Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones are an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer made with tender chicken, buffalo ranch dip, vegetables, and premade pizza dough for a quick shortcut. These bite-size calzones bake up golden and flavorful, making them perfect for game day, holiday parties, or casual entertaining.
Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones are one of those appetizers that disappear almost as fast as you pull them out of the oven. They’re packed with bold buffalo flavor, melty filling, and wrapped in soft pizza dough that bakes up golden and slightly crisp on the outside. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, planning a game day spread, or just want a fun snack to share, these calzones always deliver.
What I love most about this recipe is how flexible and approachable it is. You only need about 10 simple ingredients, and most of them are easy to find at any grocery store. Using premade pizza dough keeps things quick and stress-free, while the filling can be customized based on what you like or already have on hand.
This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover chicken. Rotisserie chicken works perfectly, but any cooked and chopped chicken will do the job. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese or certain vegetables, it’s easy to swap them out and still end up with a delicious result.
These Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones are best served warm with extra buffalo ranch dip on the side. They’re easy to make ahead, freezer-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd without a lot of last-minute work.
What I Love About This Recipe
- They can be made ahead and frozen, which makes party prep much easier when hosting or planning ahead.
- These mini calzones are bite-sized, which makes them perfect for parties, game days, and holiday gatherings where guests want easy handheld food.
- The recipe uses store-bought pizza dough, which saves time and keeps the prep simple without sacrificing flavor or texture.
- The buffalo chicken filling is easy to customize, so you can adjust the veggies, cheese, or heat level to match your taste.
Equipment You May Need
- Baking Sheets – For baking the calzones evenly in the oven.
- Parchment Paper – Helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup easier.
- Mixing Bowls – One medium bowl for the filling and a small bowl for the egg wash.
- Rolling Pin – For rolling or pressing the pizza dough into small circles.
- Pastry Brush – To brush the egg wash on top of the calzones for a golden finish.
Ingredients
- Cooked Chicken – Finely chopped or shredded chicken adds protein and makes the filling hearty and satisfying.
- Blue Cheese – Adds a bold, tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with buffalo seasoning.
- Celery – Provides a classic buffalo-style crunch and freshness.
- Carrot – Adds a hint of sweetness and color to the filling.
- Red Onion – Brings a mild bite and extra depth of flavor.
- Buffalo Ranch Dip – Ties the filling together with creamy, spicy flavor and doubles as a dipping sauce. If you can’t find it, you can use store-bought or homemade ranch dip and mix a little buffalo or hot sauce in it.
- Pizza Dough – Premade dough keeps this recipe quick and easy while baking up soft and golden.
- Flour – Used for dusting the work surface so the dough doesn’t stick.
- Egg – Mixed with water to create an egg wash for a shiny, golden crust.
- Water – Thins the egg wash so it brushes on easily.
How to Make Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones
Step One: Preheat and Prep
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly spray with nonstick spray.
Step Two: Make the Filling
In a medium bowl, mix together the chicken, blue cheese, celery, carrot, and red onion. Stir in 1/3 cup of the buffalo ranch dip until everything is well combined.
Step Three: Shape the Dough
Divide the pizza dough into 16 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, flatten each piece into a circle about 4 inches wide using your fingers or a rolling pin.
Step Four: Fill and Seal
Spoon about one slightly heaping tablespoon of filling onto one side of each dough circle. Fold the dough over the filling, pinch the edges to seal, and place on the prepared baking sheets.
Step Five: Brush and Bake
Whisk together the egg and water, then brush the tops of the calzones lightly with the egg wash. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through. Serve warm with the remaining buffalo ranch dip.
(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)
Serving Suggestions
- Serve the calzones warm with extra buffalo ranch dip or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
- Pair with fresh veggie sticks like celery and carrots for a classic buffalo-style spread.
- Add these to a game day table alongside wings, sliders, or nachos for a complete menu.
Quick Tips for Best Results
- Don’t overfill the calzones, or they may be difficult to seal and could leak while baking.
- Keep the dough covered with a towel while working to prevent it from drying out.
- Use a fork to crimp the edges if you want extra insurance that the calzones stay sealed.
- Bake until just golden so the dough stays soft and tender on the inside.
Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones FAQ
How should I store the calzones?
Store leftover calzones in an airtight container in the refrigerator once they have cooled completely.
Can I freeze the calzones?
Yes, these calzones freeze very well. Freeze them baked or unbaked in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
How long will the calzones last?
They will last about 3–4 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer when stored properly.
Substitutions?
You can substitute ranch dressing mixed with buffalo sauce if you can’t find buffalo ranch dip. Any ground or chopped cooked meat can be used in place of chicken.
Can I use low-fat ingredients?
Yes, low-fat cheese, low-fat ranch, or reduced-fat pizza dough can be used, though the texture may be slightly different.
What else can I add to this recipe?
You can add chopped jalapeños for extra heat, shredded cheddar or mozzarella for more cheese, or swap in shrimp instead of chicken for a fun twist.
Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.
Vegan – This would be a tough one to make vegan.
Vegetarian – You could omit the chicken and add more veggies.
Low-Carb – You can try a low-carb dough recipe instead of the refrigerated dough.
Gluten-Free -You can try a gluten-free dough.
Hope you enjoy these Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones! You might also like this quick and easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese and these Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wings!
Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped precooked chicken (or shredded chicken)
- 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- 1 (16 oz.) container Buffalo Ranch Dip divided
- 1 (16 oz.) package frozen pizza dough defrosted & risen
- Flour for dusting
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, mix together chicken, blue cheese, celery, carrot, and red onion until combined. Stir in 1/3 cup dip until well combined.
- Divide dough into 16 (1 oz.) pieces. Flatten dough on lightly floured surface into circles with fingers or rolling pin to form a circle about 4-inch in diameter. Spoon filling (about 1 slightly heaping tablespoon) to one side of each dough round. Fold dough over filling; pinch dough to seal. Place calzones on prepared baking sheet.
- In small mixing bowl, whisk together egg and water. Brush on tops of calzones.
- Bake calzones at 425 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve with remaining Buffalo Ranch dip for dipping.
Notes
- A rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken is great for this recipe.
- If you don’t like celery, carrots, red onion, and/or blue cheese, just substitute one of the others.
- You can use any kind of pizza dough for this recipe such as homemade, refrigerated, or frozen (defrosted).
- If you can’t find buffalo ranch dip, you can substitute ranch dressing with a little buffalo sauce.
Nutrition:
(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)
Susan J says
These would be great for Super Bowl Sunday!