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BBQ Chicken Calzones

If you like BBQ chicken pizza, you'll like this easy-to-make BBQ chicken calzone!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 3020.8 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet For cooking bacon, chicken, and onion
  • 1 Baking Sheet For rolling dough and baking calzones
  • 1 Chef's knife For chopping onion and cutting calzones
  • 1 Cutting Board For preparing ingredients
  • 1 Fork For sealing calzone edges

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast meat
  • ½ small onion chopped
  • ⅔ cup barbeque sauce
  • 1 10 ounce can refrigerated pizza crust dough
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels; crumble.
  • Add shredded chicken and onion to hot bacon grease in the pan. Cook and stir over medium heat until onion is tender. Stir in 1/3 cup barbeque sauce; remove from heat. Mix in crumbled bacon.
  • Roll pizza crust dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Press out to an even thickness, then cut in half. Divide chicken mixture between dough pieces, spreading over 1/2 of each dough piece to within 1/2 inch of the edge.
  • Drizzle remaining barbeque sauce over the filling. Sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Fold uncovered portion of dough over the filling. Press the edges together with a fork to seal.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 25 minutes. Cool for a few minutes, then cut each calzone in half for 4 servings. Serve with additional barbeque sauce if desired.

Notes

1. For an enhanced savory depth, consider using a good quality, thick-cut bacon, allowing rendered fat to be fully utilized in sautéing the chicken and onion.2. Don't shy away from a high-quality, possibly slightly smoky, BBQ sauce. A homemade sauce or a premium brand can elevate the flavor profile significantly.3. Ensure the pizza dough is rolled to an even thickness to promote uniform cooking. An egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water) brushed over the calzones before baking will give them a beautiful golden-brown finish and a slight sheen.4. It's crucial not to overfill the calzones; this can lead to them bursting open during baking. Press the edges firmly with a fork, or even crimp them with your fingers, to create a secure seal.5. Allow the calzones to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking before cutting. This helps the filling set and prevents steam burns.