Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets
These homemade cheesy pizza pockets are golden, crispy handheld treats filled with melty mozzarella, tangy pizza sauce, and your favorite toppings. Perfect for quick lunches, family dinners, or game-day snacks, they’re easy to customize, freezer-friendly, and far tastier than store-bought versions.
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin or clean bottle
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Pastry brush
- Cooling rack
- Optional: Silicone baking mat, food processor (for dough)
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough (store-bought or homemade) or equivalent puff pastry/biscuit dough
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup pizza or marinara sauce
- ½ cup your choice of fillings (pepperoni, cooked sausage, sautéed veggies, etc.)
- 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash) or 2 tbsp milk
- Optional: Additional cheese (cheddar, provolone), herbs, spices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 8 equal rectangles (about 4x6 inches).
- Spread about 1 tablespoon of sauce on half of each rectangle, leaving a ½-inch border.
- Layer cheese and fillings on the sauce side, avoiding overfilling.
- Fold dough over to form pockets and press edges to seal, then crimp with a fork.
- Brush tops with beaten egg or milk wash.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes, until golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Cool on a rack for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For crispier crust, bake on a silicone mat or preheated pizza stone.
- To freeze, assemble pockets and freeze on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to freezer bags. Bake from frozen, adding 5–7 minutes to baking time.
- Avoid soggy pockets by patting fillings dry and using a thin layer of sauce.
- Customize with your favorite cheeses and toppings for endless variety.