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Four homemade Italian panzerotti filled with ham and cheese served on a white plate with golden-brown crusts

Italian Panzerotti with Ham and Cheese Recipe

Golden, crispy on the outside and irresistibly cheesy on the inside, these homemade Ham-and-Cheese Panzerotti are the ultimate Italian comfort food.

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Homemade, Italian Recipe, Party Food
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 10 panzerotti
Calories 340 kcal

Ingredients

For the dough

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour 500 g
  • 1 cup warm milk 240 ml
  • 2 tbsp oil 30 ml
  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast 10 g or half a cube of fresh yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt

For the filling

  • 7 oz ham or smoked pork loin 200 g finely chopped
  • 7 oz mozzarella or provolone shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 4-5 tbsp ketchup
  • oregano to taste

For frying

  • oil

Instructions

  1. Make the dough:

    Pour the warm milk into a large bowl, then stir in the yeast, sugar, and a spoonful of flour. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, until the yeast activates and turns foamy.

    Add the oil and salt, then work in the rest of the flour a little at a time. Knead until you have a smooth, elastic dough.

    Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and set it in a warm spot for about 45 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.

    Shape the panzerotti:

    Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 10 to 12 equal balls.

    Roll each ball out with a rolling pin into a circle about ΒΌ inch (5 mm) thick, roughly the size of a small plate.

    Round ball of homemade panzerotti dough resting on a floured countertop before shaping and filling
  2. Fill them:

    Spread a little ketchup over one half of each circle. Add the ham (or pork loin), then the shredded cheese, and finish with a sprinkle of oregano.

    Seal them:

    Fold the empty half of the dough over the filling to form a half-moon.

    Press the edges firmly with your fingers, then crimp them with a fork so the filling doesn't leak out while frying.

    Rolled panzerotti dough topped with ham slices and soft cheese filling on a floured work surface before sealing
  3. Fry them:

    Heat a generous amount of oil in a deep skillet.

    Fry the panzerotti over medium heat on both sides until they turn a beautiful golden color with a crisp crust.

    Transfer them to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.

    Serve:

    Serve the panzerotti warm, while the cheese is still melted and creamy. They're delicious with plain yogurt, a cool dipping sauce, or whatever sauce you love best.

    Two uncooked panzerotti cooking in a nonstick skillet on a stovetop, ready to develop a golden, crispy crust

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Serving Size Approximately 165 g
Calories 340 kcal
Carbohydrates 33 g
Protein 15 g
Fat 17 g
Saturated Fat 5.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 7 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 30 mg
Sodium 650 mg
Potassium 180 mg
Fiber 1.5 g
Sugar 3 g
Vitamin A 220 IU
Vitamin C 2 mg
Calcium 180 mg
Iron 2.2 mg