If you're craving pizza night but want something quicker (and a little more fun to eat), these homemade pizza pockets are the answer. Buttery puff pastry gets filled with pizza sauce, pepperoni, and cheese, then baked until golden and crisp. They're easy enough for a weeknight, but special enough for game day or a fun family dinner. Once you try homemade pizza pockets, it's hard to go back to store-bought.
Recipe Ingredients
- Puff Pastry - This is what gives these pizza pockets their flaky, golden layers. We prefer it over pizza dough. Find puff pastry in the freezer section of your grocery store. Let it thaw according to the package directions before using.
- Pizza Sauce - Use your favorite brand for that classic pizza flavor. Go easy when spooning it on, too much sauce near the edges makes the pockets harder to seal and can lead to sogginess.
- Pepperoni - Just a few slices per pocket are all you need, more if you use the tiny ones, just don't pile it high or the pocket might not seal correctly. We have used both regular pepperoni and turkey pepperoni.
- Shredded Pizza Cheese - A pizza cheese blend melts beautifully and gives that stretchy, gooey, cheese pull in every bite.
- Egg - Whisked with water and brushed over the pastry before baking helps to add color and shine for that nice golden brown finish.
- Italian Seasoning - A small sprinkle over the top adds a little extra pizza flavor.
Recipe Variations
To add to this recipe try these simple tricks:
- Other filling options can be used, maybe add some of your own favorite pizza toppings. Try cooked Italian sausage, grilled chicken, finely diced green peppers, or maybe some black olives.
- Shredded mozzarella can be used in place of the pizza cheese blend.
- Melt a small amount of butter and add a bit of garlic. Brush the garlic butter over the pizza pockets before baking. (use this in place of the egg wash)
- Sprinkle a little bit of Parmesan cheese over the pizza pockets before baking.
Step-by-step recipe directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or spray the sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Place the thawed puff pastry on a cutting board. A tiny bit of all-purpose flour can be used if needed to lightly flour the surface. Using a sharp knife, cut the puff pastry into six equal size rectangles.
Spoon the pizza sauce onto the center of each of the rectangles. Be careful and keep the sauce away from the edges of the pastry, this makes it much easier to get a good seal in a few steps.
Place 3 pepperoni slices over the pizza sauce on each pizza pocket.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the sliced pepperoni.
Use a pastry brush and brush the edges of the puff pastry with a little bit of water. This helps the top piece of pastry seal to the bottom piece, so your homemade pizza pockets hold together while baking.
Cut the second piece of pastry dough into six equal size rectangles and place over the tops of each pizza pocket.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush the egg wash over the top of the dough.
Using a fork, crimp down the edges, all the way around the pizza pockets. Press firmly as you go. A good, tight crimp is what keeps the filling from leaking out in the oven.
Sprinkle with Italian seasoning blend.
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Place the pizza pockets into the preheated oven and bake until golden brown with visible flaky layers, about 18-20 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on your oven.
Let the pepperoni pizza pockets cool slightly. Serve them with a little bit of pizza sauce on the side for dipping if you like.
This homemade pizza pocket recipe is an easy dinner, lunch, gameday treat, or snack the whole family is sure to enjoy!
Recipe FAQ's
No, the egg wash isn't necessary. It's mainly there for color and shine, giving the pockets that golden, bakery-style finish.
No, the egg wash isn't necessary. It's mainly there for color and shine, giving the pockets that golden, delicious looking finish.
The microwave works in a pinch, but only heat them for a few seconds at a time. Puff pastry can turn soggy quickly in the microwave. An air fryer would likely give you a crispier result, though we haven't tested it ourselves yet.
Pizza sauce is the classic choice, but ranch or garlic butter both make great dipping options too.
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Complete Recipe
Homemade Pizza Pockets
Ingredients
- 2 sheets Puff Pastry thawed
- ¾ cup Pizza Sauce
- 18 slices Pepperoni
- ¾ cup Pizza Cheese Blend shredded
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Water
- Italian Seasoning Blend
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or spray the sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Place the thawed puff pastry on a cutting board. A tiny bit of of all-purpose flour can be used if needed to lightly flour the surface. Using a sharp knife, cut the puff pastry into six equal size rectangles.
- Spoon the pizza sauce onto the center of each of the rectangles. Be careful and keep the sauce away from the edges of the pastry.
- Place 3 pepperoni slices over the pizza sauce on each pizza pocket.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the sliced pepperoni.
- Use a pastry brush and brush the edges of the puff pastry with a little bit of water. This will help seal the top piece of pastry to the bottom piece.
- Cut the second piece of pastry dough into six equal size rectangles and place over the tops of each pizza pocket.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush the egg wash over the top of the dough.
- Using a fork, crimp down the edges, all the way around the pizza pockets.
- Sprinkle with Italian seasoning blend.
- Place these easy homemade pizza pockets into the preheated oven and bake until golden brown.
- They will take about 18 - 20 minutes to bake. Cooking time may vary depending on your oven.
- Let the pepperoni pizza pockets cool slightly. Serve them with a small amount of pizza sauce on the side for dipping if you like.
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