Homemade Cheesy Pizza Pockets Recipe
These homemade cheesy pizza pockets are a quick and delicious snack or meal option. Featuring a golden, buttery crust filled with gooey mozzarella cheese, savory pepperoni, and your choice of extra toppings, they bake to perfection in just 15 minutes. Perfect for dipping in pizza sauce and sharing with family or friends.
- Author: Cleo
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 pizza pockets 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Dough
- 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough or pizza dough
Filling
- ½ cup pizza sauce, plus extra for dipping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- Optional add-ins: mushrooms, bell peppers, or sausage (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Topping
- Olive oil or melted butter for brushing
- Grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) so it’s fully heated by the time your pizza pockets are ready to bake.
- Prepare the dough: Roll out your crescent roll or pizza dough on a flat surface and cut it into even rectangles, ensuring each piece is large enough to hold the fillings.
- Add the sauce: Spread about a tablespoon of pizza sauce evenly on each rectangle, leaving edges free to seal.
- Fill the pockets: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then add pepperoni slices and any optional toppings like mushrooms, bell peppers, or sausage. Sprinkle with garlic powder and Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
- Seal the pockets: Fold the dough over the filling to create a pocket, then pinch and seal the edges firmly to keep the fillings inside during baking.
- Brush and garnish: Lightly brush the tops of each pocket with olive oil or melted butter, then sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over them for a golden, flavorful finish.
- Bake: Place the pockets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until they turn golden brown and the cheese inside melts.
- Serve warm: Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and serve with extra pizza sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- You can customize your pizza pockets with different fillings such as cooked sausage, vegetables, or olives.
- For an extra crispy crust, brush with melted butter before baking.
- Ensure you seal the edges tightly to prevent fillings from leaking during baking.
- Leftover pizza pockets can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
- Use fresh herbs like basil or oregano in place of Italian seasoning for a different flavor profile.
Keywords: pizza pockets, cheesy snack, homemade pizza pockets, crescent roll pizza, easy party food, baked pizza pockets