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Ditch the store-bought and whip up these Homemade Hot Pockets instead! This easy copycat recipe can be made with endless fillings, are freezer-friendly, and make a perfect on-the-go meal that is oozing with flavor.
Anyone else grow up enjoying Hot Pockets? Just like Ramen, they were a staple for me in college, when I needed fast, cheap, grab-and-go meals.
To be honest, I loved the concept of a Hot Pocket, but the flavor was always a bit lacking and the list of ingredients was not appealing. So I have created a recipe for Homemade Hot Pockets. They are super easy to make and taste a trillion times better than what you find in the freezer section at your local grocery store.
why you'll love homemade hot pockets
- Versatile. While my favorite version of homemade hot pockets, is made with ham and cheese, you can add any fillings you like make a hot pocket YOUR way!
- Freezer-Friendly. Just like store-bought Hot Pockets, this homemade version can be made in a large batch and frozen to pull out as desired and they reheat beautifully!
- Better for You. When you make Hot Pockets at home, there will be no added preservatives, and YOU are in charge of the quality of ingredients.
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.
- Egg Wash: For the hot pockets to brown evenly, you want to brush the dough with an egg wash before baking.
- Fillings Options: There are endless options for filling your homemade hot pockets. 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, so that you can securely close your hot pocket.
- Ham and Cheese: Use thinly sliced deli ham, leftover Instant Pot Ham, or leftover Baked Ham and thinly sliced Colby, cheddar, or Swiss cheese.
- 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 of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 tablespoon of cooked diced broccoli florets.
- Chicken Parmesan Hot Pockets: Top the dough with 2 teaspoons spaghetti sauce, 2-3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1 tablespoon chopped cooked chicken.
- Meatball Hot Pockets: Top each piece of dough with 2 teaspoons of marinara or spaghetti sauce. Cut cooked meatballs in half. Add 3-4 halves to each piece of dough and sprinkle with 2-3 tablespoons of 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.
How To Make Homemade Hot Pockets
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- 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.
- Evenly divide toppings of your choice between the dough, placing the slices on the center of the 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.
- 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, or until the dough is golden brown.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Leftover hot pockets can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
- Freeze: 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 and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: 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 F for 5-8 minutes until warmed through. Let cool for 1-2 minutes before eating. To reheat hot pockets from frozen, either place them on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or place an individual hot pocket on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 2 minutes. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before enjoying.
How to Pack for Lunch
Taking a Homemade 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 it in a thermos and your hot pocket will be warm and ready for your lunch.
More Recipes Featuring Leftover Ham
Browse my full collection of leftover ham recipes or check out the inspiration below.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Homemade Hot Pockets
This easy copycat recipe can be made with endless fillings, are freezer-friendly, and make a perfect on-the-go meal that is oozing with flavor.
Video
Ingredients
- 1 recipe homemade pizza dough, or store bought dough
- 1 pound ham, thinly sliced
- ½ pound sliced cheddar or Colby cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450℉ (230℃). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper that can tolerate heat up to 450℉ (230℃).
- 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 19gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 1686mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 5gVitamin A: 285IUCalcium: 219mgIron: 1.9mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @amindfullmom or tag #amindfullmom!
This post was orginally published in 2016 but was updated in 2021 with new tips.
Made these for dinner tonight and they were fabulous.
So happy to hear you enjoyed Shelly!
I made these with leftover turkey and cheese after Easter (cheddar for me and Swiss for my husband). They are crazy easy to make and really good. For anyone trying this recipe, don't be afraid to roll the dough thin. It will puff a bit in the oven. I love that I control the ingredients (the whole wheat pizza dough is great!). The whole process, including making the dough from scratch, only took less than 2 hours. I did let my stand mixer do the kneading work. I made them again with turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing. OMG good! Now we have lunches in the freezer. Delicious!
I am SO glad you enjoyed this so much Kristina! And thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Made these last night and they were delicious. Was in a rush so used store bought pizza dough and did the baked method. Did half with ham and cheese (put mustard right in them as I thought hubby might take in car to dd’s basketball game. Did the other half as pepperoni pizza pockets. We all loved them and I will make again. I found snipping with kitchen shears was easier than cutting slits. Thanks again! Right now the family naps while we await your instant pot lasagna.
I am so glad you and your family enjoyed Elizabeth! And take the short-cuts when needed 😉 Great tip for the kitchen shears too. Enjoy the lasagna 🙂
Hi Kristen, Thanks for your wonderful recipes. I am confused with this one though. The recipe says to use pizza dough, but then there are so many comments about pretzel dough. There is a link to your pizza dough recipe but I didn't see a link to a pretzel dough recipe. I watched the video a few times because it looks like a wonderful dough you are making, but I can't tell if you are making pizza dough or pretzel dough. (I don't have sound on so maybe you say it). And I can't tell whether your machine in the video is a mixer or a food processor. It looks like a food processor but there are no instructions in the printed recipe for a food processor, just mixer or bread machine. If you have a chance I'd love your help, as I would really like to try this recipe. Thanks so much!
Hi Elizabeth! Sorry for the confusion. First, I am using a mixer--it does look like a food processor, but just an open mixer 🙂 Secondly, I have included recipes for how turn pizza dough INTO pretzel dough if desired. Pretzels are made by placing the pizza dough quickly into a solution of warm water that baking soda has been dissolved into before baking. So you can make these hot pockets just with plain pizza dough or take the extra step to enjoy as pretzel hot pockets. Hope that helps.
Yes it did, thank you! And thank you for sending the reply to my email and so promptly. I made these last night! They came out great. I will leave a review separately. Thanks again!
I am happy to help ANYTIME!
I can't believe it took me this many years to try making hot pockets at home. These are so tasty and easy. A family favorite now that I'm sure we'll be making on a regular basis! Yum!
YAY Meagen! I am so glad your family enjoys these as much as mine does.
OK my house loves hot pockets! I have never thought of this but it sounds so easy & fun to make. I am sure you could even do pepperoni and cheese. Awesome!
Pepperoni and cheese work great too Britni!
I was sold at the pretzel dough! A warm, stuffed pretzel sounds so good right now!
I prefer the hot pretzel dough every time!