These Air Fryer Taco Calzones are a simple 3 ingredient recipe that are ready in just 20 minutes. These cheesy pizza pockets make a delicious game day appetizer or easy family friendly dinner!
Taco Pizza Pockets
If you recently whipped up a batch of Tacos for your family, you may have some leftover taco meat on hand. If so, these Air Fryer Taco Calzones are the perfect way to use it up!
This recipe takes two favorite foods and combines them into one easy 20 minute recipe with only 3 ingredients.
If you don’t have leftover taco meat in the refrigerator and don’t have the extra 10 minutes to cook some up, you can always use taco meat from the refrigerated section at the grocery store. It’s an easy shortcut and your family will never notice.
Leftover Taco Meat Recipes
Whenever I cook up taco meat, I always like to make a double batch. I know my family won’t eat that much, but it is such a great protein to have on hand in the refrigerator.
Toss it in a tortilla for a quick quesadilla or make some of these Taco Wraps or some of these healthy Sweet Potato Taco Bowls. It is incredibly versatile and adds lots of flavor to any dinner.
Easy Air Fryer Dinner
These Air Fryer Taco Calzones are an easy dinner idea and one of many reasons I love my Air Fryer so much. You can crank out delicious and easy meals without heating up your whole kitchen with the oven and wasting time for it to warm up.
From Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders to Air Fryer BBQ Pork Sweet Potato Skins, get dinner on the table the whole family will love in a fraction of the time!
How to make Air Fryer Calzones
To get started making these cheesy pizza pockets, grab these 3 simple ingredients.
- 1 tube Pizza dough
- Taco meat
- Cheddar cheese
Spread out your sheet of pizza dough on a clean surface. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 4 even squares. Then cut each circle into large circles with the pizza cutter. Set the dough scraps to the side for some Cinnamon Sugar Bites we will make in a bit.
How to make Air Fryer Taco Calzones
How to assemble pizza pockets
Top one side of each circle of dough with 1/4 cup taco meat and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. I always prefer shredding my own extra sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor and texture, but pre-shredded cheese will work just fine as well.
Fold the empty half over the meat and cheese and press the edges of the dough together with a fork to seal it tightly. Repeat until you have 4 Taco Calzones.
Gently pick up each calzone and spray it with pan spray or olive oil. Arrange them in your Air Fryer basket, being careful not to rip the dough.
What Air Fryer should I buy?
I have the Phillips XXL basket that I love for it’s larger capacity. I was able to fit all 4 pizza pockets in my basket at one time.
If you have a smaller basket, you will want to use a Air Fryer Multi Rack in your basket or cook them in separate batches.
Cook the calzones at 325° for 8-10 minutes. Watch them closely at the 8 minute mark so you don’t overcook them.
What should I serve Taco Calzones with?
After your Taco Calzones are cooked through, remove them to a serving platter. Whether you are serving them as appetizers on game day or for a family dinner, I would recommend serving them with some condiments.
These are just a few serving suggestions for Air Fryer Taco Calzones,
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Refried beans
- Nacho cheese
In addition to some dipping sauces, a quick and simple side salad would really round this dinner out into a complete meal. Top some mixed greens with tomatoes, avocadoes and tortilla strips with a little Chipotle Lime Dressing for a delicious side dish.
What can I make with leftover pizza dough?
Do not throw away the scraps of leftover pizza dough from the Taco Calzones! After your pizza pockets are done cooking, we are going to use this to make my favorite part of this whole recipe.
Cut the strips into even sized pieces, about 2 inches long. Add them to the Air Fryer and cook at 325° for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, make a little cinnamon sugar mixture and add it to a deep bowl. The best ration for cinnamon sugar is 4 parts granulated sugar to 1 part ground cinnamon.
As soon as the scraps are done cooking, add them directly to the bowl of cinnamon sugar and toss to coat. They will be ready to enjoy for a delicious dessert after your family has devoured their Taco Calzones!
If you are feeling really ambitious, you can always use your Air Fryer to make some actual churros.
More Mexican inspired Air Fryer recipes!
If you love the Mexican inspired flavors of these Taco Calzones, you will enjoy some more of these easy Air Fryer recipes.
- Air Fryer Avocado Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Easy Air Fryer Jicama Fries
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Air Fryer Tortilla Crusted Tilapia Salad
Air Fryer Taco Calzones
Ingredients
- 1 tube Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough
- 1 cup taco meat
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
Instructions
- Spread out your sheet of pizza dough on a clean surface. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 4 even squares.
- Cut each square into a large circle using the pizza cutter. Set the dough scraps aside to make cinnamon sugar bites.
- Top one half of each circle of dough with 1/4 cup taco meat and 1/4 cup shredded cheese.
- Fold the empty half over the meat and cheese and press the edges of the dough together with a fork to seal it tightly. Repeat with all four calzones.
- Gently pick up each calzone and spray it with pan spray or olive oil. Arrange them in your Air Fryer basket.
- Cook the calzones at 325° for 8-10 minutes. Watch them closely at the 8 minute mark so you don’t overcook them.
- Serve with salsa and sour cream.
- To make cinnamon sugar bites, cut the scraps of dough into even sized pieces, about 2 inches long. Add them to the Air Fryer basket and cook at 325° for 5 minutes. Immediately toss with 1:4 cinnamon sugar mixture.
Ashley says
Would these freeze well? I’m wanting to make them for school lunches. Thanks!
Danielle Green says
I’d guess that they may be a little soggy upon thawing, but if you were to reheat in an Air Fryer, perhaps that could work well.