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Turn your pizza night upside down with these handheld chicken pockets that pack all your favorite toppings into one easy grab-and-go meal. These golden treats stuffed with juicy chicken, tasty pepperoni and gooey cheese work great for busy weeknights, party snacks, or whenever you need meals ready to pull from the freezer. Everyone at your table will dig these familiar flavors in their fun new form.
I whipped up these pockets during one crazy week when I needed something everyone would eat. My little girl asked for "pizza but not pizza" and that's how these came to be. They're now a monthly must-have in our dinner lineup.
What You'll Need
- Pizza dough: Either from scratch or the grocery store works fine as your pocket wrapper. Make sure it's not cold for easier stretching
- Rotisserie chicken: Gives you ready-to-use meat that saves cooking time while adding great taste
- Mini pepperoni: Tiny versions of the pizza classic that spread evenly in each bite
- Pizza toppings of choice: Maybe black olives, bell peppers or baby spinach based on what your crew likes
- Mozzarella cheese: Delivers that pull-apart cheese stretch we all want in each bite
- Marinara sauce: Use half inside and save half for dipping to get that rich tomato kick
- Egg wash: Gives you that shiny golden finish and helps keep everything inside
- Parmesan cheese: Sprinkled on top for that extra bit of sharp flavor
- Pizza seasoning or dried oregano: Brings that pizza shop smell and flavor to your kitchen
How To Make Them
- Get Everything Ready:
- Heat your oven to 375°F and put parchment on a baking sheet. Setting up before you start means your dough won't sit around getting too soft.
- Work With The Dough:
- Cut your dough into 6 same-size pieces and roll each one out to about 6 inches wide. The shape doesn't really matter but try to keep the thickness the same all over so it bakes evenly.
- Mix Up Your Filling:
- Stir together your chicken, mini pepperoni, whatever toppings you picked, mozzarella and half your sauce in a bowl. Don't mix too hard but make sure everything's spread out nicely.
- Put Them Together:
- Scoop filling onto one side of each dough piece, leaving space around the edges. Brush egg around the border, fold the empty side over and press down firmly. Good sealing keeps all the good stuff inside while baking.
- Top And Bake:
- Move your pockets to the baking sheet, brush the tops with more egg wash and sprinkle with Parmesan. Cut a tiny slit in each one so steam can escape. Bake about 20 minutes until they look golden and cooked through.
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Those tiny pepperonis really make these pockets stand out. I found them by chance while shopping one day, and they spread so perfectly through the filling. Now my youngest always asks for "the tiny pepperonis" whenever we make these, and she's in charge of finding them at the store.
Prep Ahead Tips
You can totally make these pockets ahead of time. Put them together completely, then stick them in the fridge for up to a day before you need to bake them. That's super handy when you want something homemade on busy nights. Just cook them about 5 minutes longer if they're cold from the fridge.
If you want to save them longer, set the filled pockets on a baking sheet and freeze until hard, then toss in a freezer bag. When you're ready to eat, no need to thaw first. Just bake them about 10 minutes longer than the recipe says.
Ways To Mix It Up
What's so great about these pockets is how easy they are to change up. Try setting out a bunch of different fillings and let everyone make their own. Some combos that work great are buffalo chicken with blue cheese, a veggie mix with mushrooms and peppers, or even breakfast pockets with eggs and bacon.
For the little ones, you might want to keep it simple with just cheese and a bit of sauce. Grown-ups often like fancier stuff like browned onions with goat cheese and spinach. You can really do whatever you want with these.
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What To Serve With Them
These pockets can stand alone as a meal, but adding simple sides makes dinner more complete. A green salad with Italian dressing goes really well with the rich flavors. If you want something more filling, add some roasted veggies or a small bowl of soup on the side.
Common Recipe Questions
- → Is pre-made dough okay for this?
Absolutely! Grabbing ready-made dough from the store works perfectly and cuts down on prep time.
- → What else can I stuff inside?
Try black olives, bell peppers, baby spinach, or any toppings you'd normally love on pizza.
- → How do I keep them from breaking open?
Don't stuff them too full and make sure your dough is spread out evenly before filling.
- → Can I save these for later?
You can definitely freeze them after cooking and warm them up whenever you need a fast meal.
- → What works instead of pepperoni?
Try cooked ground sausage, crispy bacon bits, or skip the meat altogether for a veggie version.