Easy Spinach, Cheese, and Sausage Calzone Recipe

This recipe for calzones with creamed spinach, cheese, and sausage is a very old Kraft recipe that my in-laws adapted. After my husband and I got married, we then further adapted (and perfected) it. It's one of our favorites. We hope that it will become a favorite of yours, too!

Have you tried the recipe? Let people know what you think!

Cook Time

You can adjust the cheese and meat to fit your personal preferences. I have substituted Colby jack on a few occasions when we didn't have mozzarella or Parmesan, and it was delicious. If you prefer a spicier sausage, look for the hot Jimmy Dean's variety or try a hot Italian sausage. You may need to try a couple different grocery stores to find hot roll mix and frozen creamed spinach. Don't despair! They are out there and are well worth it for this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 16 oz. box hot roll mix, Pillsbury, in the baking section with mixes such as banana bread
• 1 9 oz. package frozen creamed spinach (Green Giant), thawed
• 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 lb. Jimmy Dean's regular premium pork sausage
• 1/3 cup grated/shredded Parmesan cheese
• extra virgin olive oil (for the hot roll mix)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets. If you are wearing any rings, please take them off before handling the dough. Prepare the hot roll mix, adding 1 1/4 cups hot water and 2 tablespoons olive oil to the flour and yeast mixture. (I microwave the water for 1 minute 10 seconds on high.) Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes or until it forms a solid mixture. I knead the dough with a wooden spoon for at least the first minute because it's hot.

If the dough is a little sticky, that's okay. You'll cover it with lots of flour during the final rolling out process which eliminates all stickiness. Cover your clean counter or a large wooden cutting board with flour. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Let it rise uncovered for 10 minutes.

Frying the sausage.

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While the dough is rising, cook the sausage in a large, non-stick frying pan. Drain the grease after you've cooked it.  Mix the cheese and spinach, then add the sausage when it's ready.

Your circles don't need to be exact.

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Use a rolling pin to roll each piece of dough into a 6 inch (approx) circle. Use as much flour as you need through the rolling process. Spoon 1/2 cup sausage/cheese/spinach mixture on each piece of dough. Then fold them over and lightly pinch the edges together. Place them on the greased cookie sheets.

Bake for 12-15 minutes.  I bake them for 13 minutes with one pan on the top shelf and one pan on the bottom shelf.  I rotate the pans halfway through.

Tip: If you let your dough rise on the counter, it's very easy to scrap off the dough with a plastic spatula. My mom taught me that trick the first time we made this recipe for my parents. Thanks Mom!

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Enjoy! You can cut your calzone in half and pick it up and eat it or you can eat it with a fork.

Change it up and make a pizza calzone with eggplant and mozzarella!

Great Calzone Recipes

• Homemade Stromboli Recipe - Italian Calzone Dish
  
• EASY STEAK BOMB CALZONE
  
• Easy Recipe For Pizza Or Calzones From Scratch With Best Dough Recipe
  
• Living the Gourmet: Spinach Calzones with Homemade Marinara Sauce
  
• Mini Whole Wheat BBQ Chicken Calzones | How Sweet It Is
  

Sausage and pepper is another great combination for a calzone.

Calzone Resources

Comments

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 11, 2012:

That's a good sign!

Angelo52 on September 11, 2012:

Made me hungry just reading about these calzones.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 10, 2012:

Thanks, Susan! That's great.

Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on September 10, 2012:

These look great! Will try them soon.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 10, 2012:

Thanks algarveview! Thanks! It is a little time consuming but definitely not tricky.

Joana e Bruno from Algarve, Portugal on September 10, 2012:

Hello, Randomcreative, it looks delicious and it doesn't seem all that hard... Great recipe. Voted up and useful and sharing! Have a great day!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 10, 2012:

Thanks, Cyndi! That's awesome. You can easily substitute another meat for this recipe if you prefer.

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on September 10, 2012:

Yum! I'm not a big sausage eater, but you have me craving some calzones. I might have to make these for dinner tonight. :)

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 18, 2012:

Thanks Thelma and Alina!

Thelma Alberts from Germany on February 18, 2012:

Yummy!!! I love Spinach Calzones. Thanks for SHARING this. Bookmark for later use.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 12, 2011:

Thanks! You'll have to give it a try sometime.

Nyesha Pagnou MPH from USA on December 12, 2011:

What a clever recipe. I like spinach calzone but have never made it for myself. Thanks for the tips.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 05, 2011:

Haha, I would if I could! Thanks!

Holle Abee from Georgia on October 05, 2011:

These look awesome! Could you just mail me a few?? Voted up!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 01, 2011:

Thanks so much!

Louise Fiolek from Calgary, AB, Canada on September 01, 2011:

Hi Rose, these spinach calzones look very delicious. I love how you have clearly illustrated each step, thank you.

Cloverleaf.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 11, 2011:

Thank you so much! I'm so glad that this is helpful for you!

Eaglekiwi from New Zealand on May 10, 2011:

Another great hub.

I love your style ,its explained really well ,for the homecook and as a visual learner, the pictures do it for me 100%.

Thankyou!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 19, 2011:

You're welcome! I'm not a huge fan of spinach, especially cooked spinach, but it's very good in this recipe.

The Jet from The Bay on April 19, 2011:

Thanks! You just made me hungry for some spinach.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 10, 2011:

Thanks! They taste as good as they look (if not better)!

Memories for Life Scrapbooks on April 10, 2011:

Those look SO good!

Ancillotti from Brasil, Vitoria - ES on April 10, 2011:

They look delicious!