This Cheesy Keto Spinach Calzone is as the name implies, both cheesy and spinach-y. The best calzone you’re ever going to eat while keto, this is as close to the real thing as you can get! Low carb, gluten free, and Vegetarian too!
I debated over whether calling this a keto spinach calzone or a keto spinach braid, but once I made and tasted it, calzone became the clear winner. Partly because how you assemble this cheesy keto spinach thingy isn’t important – so braiding is absolutely not necessary. I didn’t officially braid this anyway, but rather laid strips across it to appear braided, because it was frankly much easier.
While it was pretty with the strips, as an easier alternative you could simply press or roll out the dough, put the filling on one side, and then fold the other side over and crimp it, like you would a traditional calzone. It will not affect the flavor or outcome at all.
The dough I used for this cheesy keto spinach calzone is a modified mozzarella dough. The primary difference from mine and many others is the addition of psyllium husk powder. While you can make this without it, the psyllium adds a chewy, gummy texture to the finished product that accurately mimics real bread.
It was such a huge improvement over basic fathead dough that Mr. Hungry, who is not a huge fan of fathead dough usually, couldn’t believe it was made with mozzarella and was actually keto friendly.
It wouldn’t be a cheesy keto spinach calzone without a cheesy spinach filling, and we’ve got that in spades. Ricotta, Mozzarella, feta, spinach, garlic, onion, and nutmeg, with some egg to hold it together.
Once assembled, it’s brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with poppy seeds and coarse salt for texture and flavor – though you could omit those without ill effect.
Delicious hot or cold, this keto spinach & cheese calzone doesn’t require anything to make it better.
HOWEVER.
If you’re a fan of marinara with your calzone (and I am) then you can absolutely serve this with a side of my easy keto marinara sauce.
Because this keto spinach calzone holds together so well, it is easy to cut into strips and serve as an appetizer (with or without marinara) or game day nosh. Bonus points if you’ve got leftovers, since it’s also the perfect easy keto lunch on the go!
I have made this several times in the last couple of weeks, and I’m making another one tonight to take to the beach with friends on Friday. I’ll have a couple of strips of this spinach calzone along with my Keto Paloma Cocktail, and I won’t even be sad for a second that everyone else is eating BBQ chicken sandwiches and drinking beer.
True story.
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Cheesy Keto Spinach Calzone
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Cheesy Keto Spinach Calzone is the best calzone you’re ever going to eat while keto! Low carb, gluten free, and vegetarian too!
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 cups (packed) baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg
For the dough:
- 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups superfine blanched almond flour
- 1 teaspoon psyllium husk powder
Instructions
To make the filling:
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant.
- Add the spinach, onion powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook for 2 – 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, unit the spinach is bright green and wilted. Remove from the heat.
- Add the feta, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese to the mixture and stir well.
- Add the egg and stir until fully combined. Set aside.
To make the dough:
- Place the shredded mozzarella cheese and cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave, uncovered, on high, for 1 – 2 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
- Remove from the microwave and stir with a spatula until the cheeses are combined.
- Add the egg, psyllium husk powder, and almond flour to the cheese mixture.
- Stir well with the spatula or a fork, until a stiff dough is formed.
- Knead the dough by hand for 2 – 3 minutes, to ensure all of the ingredients are fully mixed and the dough has a smooth consistency.
To assemble the calzone:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Divide the dough in half. Press one half out on a parchment-lined cookie sheet into a 12 x 8 rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Spoon the filling onto the center and spread out, leaving a one inch border all the way around.
- Turn up the sides and pinch at the corners to hold in the filling (see photo grid in post)
- On a separate piece of parchment, press out a 13 x 6 rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut into 3 long strips to braid, or the long strips into 6 shorter strips to lay across.
- Braid, or lay the strips crosswise diagonally in a criss cross pattern as desired.
- Press the strips into the dough around the edges of the calzone to adhere firmly.
- If desired, brush beaten egg yolk over the top of the calzone, and sprinkle with poppy seeds (or sesame seeds) and coarse salt.
- Bake for 35 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly puffed.
- Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Approximate net carbs per serving = 5g.
Alternative Method: Press the dough into a 16 inch diameter circle. Spread the filling over half the circle, leaving a one inch border. Fold the dough over the filling and press the edges down to seal. Cut three lines in the top of the calzone to allow steam to escape. Bake as directed above.
- Category: Keto Dinner Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6th calzone
- Calories: 437
- Fat: 36g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
Keywords: Keto Calzone, Spinach Calzone, Fathead Calzone, Low Carb Calzone
Love Italian Food? You can get your fix on keto and still lose weight with this collection of the Best Keto Italian Food Recipes!
S M R says
Can I ask a crazy question? I know, I know, deep frying is the worst…..but has anyone tried deep frying this calzone, panzarotti style? And serving with marinara? I feel like a keto version of a panzarotti is basically the food equivalent of world peace for difficulty, but I just have to ask.
It looks epic as is but a part of me is dying for that crispy fried crust feel….
Mellissa Sevigny says
I love a good deep fried calzone and I think you could do it if you made 2 smaller ones instead of one big one, and obviously the dough would have to be completely sealed so the filling didn’t leak out. Let us know if you try it!
Marion Robinson says
Hi there from a very sunny West Coast of Scotland.
Just wanted to say,I have your books, read all your emails, make your
recipes,( I was a Chef for over 60 years )
BUT, I have a terrible issue with psyllium.
I Bloat up so much when I have even the smallest amount,
& suffer awful stomach cramps,
so I have now decided to give it a wide berth.
Do you, or any of the readers on here know anything I can
use instead of it ?
It’s really weird, as I suffer terrible acid reflux with any
sweetener I use as well, be it Stevia ( organic ) Erythritol , monk fruit etc !
I would love to find one that doesn’t do this…I would like to try out Alluose ?
But we can’t get it in the U K as far as I know.
I would be so grateful if anyone has an answer to this problem .
Thanks in advance.
Patti says
I would give this a thousand stars!!!!! It is soooo gooood!!!! Thank you for all your co for the Keto community!! I try to have a little dough left over to make myself garlic bread twists or sweet twists with a little cinnamon sugar!!
★★★★★
Tiffany says
Oh Wow! This looks SO legit! I haven’t done it yet but will try it and I am SO GLAD and thank God that I found your website!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Welcome Tiffany, hope you love this one as much as we do!
Maha says
I don’t usuay write comments.. But this is the BEST keto recipe EVEER!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤
★★★★★
Daisy says
🥰🥰😍😍IN LOVE!! I made it today. In my air fryer and it was sooooo delicious! Even my kids loved it! Thank you ! UR A GENIUS🤗 😘
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks for letting us know this works in the air fryer Daisy – so glad your family enjoyed it!!
Jeff Bradley says
I mixed the sun dried tomato sauce and your creamy garlic sauce tongue as a dipping sauce…O.M.G! This is amazing! Thank you Melissa!
★★★★★
Susie says
This is a winner! One of the things we miss about low carb/keto is bread – but this Cheesy Keto Spinach Calzone hit the mark! I was missing some called-for ingredients but it came out great anyway. Didn’t have the Feta or Psyllium Husk powder, nor the time to do the fancy strips but the calzone was delicious and a big hit. Only problem was trying to limit the number and size of the slices since it so darn yummy! Thank you, Melissa!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Susie, so happy you were able to make it work for you!
Joy Winston says
Can you use all ricotta???
Karen Myers says
I loved the filling and the “bread ” on top, but I checked it after 30 minutes and the bottom was burned!
We turned it upside down, took off the bottom and had it opened faced.
★★★★
Yvonne richards says
What is psyllium husk powder? Where do I get it? I would love to try
This recipe, it looks delicious!
Barb says
u can get psyllium husk powder at Amazon or most healthfood stores.
★★★★★
Rachel says
Do you know the nutrition facts for just the filling?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Sorry, I don’t.
Debbir says
I loved this recipe! Best dough yet! Going to try to make pretzels with the dough too. I have a question- do you think the dough can be mixed in a food ptocessor rather than by hand? I’ve seen other fat head dough done thiat way. Wondering if there was any reason not to try this one.
Mellissa Sevigny says
I don’t think it will hurt anything Deb, let us know if you try it how it works out.