These delicious mini calzones are stuffed with three cheeses and spicy buffalo chicken—an easy, handheld snack or party appetizer everyone will love.
It’s Super Bowl week—the perfect time to pull together game-day favorites. If you love buffalo sauce, football and casual entertaining, these Buffalo Chicken Mini Calzones belong on your party menu. They combine tender shredded chicken tossed in tangy buffalo sauce with a creamy three-cheese filling wrapped in golden pizza dough. Serve warm with blue cheese or ranch for dipping.
These mini calzones are easy to make ahead and bake just before guests arrive, so they’re ideal for entertaining. The recipe yields about 16 bite-sized calzones—perfect for a crowd—and the combination of ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan keeps each bite rich and melty without overwhelming the buffalo flavor.
Buffalo Chicken Mini Calzones
Summary: Golden-baked mini calzones filled with shredded buffalo chicken and a three-cheese ricotta mixture. Serve warm with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
Servings: 16 mini calzones
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Author: Whitney Bond
Ingredients
- 16 oz pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ cup pepperoncinis, sliced
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 tsp water
- ½ cup blue cheese dressing or ranch, optional for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a medium bowl, toss the cooked shredded chicken with the buffalo sauce until well coated. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta, shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. Mix until blended into a smooth filling.
- Divide the pizza dough in half and roll each portion out to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch pastry cutter to cut circles from the dough. (If you don’t have a cutter, divide the dough into about 16 golf-ball sized pieces and roll each piece out to roughly 1/8-inch thickness.)
- Continue rolling and cutting until you have about 16 circles total. Remove and re-roll scraps as needed.
- On each circle (rolled to about 1/8-inch thickness), spread a spoonful of the ricotta-cheese mixture, leaving the outer edges clear. Add a spoonful of the buffalo chicken on top of the cheese, then place a couple of sliced pepperoncinis over the chicken.
- Combine the whisked egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush the edge of each dough circle with egg wash to help seal.
- Fold two opposite sides of the dough over the filling to meet in the center, pressing the edges together to seal each mini calzone. Place assembled calzones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Brush the tops of the calzones with the remaining egg wash for a golden finish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and cooked through. Let cool slightly before serving.
These mini calzones are best served warm. Offer blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side for dipping—both complement the spicy buffalo flavor. You can make the filling and shape the calzones ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake, which makes them especially convenient for game day.
Notes and Tips
- Use rotisserie chicken to save time—just shred and toss with buffalo sauce.
- Adjust the heat by choosing a milder or hotter buffalo sauce depending on your guests’ preferences.
- If you prefer softer calzones, bake a few minutes less; for extra-crisp crusts, bake a few minutes longer and keep an eye on color.
- Leftovers can be reheated in a 350°F oven until warmed through to keep the crust crisp.
Nutrition (per mini calzone)
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Fat: 4 g
- Sodium: 522 mg
These Buffalo Chicken Mini Calzones are a crowd-pleasing appetizer that bring together spicy, creamy and cheesy flavors in a convenient, handheld package—perfect for Super Bowl parties, casual gatherings or any time you want a satisfying snack.