta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 lb. pizza dough
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • marinara, for serving

Preheat oven to 500F.

To make the garlic infused oil, mix minced garlic and oil in a small bowl and set aside to infuse.

Combine spinach, artichokes, mozzarella, feta and red pepper flakes in and a medium bowl.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 even pieces.

Flatten each piece into a 7 inch round on a baking sheet and spread about 1 tablespoon of pesto onto each dough round half. Divide the spinach filling evenly over half of each dough round, making sure to leave a 1-inch border around the edge. Fold over, securing edges by folding in and pressing with a fork.

With a sharp knife, cut a small steam vent on top of calzones.  Transfer calzones to the oven and bake for 7 minutes. Brush the calzones with garlic oil and sprinkle on reserved cheese. Bake for another 5-7 minutes, or until calzones are golden. Serve with marinara sauce.

  • Panya

    I think maybe you’re not going to the right kind of Italian places, lol, because I’ve never in my life seen a calzone on a menu with ricotta in it, nor any other kind of cheese besides mozzarella and/or Parmesan. That is, unless it’s custom; we have a favorite small local place that will put just about anything you want inside their calzoni, and my husband and I devour ones with their fettuccine alfredo inside, which is just a magnificent indulgence.

  • Anne

    Sitting eating my breakfast going…..no ricotta?! OK get the soggy part but love ricotta.
    Can’t help think about the phrase “opposites attracts” as reading onwards and seeing your mouthwatering photos, my mind went “forget about ricotta let’s have this!” challenge will definitely be getting marinated artichoke …. thanks for sharing – once I locate the artichoke this I a dish I need to try

  • Patri

    OMG, Tracy! It’s 1:15 PM and I still haven’t had lunch… now I want and need one of these calzones
    Kisses from Spain!!!! 🙂

  • Jean

    I’m definitely on the calzone bus-not sure how anyone wouldn’t be looking at these photos! That crispy cheese!

  • Rachael

    Oh my goodness this looks so tasty, I am definitely a calzone kind of person 🙂

    Rachael xx.
    theteacozykitchen.blogspot.co.uk

  • Lisa

    I’m so excited about this! I’m nursing my 4 month old and anything tomato based messes up her stomach….momma needs something pizza-ish and this will be perfect! Def gonna make a double batch and freeze some too…still working on the whole “how to feed my husband and I dinner with a baby who goes to sleep at 6:30 and I get home from work at 5” thing. 😉

    • Tracy

      oh yes! that’s a hectic shuffle. but remember, it’s just temporary! this is just one stage of your life, when your baby is older you’ll have a new routine in place! But it already looks like you’re trying to figure out how to care for you/your family and that’s all that matters!

  • libby

    My husband insists that he hates homemade pizza (I guess just nothing can compare with Pizza Hut? I dunno.) but I’ll bet I could get him on board the calzone train!

  • Bri

    YUM! Did you use Trader Joe’s pizza dough? Making this soon!

    • Tracy

      I did!

      • Emily

        I was wondering what dough would work well, thank you! Is the dough from their freezer section or is it a box mix of some sort?

        Looks so good! I used to regularly make calzones with a ricotta spinach mixture, but I’d try to do it on weeknights and it was just TOO much. But if I can use premade dough and everything, sign me up!

        • Lindsey

          I would like to know this too!

          • Tracy

            i actually used Trader Joe’s pizza dough. It’s premade and it’s great! You just have to make sure that you let it sit for a little bit longer than the time they tell you or it’s impossible to shape!

  • Megan

    I’m with you on the soggy ricotta calzones – no thanks! I almost skipped this recipe thinking it would fit that category – so glad to find out that’s not the case. This is much more my style. I can’t wait to make these!!!

  • fusilliamy

    Two reasons to love this: crispy cheese on top AND because Ben from Parks and Rec loves calzones 😀 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHqXMvHVUKA

  • Velva

    Love calzones! Agree with you too much ricotta in calzone is not a good thing. I prefer ingredients to be fresh and not overstuffed. Thanks for sharing.

    First time to your blog. I really like it. I will be back. Come on over and visit mine too.

    Take care.

    Velva

  • Lisa

    Yummers! Thanks for the idea. Would you freeze these before baking and bake right from freezer? Or freeze already baked and warm? Thank you!

  • Lori

    These look and sound amazing! Wouldn’t take too long if your pizza dough is ready to go 🙂

  • Annemiek den Hollander

    Well hello! What a meal: who wouldn’t love this. I really like the flavored accents in this dish.

  • Diane

    I made these last week and they were delicious!!!used pizza dough from Trader Joe’s. They looked just like yours :)…..yum

  • Carol

    Just made these tonight and they were delicious! I got all the ingredients at Trader Joe’s (I used the quattro formaggio, too). I will make these again and again. Thanks for a great recipe!

  • Ash

    These look amazing! We do homemade pizza every week and I might swap this in for that this week. I think my toddler will love them too! Also, I love your instagram stories.

  • Andrea

    I made this recipe yesterday! I used home made pesto, and everything else from Traders Joe’s. I also included dry tomatoes, and it was delicious!!!! Thank you!!!!!!

  • Meghan

    These were delish! This week I added the Italian Chicken sausage from TJs to the mix, and it was delightful!

    Thanks for the tip on freezing. I baked half for dinner and put the rest in the freezer (pre-baked) for another meal.

  • Lesley Kemp

    I made your Spinach Artichoke Calzone the other night and it is absolutely delicious. I did go to Trader Joes for the cheese that you recommended and like it too. I bought the pizza flour at Winco…a local grocery store and made my dough with the flour which was terrific too….easy to roll out. Thanks and this recipe is a KEEPER.

  • Chris Glenn

    Tracy:
    Question: What kind/flavor of pesto did you use in you Calzones?
    Thanks
    Chris

  • nancy

    These look delicious. Wondering about the freezing. Would you bake directly from frozen or defrost first?

  • Sandra

    So excited to find a calzone recipe without ricotta since my daughter isn’t a fan. I make multiple batches of pizza dough in my bread machine and freeze for later use. I also still have a few jars of pesto we made this summer and can’t wait to try it in these calzones.
    P.S. Great pics! They made my mouth water.

  • Liz Provo

    Made this tonight! I remember having a calzone at a restaurant in Amherst, MA years ago that didn’t have ricotta. They added sausage and sliced potato. I didn’t have the sausage, but did add canned sliced potato along with the other ingredients and it was delicious. It took me a bit longer to work with the pizza dough. Definitely let it sit on your floured board for 15 min. or so to make it workable. I’ll make it again. Thanks.

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  • Crystal

    I know this is an old post, but I really love this calzone. Made it once for valentines day for my boyfriend 4 years ago, and a lot after since my mom loved it as well. I’m going to make it for the same boy again this valentines since we haven’t had it in almost a year now. Just letting you know it’s really good and has a fond place in my heart.

  • Janet

    This looks fabulous! I may have to pop down to Trader Joe’s to pick up some pizza dough.

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