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These handy stuffed pizza pockets pack your top pizza flavors into grab-and-go treats perfect for family meals, sports gatherings, or when you need something you can freeze for later. The crispy golden pockets bursting with tasty chicken, pepperoni slices, and gooey cheese make mealtime fun while delivering those comfort flavors everybody craves.
I came up with these stuffed pockets during one crazy busy week when I needed dinner ideas everyone would eat. My little girl asked for "pizza but not normal pizza" and these pockets were such a hit they're now part of our regular meal lineup.
What You'll Need
- Pizza dough: Either homemade or from the store works as the wrapper for all your yummy fillings. Dough at room temp is much easier to roll out
- Rotisserie chicken: Gives you quick protein and good flavor without any extra cooking
- Mini pepperoni: Delivers that pizza taste in small, easy pieces
- Pizza toppings you enjoy: Such as olives, bell peppers or greens to match what your family likes
- Mozzarella cheese: Gives you that must-have stretchy, melty goodness in every bite
- Marinara sauce: Split between the filling and dipping to add moisture and rich tomato taste
- Egg wash: Makes the crust turn beautifully golden and helps seal the edges
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a tasty, nutty flavor to the outside of the crust
- Pizza seasoning or dried oregano: For that real pizza shop smell and flavor
Cooking Instructions
- Set Up Everything:
- Heat your oven to 375°F and put parchment on a baking sheet. Getting everything ready first makes putting these together way easier and keeps your dough from warming up too much.
- Work The Dough:
- Split your dough into 6 equal chunks and roll each into a shape about 6 inches wide. You can make circles, squares or whatever you want - just make sure the thickness stays the same all over so it cooks evenly.
- Mix Your Stuffing:
- Toss together your shredded chicken, mini pepperoni, whatever toppings you picked, mozzarella cheese and half the sauce in a bowl. Stir it all up carefully so everything gets mixed in well.
- Put Them Together:
- Drop a big spoonful of filling in the middle of each dough piece, leaving a bit of space around the edges. Brush some egg around the border by the filling, then fold the empty half over and press the edges down tight. This keeps everything from leaking while cooking.
- Top And Cook:
- Move your filled pockets to the baking sheet, brush the tops with the rest of the egg wash and sprinkle some Parmesan on top. Poke a small hole in each one so steam can escape. Bake for about 20 minutes until they're golden and fully cooked.
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Those tiny pepperonis really make these pizza pockets stand out. I found them by chance while shopping one day, and they spread out perfectly in the filling. My youngest now always asks for "the tiny pepperonis" whenever we make these, and finding them has become her special task during our grocery trips.
Prep Ahead Options
These stuffed pockets are great for prepping early. You can put them all together and keep them in the fridge for up to a day before cooking. This works great for busy nights when you want homemade food but don't have much time. Just cook them about 5 minutes longer if they're coming straight from the fridge.
If you want to save them longer, freeze the assembled but uncooked pockets on a cookie sheet until they're hard, then put them in a freezer bag. When you're ready to eat them, cook from frozen by adding about 10 extra minutes to the cooking time.
Ways To Mix It Up
What's awesome about these pizza pockets is how many ways you can change them. Try setting up a make-your-own station where everyone picks their favorite fillings. Some combos that work great are buffalo chicken with blue cheese, veggie ones with mushrooms and peppers, or breakfast versions with eggs and bacon.
For little kids, keeping it basic with just cheese and a bit of sauce usually works better. Grown-ups might like fancier mixes like caramelized onions with goat cheese and spinach. You can really do whatever you want with these.
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What To Serve With Them
These pizza pockets taste great by themselves, but adding a few simple sides makes it a complete dinner. A crisp green salad with Italian dressing goes really well with the rich flavors. For a bigger meal, add some roasted veggies or a light soup on the side.
FAQs About the Recipe
- → Can I use store-bought pizza dough?
Absolutely, grabbing ready-made pizza dough will cut down your prep time and works just fine.
- → What other fillings can I use?
You can throw in some olives, bell peppers, fresh spinach, or whatever pizza toppings your family loves.
- → How do I prevent the pockets from tearing?
Don't stuff too many ingredients inside and make sure you roll the dough to an even thickness.
- → Can I freeze these pizza pockets?
They freeze beautifully after cooking and you can warm them up later for a fast meal.
- → What can I use instead of pepperoni?
Try swapping pepperoni with cooked sausage bits, crumbled bacon, or skip the meat entirely for a veggie version.