Air Fryer Calzones + Homemade Calzone Dough Recipe: A Weight Watchers-Friendly Delight
Introduction
Elevate your culinary skills and enjoy a delightful meal with our Air Fryer Calzones, complete with a homemade calzone dough recipe. This Weight Watchers-friendly dish brings the satisfaction of a classic Italian favorite while keeping your points in check. With a golden, crispy crust and a flavorful filling, these calzones are a treat for your taste buds.
Smart Ingredient Choices
Crafted with a mindful touch, our Air Fryer Calzones feature smart ingredient choices to create a delicious and healthier alternative. Utilize lean protein sources, a mix of colorful vegetables, and a portion-controlled dough to keep the points at a minimum.
Lean Protein Choices
Choose lean protein options such as turkey sausage, grilled chicken, or lean ground turkey for the calzone filling. These choices ensure a satisfying and hearty interior while aligning with the health-conscious approach of Weight Watchers.
Colorful Vegetable Medley
Incorporate a vibrant mix of vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and spinach to add texture, flavor, and nutrients to the calzone filling. The vegetables contribute to the overall freshness of the dish without compromising points.
Portion-Controlled Dough
Prepare a homemade calzone dough using a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour. Portion the dough carefully to control the size of the calzones, allowing for a satisfying meal while managing your SmartPoints.
Filling Brilliance
Assemble the calzones with a generous yet mindful amount of filling. The filling brilliance ensures a well-balanced combination of protein and vegetables in every bite.
Air Frying Excellence
Cook the calzones in the air fryer to perfection, achieving a golden and crispy crust without excessive oil. The air frying process ensures a delightful texture while keeping the dish lighter and healthier.
Smart Portion Control
Serve your Air Fryer Calzones in reasonable portions to practice smart portion control. This approach allows you to enjoy the savory goodness of calzones without exceeding your daily SmartPoints.
Homemade Calzone Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the yeast mixture.
- Add olive oil and mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into portions for your calzones.
Serving Suggestions
Pair your Air Fryer Calzones with a side of marinara sauce or a light salad for a well-rounded and satisfying meal. Whether enjoyed as a family dinner or a special weekend treat, these calzones bring the joy of Italian cuisine to your table in a health-conscious and delicious manner.
Conclusion: A Culinary Triumph
In conclusion, Air Fryer Calzones + Homemade Calzone Dough Recipe offer a culinary triumph within the Weight Watchers framework. With smart ingredient choices, filling brilliance, and a commitment to smart points, this recipe invites you to savor the pleasure of a homemade calzone without compromising your wellness journey. Make it a regular feature in your meal repertoire, celebrating the satisfaction that comes with this Weight Watchers-friendly delight—a perfect blend of culinary excellence and health-consciousness.
I must say, I absolutely LOVE my air fryer! All of those foods that you thought would be off-limits when making a lifestyle change, they don’t have to be! These air fryer calzones are really going to be your next favorite meal!
Just so you know ahead of time, you can make the calzone dough by using a store-bought dough or you can use this calzone dough recipe which is what I use! Substituting the store-bought dough for the dough I use lowers the overall points which is always a great thing!
Air Fryer Calzones
Ingredients:
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
3 cups baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup lower-sodium marinara sauce
⅓ cup of shredded rotisserie chicken or shredded cooked chicken
1 batch 2-Ingredient dough
1 1/2 ounces or 6 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese (low fat)
You can add in more veggies or swap out the chicken for lean ground turkey.
Air Fryer Calzones Weight Watcher Friendly
I hope you love these air fried calzones as much as I do!
Serve with 0 Point Ranch or marinara sauce for dipping!
Each calzone is 4 Smart Points each. This recipe makes 4 calzones.
- 10 Sprays of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1/3 cup lower-sodium marinara sauce
- ⅓ cup of shredded rotisserie chicken or shredded cooked chicken
- 1 batch 2-Ingredient dough
- 1 1/2 ounces or 6 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese (low fat)
- **You can add in more veggies or swap out the chicken for lean ground turkey.
In a medium pan over medium-high add onion and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, cook, stirring occasionally, until tender.
Add spinach; cover and cook until it’s wilted, about 2 minutes.
Remove pan from stove; stir in marinara sauce and chicken.
Use the calzone dough recipe/2 ingredient dough; knead and roll on a floured surface
Divide dough into 4 pieces. Use a cookie cutter if needed.
Place a quarter of the spinach mixture and a quarter of mozzarella cheese on one half.
Fold dough over filling to form half-moons, pinching edges to seal.
Coat calzones well with ICBINB.
Place calzones in the air fryer basket or on the pan, and cook at 325°F until dough is golden brown for 8 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes.