Calzone with Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta
Folded pizza pockets stuffed with savory Italian sausage, sautéed spinach, and creamy ricotta cheese make for a comforting and portable meal. This italian-inspired pizza ready in about 45 minutes pairs pizza dough (store-bought or homemade), Italian sausage (casings removed), fresh spinach leaves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 700 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 300 g pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 150 g Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 100 g fresh spinach leaves
- 120 g ricotta cheese
- 100 g mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 cloves garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp (optional) crushed red pepper flakes
- 100 g tomato sauce
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 150 g Italian sausage (casings removed) and cook for 6-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon until browned and cooked through.
- Step 2: Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 100 g fresh spinach leaves to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté for 3 minutes until spinach is wilted. Season with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and optional 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes. Remove from heat.
- Step 3: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 4: Roll out 300 g pizza dough into a 10-inch circle on a floured surface. Spread 100 g tomato sauce evenly over half of the dough, leaving a 1-inch edge.
- Step 5: In a bowl, mix 120 g ricotta cheese with 100 g shredded mozzarella, then spoon half of the cheese mixture over the tomato sauce. Top with the cooked sausage and spinach mixture.
- Step 6: Fold the dough over to cover the filling and press edges firmly to seal. Crimp edges with a fork to prevent leaking.
- Step 7: Brush the calzone top with 1 tbsp olive oil and cut 2 small slits to vent steam.
- Step 8: Bake on the prepared baking sheet for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
- Step 9: Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with extra tomato sauce if desired.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Calzone with Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta take to make?
Total time is about 45 minutes (25 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Calzone with Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep fresh spinach leaves from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Calzone with Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Calzone with Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Calzone with Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta?
Italian pizza like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
