My kids, like most children, love all my pizza recipes for kids and they seem more inclined to eat their veggies when they’re packaged up inside pizza. These Homemade Pizza Pockets have the flavors of classic cheese pizza with an incredibly soft dough and an interior filled with a nice portion of broccoli. I love to make them ahead of time for easy weeknight family dinners—because leftovers warm in about 30 seconds!—on nights when I otherwise don’t have time to cook. And when my kids go to school, it’s a great kids lunch or kindergarten lunch to pack in a kids thermos. We often have a simple side of fruit or a veggie…or just a drink. They’re a fairly complete meal in themselves! (You may also like Halloween Pizza, Pizza Rolls, Pizza Pinwheels, Pizza Toast, and my Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough.)
Ingredients You Need
To make these simple pizza pockets, you’ll need to have these following ingredients on hand and ready to go. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Broccoli: Frozen or fresh broccoli florets work here, or you can use any other pizza topping your kids like such as pepperoni, cooked sausage, black olives, or peppers. Pizza dough: I usually use my Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough in this recipe, but you can also use my Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough or a store-bought fresh ball of dough. Look near the cheese or in the freezer aisle to see if your store has pizza dough. Shredded mozzarella cheese: This is classic pizza cheese so it’s what I use here. You can also use Italian blend shredded cheese if you prefer. Pizza sauce: We add a little pizza sauce inside the pizza pockets recipe. You can also use a little Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce if you prefer. Parmesan cheese, oregano, olive oil: These are optional to add more flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process of making these Homemade Pizza Pockets. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing.
How to Store
Simply let the pizza pockets cool and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Or place in a zip-top freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Warm 30-60 seconds in the microwave.
Best Tips for Success
Avoid the urge to add more filling than is called for. They may be too hard to securely close with more filling. Use a fork to poke holes in the top of each pocket to allow air to escape. This will help to prevent cheese from leaking out. Bake on parchment paper or foil make cleanup easy. Spreading and stretching the dough with your hands, rather than a rolling pin, is usually easier. Seal the seams securely, using a little water if needed to help the seam of the pizza crust stick together. Try using different fillings, such as pepperoni slices, dried oregano, garlic, diced ham, mushrooms, or other favorite options according to your kid’s favorite pizza toppings. Use homemade pizza dough or a ball of fresh dough from your supermarket to make the pizza pockets recipe. Serve with a Watermelon Popsicle, Easy Roasted Broccoli, or Sauteed Carrots.
I’d love to hear what you think of this recipe so please comment below with your feedback.
Favorite Pizza Rolls Recipe
Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (No Knead)
Favorite Pizza Bites
Quick English Muffin Pizzas
This post was first published October 2020.
