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    Home » Real Food » Sandwiches, Burgers, and Wraps » Homemade Hot Pockets

    Homemade Hot Pockets

    By Kristen Chidsey | 42 Comments | Published April 5, 2021 | Updated August 30, 2021 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Ditch store-bought and serve up these Homemade Hot Pockets for a family-friendly meal or a perfect on the go lunch. Filled with ham and cheese, these hot pockets are oozing with flavor! Not only are these hot pockets easy to make, but the fillings can also be changed up for a variety of flavors, they freeze and reheat beautifully, and can be made with homemade or store-bought dough.

    Ditch store-bought and serve up these Homemade Hot Pockets for a family-friendly meal or a perfect on-the-go lunch.  Filled with ham and cheese, these hot pockets are oozing with flavor!

    These Homemade Hot Pockets are the best because they are so easy to make and versatile. The fillings can be changed up for a variety of different flavor options, they freeze and reheat beautifully, and can be made with store-bought or homemade pizza dough.

    Hot Pocket with Ham and Cheese on plate

    Homemade is Best

    Hot Pockets are an easy grab-and-go meal. However, store-bought hot pockets are filled with preservatives and the flavor is a bit lacking.

    But you can easily make hot pockets at home that are not only made with more wholesome ingredients, but they also taste SO MUCH better.

    My favorite version of homemade hot pockets happens to be Homemade Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets. The soft dough wrapped around salty ham and creamy cheese is irresistible! But the flavor options are endless.

    Notes on Ingredients

    • Pizza Dough: Homemade pizza dough will result in the best flavor, but you can opt to use any store-bought pizza dough you like.
    • Ham: Use thinly sliced deli ham, or leftover Instant Pot Ham, or leftover Baked Ham.
    • Cheese: Thinly sliced cheddar, Colby, or Swiss cheese are all great options.
    • Egg Wash: For the hot pockets to brown evenly, you want to brush the dough with an egg wash before baking.
    Deli Ham and Cheese next to pizza dough

    How To Make Homemade Hot Pockets

    • Prepare homemade pizza dough, or substitute homemade dough with 1-pound store-bought dough.
    • Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece into about an 8-inch oval.
    Hot Pocket Dough on Silpat
    • Evenly divide ham and cheese between ovals, placing the slices on the center of the dough.
    Cheese on Hot Pocket Dough
    • Fold the dough over, creating a crescent shape and using your fingers or the prongs of a fork, tightly seal the edges of the "hot pocket"--just like you would for a calzone.
    Hot Pockets on Baking Sheet
    • Place the hot pockets onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or that is well greased.  Cut 2-3 slits across the top of each hot pocket to allow steam to escape while baking.
    • Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the dough is golden brown.
    ham and cheese hot pocket on grey plate next to a pan of others

    Different Hot Pocket Flavors

    While ham and cheese hot pockets are my personal favorite, there are endless options for fillings. Simply roll out the dough as stated and then top each oval with any of the following combinations of flavors, or get creative with your own fillings--just be careful to not overfill!

    • Pizza Hot Pockets: Top each section of dough with 2 teaspoons pizza sauce, 2-3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese, and ½ tablespoon pepperoni if desired.
    • Ham and Broccoli Hot Pockets: Top the dough with 1 slice of ham, 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 tablespoon cooked diced broccoli florets.
    • Chicken Parmesan Hot Pockets: Top the dough with 2 teaspoons marinara sauce, 2-3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1 tablespoon chopped cooked chicken.
    • Meatball Hot Pockets: Top each piece of dough with 2 teaspoons marinara sauce. Cut cooked meatballs in half. Add 3-4 halves to each piece of dough and sprinkle with 2-3 tablespoons mozzarella cheese.
    • Egg and Sausage Hot Pockets: Crumble ½ tablespoon of cooked breakfast sausage over each piece of dough. Top with ¼ cup scrambled eggs and 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar cheese.

    Storage

    Leftover hot pockets can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or frozen up to 3 months using the instructions for freezing below.

    To reheat hot pockets from the refrigerator, place one hot pocket on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 45 seconds or bake at 400 degrees for 5-8 minutes until warmed through. Let cool 1-2 minutes before eating.

    How to Freeze

    I highly suggest making a large batch of Homemade Hot Pockets and freezing them for a quick dinner or to pack for lunches.

    To freeze hot pockets, place fully cooked and cooled hot pockets onto a baking sheet and place the baking sheet into the freezer. Freeze until the outside is solid, for about 30-60 minutes. Place frozen Hot Pockets in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

    To reheat hot pockets from frozen, either place them on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or place an individual hot pocket on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 2 minutes. Let cool 2-3 minutes before enjoying.

    How to Pack for Lunch

    Taking a homemade ham and cheese Hot Pocket to school or work is a great option for a filling lunch. You have several options as to how to take pack them in lunches.

    • If your office/school has a microwave, place a homemade hot pocket (frozen or from the fridge) wrapped in parchment paper in a lunch bag with an ice pack. Heat the hot pocket right on the parchment paper in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
    • If you don't have access to a microwave, heat a hot pocket in the morning before leaving for school or work. Place in a thermos and your hot pocket will be warm and ready for your lunch.
    • If you like your hot pockets room temperature, heat hot pocket in the morning before leaving for school or work. Pack warm hot pocket in lunch container along with an ice pack. This keeps the hot pocket from developing bacteria while sitting in a locker or at an office desk.
    Ham and Cheese Hot Sandwich wrapped up in parchment paper with apple

     More Recipes Featuring Leftover Ham

    • Cheesy Ham and Scalloped Potatoes
    • Ham and Cheese Stromboli
    • Easy Monte Cristo Sandwich
    • Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole

    If you made these delicious homemade hot pockets, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

    Hot pocket next to baking sheet of ham and cheese calzones

    Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets

    Ham and Cheese are baked into a homemade hot pocket for a salty, cheesy, savory perfect hand-held meal or on-the-go lunch. 
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 45 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 322kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 1 recipe homemade pizza dough or store bought dough
    • 1 pound ham thinly sliced
    • ½ pound colby jack cheese slices
    • 1 egg
    • 1 tablespoon water
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper that can tolerate heat up to 450 degrees.
    • Divide the pizza dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece into about an 8-inch oval.
    • Place 1 slice of cheese in the middle of each oval. Place 3-4 slices of the thinly sliced ham on each slice of the cheese.
    • Fold the dough over, creating a crescent shape. Using your fingers or the prongs of a fork, tightly seal the edges of the "hot pocket."
    • Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush each hot pocket evenly with the egg wash. Cut 2-3 slits on top of each hot pocket to let steam escape while baking. 
    • Bake for 12-15 minutes until the hot pocket is nicely golden brown.
    • Serve warm or cool and store.

    Notes

    Ham: Use deli ham or leftover thinly sliced ham.  
    Cheese: Colby Jack Cheese was my family's preferred cheese for this, but Swiss, cheddar, and provolone are all good options. 
    Pizza Dough: Homemade pizza dough or store-bought pizza dough both work for this recipe. 
    To make EGG FREE Hot Pockets, brush with olive oil before baking instead of the egg wash.
    Different Filling Suggestions
    • Pizza Hot Pockets: Top each hot pocket dough with 2 teaspoons pizza sauce, 2-3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese, and ½ tablespoon pepperoni if desired. 
    • Ham and Broccoli Hot Pockets: Top each hot pocket with 1 slice of ham, 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 tablespoon cooked diced broccoli florets. 
    • Chicken Parmesan Hot Pockets: Top each hot pocket dough with 2 teaspoons marinara sauce, 2-3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1 tablespoon chopped cooked chicken. 
    • Meatball Hot Pockets: Top each piece of dough with 2 teaspoons marinara sauce. Cut cooked meatballs in half. Add 3-4 halves to each piece of dough and sprinkle with 2-3 tablespoons mozzarella cheese. 
    • Egg and Sausage Hot Pockets: Crumble ½ tablespoon of cooked breakfast sausage over each piece of dough. Top with ¼ cup scrambled eggs and 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar cheese. 
    To Freeze Hot Pockets: Place fully cooked hot pockets on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer and freeze until solid. Place frozen Hot Pockets in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Reheat by microwaving for 2 minutes or baking at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1686mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 5g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 1.9mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

    This post was orginally published in 2016 but was updated in 2021 with new tips.

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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Allison - Celebrating Sweets

      February 25, 2016 at 6:16 pm

      I wish this was my dinner tonight. They sound so tasty! Extra mustard for me. 🙂

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 26, 2016 at 9:27 am

        You and me both!

        Reply
    2. Megan Keno

      February 25, 2016 at 4:51 pm

      Wow, this sounds so amazing! I would definitly eat a couple of these with a nice big bowl of soup!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 25, 2016 at 5:32 pm

        Oh, pairing these with soup is a fabulous idea!!

        Reply
    3. Catherine

      February 25, 2016 at 3:05 pm

      Dear Kristen, what a fun idea! These pretzel pockets look like so much fun. xo, Catherine

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 25, 2016 at 3:14 pm

        Thanks Catherine!

        Reply
    4. allie @ Through Her Looking Glass

      February 25, 2016 at 12:02 pm

      Pretzel hot pockets!!!! Genius. These must have scored you a lot of points with Tate and all the family!!!! My family would eat these so fast and be looking for more! Great job Kristen!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 25, 2016 at 3:17 pm

        Thanks Allie. Not gonna lie, I made the whole family happy 🙂

        Reply
    5. Marye

      February 25, 2016 at 8:26 am

      Oh wow, these sound amazing! I am loving the pretzel "pocket"!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 25, 2016 at 8:44 am

        Thanks Marye!

        Reply
    6. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

      February 25, 2016 at 7:54 am

      A pretzel dough hot pocket? You ARE an evil genius!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 25, 2016 at 8:44 am

        Ha! Ha!! Thanks Dorothy!

        Reply
    7. Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction

      February 23, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      Love the soft pretzel pocket!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 23, 2016 at 5:45 pm

        It is the best!

        Reply
    8. Patricia @ Grab a Plate

      February 19, 2016 at 9:20 pm

      Love the "made with real food" aspect! That, and the delicious pretzel crust! These looks so amazing, you're right that they'll catch some jealous glances! I was the same when I was young -- I didn't eat most of the things my school friends did. That's just fine, and glad your son thinks so, too! Great recipe!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 20, 2016 at 7:17 am

        Thanks Patricia--start them young with "real food" they tend to appreciate it--as long as you make fun things like this 🙂

        Reply
    9. Angela Barnard

      February 19, 2016 at 8:26 am

      These look amazing and your step by step instructions make it easy (easy enough that I think I can even do it!) Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 19, 2016 at 8:47 am

        Yes Angela, Totally easy enough for you to do!!! Promise!

        Reply
    10. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel

      February 19, 2016 at 7:10 am

      Such a classic flavor combination! I love that you dipped it too. So fun!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 19, 2016 at 8:47 am

        Mustard is a must with pretzels in my book 🙂

        Reply
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