Description

These BBQ Chicken Calzones are a delicious, handheld meal combining tender shredded chicken tossed in tangy barbecue sauce, crispy bacon, fresh red onion, and cilantro, all wrapped in a golden, flaky biscuit dough crust with melted mozzarella cheese inside. Perfect for a quick dinner or game day snack, these calzones bring together classic BBQ flavors in a convenient, baked pocket.

Ingredients

Scale

Calzone Dough

1 (16 ounce) can refrigerated Pillsbury Grand’s Homestyle Biscuit Dough
1 (16 ounce) can refrigerated Pillsbury Grand’s Homestyle Biscuit Dough (used for topping)

Filling

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup cooked, chopped bacon
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

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Instructions

Preheat and Mix Chicken: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, thoroughly mix the cooked shredded chicken with the barbecue sauce until evenly coated.
Prepare Dough Circles: Remove the biscuit dough from the can and place each dough piece on a clean surface. Roll each piece out flat into a 6-inch diameter circle. Repeat for all dough pieces.
Assemble Calzones: On the center of one flattened dough circle, place about 1/2 cup of the barbecue chicken mixture. Top with desired amounts of chopped bacon, red onion, cilantro, and approximately 1/3 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Take another dough circle and place it over the top. Seal the edges firmly by pressing them together, using a fork to crimp the edges for a secure seal.
Repeat Assembly: Continue the process of assembling calzones with the remaining dough circles and filling components. This recipe yields 4 calzones in total.
Bake: Place the prepared calzones on a large baking sheet lightly greased to prevent sticking. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the calzones turn golden brown and are cooked through.
Rest and Serve: Carefully remove the calzones from the oven and allow them to rest for about 5 minutes. This helps the filling set slightly for easier eating. Serve warm and enjoy your BBQ chicken calzones!

Notes

Make sure the edges of the calzones are sealed well to prevent filling from leaking during baking.
If preferred, swap out mozzarella for another favorite melting cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack.
For a spicier version, add jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the chicken barbecue mix.
Leftover calzones can be refrigerated and reheated in a toaster oven or conventional oven for best texture retention.