Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets are a fun and delicious way to enjoy the flavors of pizza in a portable, bite-sized form. These golden, cheesy pockets are filled with gooey mozzarella, savory tomato sauce, and your favorite pizza toppings, all tucked inside soft dough. They’re perfect for lunch, snacks, or even a quick dinner, and they’re super easy to make. With a crispy crust and a melted cheesy interior, these pizza pockets will become a family favorite in no time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets bring all the joy of pizza into a convenient, handheld form. They’re customizable, so you can fill them with your favorite pizza toppings—whether it’s pepperoni, sausage, vegetables, or just extra cheese. The dough bakes up golden and crispy, while the cheesy filling melts perfectly inside. Plus, these pizza pockets are quick to make and can be prepared ahead of time for easy meals or snacks throughout the week. Whether you’re serving them to a crowd or enjoying them solo, these pizza pockets will satisfy your pizza cravings!
Ingredients
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1 package refrigerated pizza dough (or homemade dough)
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1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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1/2 cup pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
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1/2 cup pepperoni or your favorite pizza toppings (optional)
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1 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing)
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
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Salt and pepper to taste
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
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Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
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Prepare the dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a flat surface into a rectangle or circle, depending on your preference. Aim for about 1/8-inch thickness.
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Assemble the pizza pockets: Cut the dough into 6-8 even squares or circles (depending on the size you want for your pockets). Place about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce in the center of each dough piece, followed by a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese and your desired pizza toppings (like pepperoni, sausage, or veggies).
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Seal the pockets: Fold the dough over the filling to form a pocket, sealing the edges by pressing them together with your fingers or using a fork to crimp the edges.
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Prepare for baking: Place the sealed pizza pockets on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
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Bake the pizza pockets: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
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Serve: Let the pizza pockets cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy them on their own, or with extra pizza sauce for dipping!
Servings and timing
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Servings: Approximately 6-8 pizza pockets
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Prep time: 10 minutes
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Cook time: 12-15 minutes
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Total time: 25 minutes
Variations
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Vegetarian Pizza Pockets: Add vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and spinach for a meatless version.
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Cheesy Breadsticks: Leave out the sauce and toppings and make a simple cheese-filled pocket, brushed with garlic butter for a cheesy breadstick alternative.
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Spicy Pizza Pockets: Add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the pizza sauce for an extra kick.
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Mini Pockets: Make smaller-sized pizza pockets for appetizers or snacks, adjusting the baking time to 8-10 minutes.
Storage/Reheating
These pizza pockets are best served fresh, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, place them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through. You can also microwave them for 30 seconds to 1 minute, though the crust may lose some of its crispiness.
FAQs
1. Can I use homemade pizza dough for this recipe?
Yes! You can definitely use homemade pizza dough. Just roll it out as you would with store-bought dough and follow the same steps.
2. Can I freeze these pizza pockets?
Yes! To freeze, assemble the pizza pockets and place them on a baking sheet. Freeze them until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. When ready to bake, bake directly from frozen at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Can I add other toppings besides cheese and pepperoni?
Absolutely! You can add any pizza toppings you like, such as sausage, mushrooms, olives, or even bacon. Just make sure the toppings are chopped small so they fit inside the pockets.
4. Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes, you can use gluten-free pizza dough as a substitute for regular pizza dough to make these pizza pockets gluten-free.
5. How do I prevent the pizza pockets from leaking?
To prevent leaking, make sure the edges of the dough are well-sealed before baking. You can press the edges together with your fingers or crimp them with a fork.
6. Can I use a different type of cheese?
Yes! Feel free to use other cheeses like provolone, cheddar, or a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan for a different flavor.
7. Can I make these pizza pockets ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble the pizza pockets and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before baking. Just make sure to cover them tightly with plastic wrap or foil.
8. Can I add sauce inside the pizza pockets?
Yes, you can add a spoonful of pizza sauce inside the pockets along with the cheese and toppings. Just make sure not to add too much so it doesn’t leak out while baking.
9. Can I use puff pastry instead of pizza dough?
Yes, puff pastry would create a flakier crust for the pizza pockets, but it will need a bit of a shorter bake time, around 10-12 minutes.
10. Can I use ricotta cheese in these pizza pockets?
Yes, ricotta cheese can add a creamy texture to your pizza pockets. You can mix it with mozzarella for a delicious cheese filling.
Conclusion
Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets are a fun, customizable, and delicious way to enjoy pizza in a new form. With gooey cheese, savory sauce, and your favorite pizza toppings wrapped in soft, golden dough, these pockets are perfect for lunch, snacks, or dinner. They’re easy to make, and you can enjoy them fresh from the oven or prepare them ahead of time for a convenient treat. These cheesy pockets are guaranteed to be a hit with everyone in the family!
Print
Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
Description
Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets are a fun, portable way to enjoy the flavors of pizza. With gooey cheese, savory sauce, and your favorite pizza toppings wrapped in soft, golden dough, these bite-sized pockets are perfect for lunch, snacks, or even dinner.
Ingredients
1 package refrigerated pizza dough (or homemade dough)
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
1/2 cup pepperoni or your favorite pizza toppings (optional)
1 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Prepare the dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a flat surface into a rectangle or circle, depending on your preference. Aim for about 1/8-inch thickness.
- Assemble the pizza pockets: Cut the dough into 6-8 even squares or circles (depending on the size you want for your pockets). Place about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce in the center of each dough piece, followed by a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese and your desired pizza toppings (like pepperoni, sausage, or veggies).
- Seal the pockets: Fold the dough over the filling to form a pocket, sealing the edges by pressing them together with your fingers or using a fork to crimp the edges.
- Prepare for baking: Place the sealed pizza pockets on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Bake the pizza pockets: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Let the pizza pockets cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy them on their own, or with extra pizza sauce for dipping!
Notes
These pizza pockets are easily customizable with different toppings, cheeses, or spices.
For a quicker alternative, use puff pastry instead of pizza dough for a flakier texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pocket
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
