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Quick & Easy Mini Calzones ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

Quick & Easy Mini Calzones ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

This is such a simple, pickiest-eater-approved dinner idea! It’s a staple during baseball season at our house as it’s a recipe that can be eaten on the go and it travels well. Whether you’re rushing out the door to practice or just want a quick budget-friendly meal, you’ll love adding these easy Mini Calzones to your meal rotation!

I can often get Pillsbury canned biscuits for less than a dollar at Publix (by combining sales, coupons and rebate apps), and I love using them in this dinner idea. You can also make your own biscuit dough, of course, if you prefer that.

As far as the filling goes, your imagination is the limit! that’s one of the best things about this Mini Calzone recipe — it’s endlessly customizable. Tonight I used ground venison sausage (my husband is a hunter so we always have venison!) and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Mini pepperoni (instead of venison sausage) is another favorite of ours in this recipe. Other great filling ideas include cooked Italian sausage, spinach and Ricotta, or even just classic cheese. You really can’t go wrong!

I served the Mini Calzones with Roasted Parmesan Broccoli and of course pizza sauce on the side for dipping!

This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she shares easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.

Golden baked mini calzones on parchment paper with roasted broccoli in the background.

Mini Calzones Menu:

Mini Calzones
Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
Pizza Sauce for dipping

Ingredients for Mini Calzones:

2 cans biscuits (Publix – sales, coupons and rebates) — $2
3/4 lb ground sausage, cooked (I used ground venison sausage but this price is based on Aldi prices) — $3
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (Aldi) — $1.23
1-2 cups pizza sauce for dipping (Aldi) — $0.69
2 Tablespoons melted butter (Aldi – $2.99 for 1lb) — $0.19
Parmesan cheese

Total for Calzones: $7.11 (makes 16 calzones)

Ingredients for Roasted Parmesan Broccoli:

1 pound broccoli crowns, cut into bite-size pieces (Aldi) — $2.39
Drizzle of olive oil, garlic powder, salt, Parmesan cheese

Total for Dinner: $2.39 + seasonings (serves 6)

Total for Dinner: $9.50 (plus cost of seasonings) (makes 6 servings)

Baked mini calzones with roasted broccoli and a bowl of marinara sauce on the side.

How to Make Mini Calzones with Roasted Parmesan Broccoli:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 3 baking pans with parchment paper. In one of the pans, spread the broccoli pieces in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until browned.

Raw broccoli florets drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with seasoning before roasting.

Roasted broccoli florets with browned edges on a parchment lined baking sheet.

2. Roll out each biscuit until 1/4 inch thick. Top each biscuit with a small amount of cooked sausage and shredded cheese.

Flattened biscuit dough rounds arranged on parchment paper before adding mini calzone fillings.

Biscuit dough rounds topped with shredded mozzarella and cooked ground beef for mini calzones.

3. Fold biscuits in half to create a half moon shape. Use a fork to seal the edges of each calzone. Cut two slits in each calzone.

Unbaked mini calzones sealed with fork marks on parchment paper before baking.

4. Bake 12-15 minutes or until browned. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Golden brown mini calzone on parchment paper sprinkled with grated Parmesan.

Mini Calzones and Roasted Parmesan Broccoli

Mini Calzones made with Pillsbury biscuits are an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner — perfect for busy weeknights! They're customizable, budget-friendly, and totally grab-and-go ready. Serve with pizza sauce for dipping and watch them disappear!

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword easy dinner, easy side dish, family favorite, homemade, quick snack, weeknight dinner

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Servings

Calories 887kcal

Author Brigette

Cost $9.50

Ingredients

Ingredients for Mini Calzones:

2 cans biscuits Publix – sales, coupons and rebates — $2
3/4 lb ground sausage cooked (I used ground venison sausage but this price is based on Aldi prices) — $3
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese Aldi — $1.23
1-2 cups pizza sauce for dipping Aldi — $0.69
2 Tablespoons melted butter Aldi – $2.99 for 1lb — $0.19
Parmesan cheese

Ingredients for Roasted Parmesan Broccoli

1 pound broccoli crowns cut into bite-size pieces (Aldi) — $2.39
Drizzle olive oil
Garlic powder
Salt
Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 3 baking pans with parchment paper. In one of the pans, spread the broccoli pieces in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until browned.
While the broccoli bakes, roll out each biscuit until 1/4 inch thick. Top each biscuit with a small amount of cooked sausage and shredded cheese.
Fold biscuits in half to create a half moon shape. Use a fork to seal the edges of each calzone. Cut two slits in each calzone.
Bake 12-15 minutes or until browned. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Notes

As far as the filling goes, your imagination is the limit! That’s one of the best things about this Mini Calzone recipe — it’s endlessly customizable. Tonight I used ground venison sausage (my husband is a hunter so we always have venison!) and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Mini pepperoni (instead of venison sausage) is another favorite of ours in this recipe. Other great filling ideas include Italian sausage, spinach and Ricotta cheese, or even just classic cheese. You really can’t go wrong!

Nutrition

FAQs about Mini Calzones and Roasted Parmesan Broccoli:

Is calzone dough the same as pizza dough?

This recipe uses Pillsbury biscuit dough, but you could also use their pizza dough, or make your own!

How long do you cook mini calzones?

Cook these Mini Calzones for 12-15 minutes or until browned.

Do calzones have sauce inside?

To avoid a soggy crust, calzones don’t have sauce inside. Instead, you can dip Mini Calzones in sauce when eating.

Should you poke holes in a calzone?

Yes, to let the steam escape, cut two slits in the top of each Mini Calzone.

How long does broccoli take in a 400 degree oven?

Bake this Roasted Parmesan Broccoli recipe in the oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

What can I put on broccoli to make it more tasty?

Our family loves adding a drizzle of olive oil with shakes of salt, garlic, and Parmesan. You could also squeeze fresh lemon juice on top when done cooking.