Taco Calzones Win Big on Family Game Night

Family Game Night is always a hit in our home! Whether it's a game of UNO, a little Yahtzee, or guitar battle on the Wii, we enjoy every minute of family time we have. But what do you serve a houseful of starving kids? Mac 'n Cheese? Been there, done that.

We opted for Taco Calzones instead.  They're the perfect blend of pizza and tacos.  What's better is that there aren't any taco shells to fry, and the kids can pick them up without dropping the meat and cheese all over the place.  Even my two-year-old ate by herself!  That's heaven for mothers who are used to managing kids at the dinner table (it was to me!).  You can actually eat your food before it gets cold...and it was awesome!

Prepping the veggies is always a great place to start.  There is no perfect way to chop cilantro, so a rough chop will work.  Dice a tomato, and if you're using avocados, you can slice them (or squash them for guacamole).

In a small bowl, mix together the pizza crust mix, cheese, and taco seasoning. 

It looks well mixed...

Add the warm water, and stir to create the dough.

Set the dough aside, so it can rest for a few minutes.

In a saute pan, brown the hamburger over medium-high heat.

When the meat is fully cooked, drain the excess fat.  I prefer the tilt and spoon method.  To do this, tilt the pan upward and use a spoon to remove the fat as it drains from the cooked meat.  You can also use strainer if you prefer...

After the fat has been drained, add the taco seasoning and water.  Let it cook for a few minutes (3 or 4).  Remove it from the heat, and set it aside for later.

To make the calzones, divide the pizza dough into four pieces.  If you notice the dough is really sticky, use extra flour to help keep it from sticking to the counter.

Using a rolling pin, carefully roll each piece of dough into a 6" circle.  It helps to use extra flour underneath and on top of the dough.  Continue rolling out each of the dough pieces.

Next, stuff the calzones with meat, cheese, and cilantro.  It would be a good idea to stuff the calzones directly on the baking sheet you'll be using because it's not easy to transport the prepared calzone from the counter to the baking sheet.  I didn't realize that until after I made the first one...lesson learned!

Fold the excess dough over the filling, and seal the edge with a fork or your fingertips.

They're ready for the oven!  Bake them for 16-20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes, or extra cheese.  A game of Paranha Panic or Yahtzee works too.  Either way, they are awesome!  Family Game Night just got a little better...

How did Taco Calzones spice up your family celebration?  Please rate and review this recipe.

Stop bake in a few days to read about Becky whipping up breakfast for dinner!

Julie is paid to write for the Land O'Lakes Recipe Buzz™ Blog.