Description
Homemade Pizza Pockets are a delicious and convenient snack or meal option featuring fresh pizza dough stuffed with classic pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese. These golden-brown pockets are baked to perfection and offer a crispy crust with a gooey, cheesy filling, perfect for customizing with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough
- 16 oz ball fresh pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
Filling
- 1 cup pizza sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Finishing
- 1 egg yolk, whipped with a fork in a small bowl
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Roll out Dough: Place the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface, and using a rolling pin, roll it out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut Dough Rectangles: Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice the dough into 8 equal-sized rectangles for uniform pizza pockets.
- Stretch Rectangles: Roll each rectangle again gently until approximately 8 inches long. Arrange them on the parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing half of each rectangle to hang over the edge for easier folding later.
- Add Sauce: Spoon 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce onto one end of each rectangle, spreading it evenly to cover the area that will become the filling.
- Add Cheese and Toppings: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce and add any additional desired toppings.
- Fold and Seal: Fold the empty half of each rectangle over the filling side, creating a pocket, and press the edges firmly with a fork to seal completely.
- Brush with Egg Wash: Whisk the egg yolk with one tablespoon of water, then brush the tops of each pizza pocket to promote a golden, glossy finish when baked.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the pizza pockets for 12 to 17 minutes or until they turn golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool Slightly: Remove from the oven and let the pizza pockets rest for a few minutes before serving, as they will be very hot right out of the oven.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage. Reheat in the oven for best results.
Notes
- Feel free to customize the filling with your favorite pizza toppings such as pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers.
- If using store-bought dough, let it come to room temperature before rolling for easier handling.
- Egg wash gives the crust a shiny, golden finish but can be skipped if avoiding eggs.
- To freeze, place baked pockets on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag.
- Reheat baked pizza pockets in an oven or air fryer for crispy crust instead of a microwave.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Pizza pockets, homemade pizza, snack, easy pizza recipe, baked pizza pockets, mozzarella cheese pockets
