Homemade Pizza Pockets
If you love a slice of pizza and want to make the easiest handheld version at home, these Pizza Pockets are sure to become a favorite with your family! Easy to customize with any toppings and fillings that you love on a slice.
These Pizza Pockets are the most delicious and quick-to-make handheld pizza treats. Assembled in minutes using puff pastry, they’re the homemade version of a classic that kids and adults both love.
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These delightful handheld pizzas are perfect for weekend brunches, picnics, or whenever you crave a satisfying snack with a pizza twist. We love to fill them with marinara sauce, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, olives, and more. Anything you put on top of pizza works perfect in these pockets!
They are so fun to make with the whole family and can even be assembled in advance. If you love pizza, Texas Toast Pizza and Crockpot Pizza Casserole are two of our favorites.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Portable and convenient: They are a handy snack or light meal option for busy days, making them perfect for a quick bite during work or school breaks.
- Crispy crust and cheesy filling: Inside you will find a warm, gooey, and flavorful cheese filling that stretches and pulls with every bite.
- Customizable fillings: Pizza Pockets are so versatile. Add your favorite fillings like olives, peppers, or extra cheese to personalize each one.
- Quick to assemble: These come together in under 10 minutes of hands-on time and are a fun meal to make with the whole family.
Ingredients
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Puff pastry: The foundation of your pizza pockets. Puff pastry lends a buttery, flaky texture that perfectly complements the filling.
- Pizza sauce: Infuses the filling with the classic taste of tomatoes along with a blend of herbs and spices.
- Mozzarella cheese: Melts into a stretchy, gooey layer that binds everything together.
- Pizza toppings: Adds texture, flavor, and pizza excitement. This one is entirely up to you.
- Garlic butter: Helps seal the edges, adds flavor, and gives the pastry a beautiful golden color when baking.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a savory, salty, and nutty finish to the tops of the pockets.
- Italian seasoning: Infuses the classic flavors of Italian cuisine throughout.
- Optional egg wash: A beaten egg mixed with a splash of water can be used in place of garlic butter to seal the edges and create a golden crust.
Tools You’ll Need
- Half Size or 12″x17″ Sheet Pan
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Cheese Grater
- Pastry Brush
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
How to make Pizza Pockets
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cut one sheet of puff pastry into 6 even rectangles, each approximately 3 x 4 inches.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce into the center of each rectangle. Spread to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Top each with 2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese, 1 tablespoon fresh snipped basil, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of your desired pizza toppings. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the pockets to burst during baking.
- Cut the remaining sheet of puff pastry into 6 even rectangles of the same size. Place one on top of each filled rectangle.
- Using the prongs of a fork, press firmly around all four edges to seal each pocket completely. Pierce the top of each pocket 2 to 3 times to allow steam to vent.
- Brush a thin layer of garlic butter onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Transfer the prepared pockets to the pan and brush the tops generously with the remaining garlic butter. Alternatively, brush the edges and tops with egg wash for an equally golden result.
- Sprinkle the tops evenly with Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Add any additional toppings if desired.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and starting to brown.
- Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the tops of the pockets. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes more, until the cheese is fully melted and just beginning to turn golden brown at the edges. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Get creative with your sauces. Pesto, Alfredo, BBQ sauce, or even a balsamic glaze can add unique and delicious flavors to your pizza tarts.
- Do not overfill. Too much filling can cause the pockets to burst open during baking. Stick to the amounts listed and you will have clean, perfectly sealed pockets every time.
- Brushing the edges with the garlic butter or an egg wash (a beaten egg mixed with a bit of water) helps create a golden crust without burning.
- Get creative with fillings. Pepperoni, sausage, ham, onion, bell pepper, olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapeño, pineapple — there are so many delicious combinations to try. Try to avoid overfilling as this can cause the tart to bust during the baking process.
- Get creative with toppings. Before baking you could add thinly sliced tomato, olives, or one large pepperoni on top of each pocket in addition to the Parmesan and Italian seasoning.
- Seal the crust well with a fork. The prongs of a fork are best for this to prevent the filling from spilling out. You can easily cut a small slit with a paring knife to help vent the pockets too.
Storage
Homemade pizza pockets are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven to maintain their crispy texture.
You can freeze unbaked puff pastry pizza tarts. Arrange them on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. When ready to bake, no need to thaw; simply add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! For a sweet twist, fill puff pastry with Nutella, fruits, or pastry cream, and bake until golden. Dust with powdered sugar before serving for a delightful dessert.
Certainly! Vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes work well. Just ensure they are thinly sliced or precooked to avoid releasing too much moisture onto the pastry.
Mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, and goat cheese are popular choices. Mozzarella melts well and provides that classic stretchy cheese pull, while Parmesan adds a rich, nutty flavor.
More Pizza Inspired Recipes
Pizza Pockets
Ingredients
- 17.3 ounce box sheet puff pastry thawed
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shedded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1/2-1 cup pizza toppings see note
- 3 tablespoons garlic butter
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cut one sheet of puff pastry into 6 even rectangles, each approximately 3 x 4 inches.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce into the center of each rectangle. Spread to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Top each with 2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese, 1 tablespoon fresh snipped basil, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of your desired pizza toppings. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the pockets to burst during baking.
- Cut the remaining sheet of puff pastry into 6 even rectangles of the same size. Place one on top of each filled rectangle.
- Using the prongs of a fork, press firmly around all four edges to seal each pocket completely. Pierce the top of each pocket 2 to 3 times to allow steam to vent.
- Brush a thin layer of garlic butter onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Transfer the prepared pockets to the pan and brush the tops generously with the remaining garlic butter. Alternatively, brush the edges and tops with egg wash for an equally golden result.
- Sprinkle the tops evenly with Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Add any additional toppings if desired.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and starting to brown.
- Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the tops of the pockets. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes more, until the cheese is fully melted and just beginning to turn golden brown at the edges. Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips
- Get creative with your sauces. Pesto, Alfredo, BBQ sauce, or even a balsamic glaze can add unique and delicious flavors to your pizza tarts.
- Do not overfill. Too much filling can cause the pockets to burst open during baking. Stick to the amounts listed and you will have clean, perfectly sealed pockets every time.
- Brushing the edges with the garlic butter or an egg wash (a beaten egg mixed with a bit of water) helps create a golden crust without burning.
- Get creative with fillings. Pepperoni, sausage, ham, onion, bell pepper, olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapeño, pineapple — there are so many delicious combinations to try. Try to avoid overfilling as this can cause the tart to bust during the baking process.
- Get creative with toppings. Before baking you could add thinly sliced tomato, olives, or one large pepperoni on top of each pocket in addition to the Parmesan and Italian seasoning.
- Seal the crust well with a fork. The prongs of a fork are best for this to prevent the filling from spilling out. You can easily cut a small slit with a paring knife to help vent the pockets too.
Nutrition
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
Can you share how to make your Garlic Butter, please?
This was a store-bough garlic butter from Kroger. I do have a Garlic Butter spread here on the site that can be used as well. 🙂