I'm super excited to be sharing my original recipe for Chicken Calzones with you today! I came up with the idea for this recipe when I won the February 1,2,3 Cook and Snap Recipe/Photo contest (hosted by The Foodie Blogroll on Facebook) with my Deconstructed Strawberry Pie with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and Chocolate Ganache recipe (pictured below).
One of the perks of being the winner of last month's contest was that I was presented with the opportunity to choose the 3 key ingredients for this month's contest. After much deliberation, I decided to choose Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Calzones because I just knew there would be some really spectacular recipe competition out there for me with these incredibly flavorful ingredients.
So, bring it on, people! I'm ready for you! LOL. Surely you know, I jest. This is purely a fun and friendly contest intended to spur our collective creative juices... I can hardly wait to see what everyone else has made. Good luck everyone 🙂
For more delicious calzone recipes, check out 15 Delicious Calzone Recipes by Brit and Co.
I think what you'll really love about this recipe for Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Calzones is the ease with which you can whip these up for a busy weeknight dinner. With easy-to-use ingredients like store-bought rotisserie chicken, prepared pizza dough (I made my own, but feel free to use ready-made), and even store-bought pre-cooked bacon and guacamole, in a matter of mere minutes these yummy calzones can be on your dinner table.
Please note that I wrote this recipe for both the completely homemade version, and also for the speedy, no-time-to-fool-around-in-the-kitchen version. Feel free to use whichever one works the best for you and your busy lifestyle. I promise I won't tell a soul 🙂
Chicken Calzones with Bacon and Avocado
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water, 105-110 degrees
- 1 teasooon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2½ - 3 cups all-purpose flour
For the filling:
- ¾ pound bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
- ½ rotisserie chicken, bones and skin removed and cut into bite sized pieces
To make the avocado mayonnaise:
- 2 ripe avocado, peeled and cut into pieces
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- avocado mayonnaise, shown below
Instructions
To make the dough:
- Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add the sugar and allow to sit and get foamy (about 5 minutes).
- Add the olive oil to the yeast mixture.
- In a stand mixer with the dough hook, mix the flour and salt.
- Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and mix with the dough hook until all the flour has been incorporated and the dough comes together to form a ball. *Note - If the dough seems too wet and sticky, add in a bit more flour until the dough is only slightly sticky and yet smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free place until double in size (approximately 1 hour).
To make the avocado mayonnaise:
- In a medium bowl, mash the avocado mayonnaise ingredients together and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
To form and bake calzones:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Divide the pizza dough into 8 equal pieces. Work each piece of dough into approximately 6" circles. *Note-I used my fingertips and hands to do this. I didn't use a rolling pin but you might want to if that works better for you.
- Spread about 1 to 1 ¼ tablespoons of the avocado mayonnaise on the bottom half of the pizza dough circle, making sure to keep it from the edge. *Note-You'll have leftover avocado mayonnaise so make sure you use it for dipping sauce when you serve the calzones.
- Top the avocado mayo with a bit of the shredded chicken (approximately 1 tablespoon) and top the chicken with some of the cooked bacon.
- Wet the bottom edge of the pizza dough with a slight bit of water and then carefully stretch the top half of the dough circle over the filling and press it firmly to the bottom half of the dough circle. You now have a half moon shape.
- Press the tines of a fork firmly around the edge of the filled calzone and use a paring knife to cut a small vent hole on the top of each calzone. Continue the same process with the remaining dough.
- Place each calzone on a parchment lined baking sheet (4 per sheet).
- Bake in a preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes or until the calzones are a lovely golden brown
- Cool slightly and serve warm with the remaining avocado mayonnaise if desired.
Nutrition
I hope you've enjoyed this recipe for Chicken Calzones with bacon and avocado as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you'll come back and visit me often. There is always room for you around my table!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen here on my blog, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. It is always my distinct pleasure to respond to you just as soon as I possibly can.
Kudos Kitchen by Renee – Where I joyously bring you easy, economical, and delicious comfort food dishes to feed the people you love!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Sherri Jo says
Yum! They look amazing Renee 🙂 Good luck!
Renee Goerger says
Thank you so much Sherri Jo. Same to you! 🙂