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    Home » Recipes » Dish Type » Pasta & Pizza Recipes

    Healthy Homemade Pita Pizza Pockets

    Published: Aug 30, 2018 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Apr 1, 2022 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

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    Homemade Pizza Pocket |healthy - foodmeanderings.com

    Pizza pops, also known as pizza pockets or hot pockets, are still one of my favorite comfort foods from childhood. 

    a healthy pizza pocket on a white plate with baby carrots and a dish of olives and spinach in the background

    And because they are quite fattening, I was motivated to create this healthier and low calories Pita Pizza Pop. Made with pita bread, instead of pizza dough, this Healthy Pita Pizza Pocket or Healthy Hot Pocket is also Weight Watchers friendly. This recipe inspired by my other healthy pizza recipe - this Healthy Pita Pizza.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 📖 Variations & Substitutions
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭Pizza Pops are Canadian
    • 🥗 Side dishes
    • 🌡️Storing
    • ⭐ Reviews
    • 📋 Healthy Pita Pizza Pocket Recipe
    • 🍱More Lunch Box Recipes!

    My kids loved these because they practically live for pizza pops.  That was the other motivator - to make a healthy version for their school lunches. But the true testament was when my daughter's friend, one of the pickiest eaters I know, was over when I was testing the recipe and she loved it! 

    When I was a kid, I was really lucky if my parents stopped to get me a pizza pop from Syl's Drive-in in Carmen, MB, on the way to my grandparents farm. 

    Syl's Drive-Inn| Carmen, Manitoba

    Photo courtesy of Syl's Drive-Inn Facebook Page

    Driving out to the farm was pretty much the only time I ever got pizza pops when I was a kid; it really was a rare treat. And I practically lived for them too! And all these years later, they still give me comfort.

    🥘 Ingredients

    For this recipe, you'll need:

    • whole wheat pitas
    • egg
    • spinach
    • pizza sauce
    • low-fat cheddar cheese
    • turkey pepperoni (affiliate link)
    • light feta cheese
    • black olives, sliced
    • light Parmesan cheese
    homemade hot pocket being held up by hand and remaining hot pocket on white plate with baking sheet in the background

    📖 Variations & Substitutions

    Fillings: use any type of pizza filling you like for these homemade hot pockets! You can still keep it light and healthy using turkey sausage or turkey bacon instead of turkey pepperoni. You could also use mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar.

    🔪 Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F/205 degrees C and spray an aluminum lined cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.  
    • Mix spinach, pepperoni, pizza sauce, black olives and cheese together in a bowl. 
    • Make egg wash: Add water to egg and beat together for a few seconds.
    • Cut pitas in half, then open (use a knife to gently slice open fi necessary) each pita  and stuff it with about 3 tbsps of the filling * Do not overfill or it will be too difficult to seal and will rip. 
    • Seal the pita with the egg wash by running the egg wash inside the rim of the pita on each side with a pastry brush. Be careful not to use too much and  'soak it' or it will get soggy and fall apart. Then brush egg wash over the pita until it's covered, but not soaked. 
    • Take a fork and press down along the cut of the pita (on the straight side), as you would a pie crust, sealing it in
    How to make healthy Homemade pizza pockets | baked - foodmeanderings.com

    💭Pizza Pops are Canadian

    When I was a teenager and had a little more food freedom, my own money and pizza pops were commercially available, I practically lived on them! Little did I know that Pizza Pops were created in Winnipeg, Manitoba!, which also happens to be my home town.  Although Pillsbury bought out the creators in the early '80's and they are now made by General Mills, pizza pops are truly a Canadian thing. Not only does that make me really proud, it makes them even more of a comfort food. And that's why, when I was googling pizza pops, all I could find, aside from Pillsbury pizza pops, was pizza pockets. Because that's what they are called in the United States. That, or hot pockets or stuffed pizza pockets.

    🥗 Side dishes

    If you're sending these pizza pops along in a lunch box, then I recommend:

    • vegetables like sliced cucumbers or baby carrots
    • fresh fruit
    • Homemade Chocolate Yogurt
    • Quick Cucumber Kimchi
    • Easy Quinoa Salad
    2 healthy homemade pizza pops in a 3 section green divided lunch container with raspberries in one section and baby carrots in the other

    🌡️Storing

    • Fridge: you can keep these in the fridge for up to 3 days in a sealed container
    • Freezer: you can freeze these pizza pops for up to 3 months in a sealed container or ziplock bag
    • Reheating: you can reheat from frozen in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, depending on your microwave.
    • To keep warm: Wrap in aluminum foil before adding to an insulated lunch bag. *Do not reheat with aluminum foil on

    This recipe is perfect for picky eaters. My daughter's friend was over when I was testing these (she's an extremely picky eater) and LOVED this! So, if you're looking for healthy hot pockets, you'll love this one!

    And if you are looking for additional healthy lunch ideas for back to school, check this out!

    Easy Mediterranean Chicken & Rice Cups

    Chicken & Minute Rice Cups - foodmeanderings.com

    ⭐ Reviews

    Did you make this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE  (get my FREE E-cookbook) and be sure to FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    a healthy pizza pocket on a white plate with baby carrots and a dish of olives and spinach in the background
    Food Meandering Logo

    📋 Healthy Pita Pizza Pocket Recipe

    A healthy homemade pizza pop (pizza pocket or hot pocket) stuffed with Mediterranean flavors like black olive, feta cheese and spinach. It's Weight Watchers friendly and a healthy lunch (hot or cold) for the lunch box!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: lunch, Snack
    Cuisine: American, Canadian, Mediterranean, North American
    Keyword: healthy, homemade, pizza pockets, pizza pop
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 127kcal
    Author: Terri Gilson
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 3 whole wheat pitas, cut in half
    • 1 whole egg
    • 2 teaspoon water
    • ⅔ cup finely chopped spinach
    • 4 tablespoon pizza sauce * your favorite brand
    • ¾ cup low-fat cheddar
    • 1 -175 g package of turkey pepperoni
    • 2 tablespoon light feta cheese, crumbled
    • 2 tablespoon sliced black olives
    • 2 tablespoon light parmesan cheese
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F/205 degrees C and spray an aluminum lined cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. 
       
    • Mix spinach, pepperoni, pizza sauce, black olives and cheese together in a bowl. 
    • Make egg wash: Add water to egg and beat together for a few seconds.
    • Cut pitas in half, then open (use a knife to gently slice open fi necessary) each pita  and stuff it with about 3 tbsps of the filling * Do not overfill or it will be too difficult to seal and will rip. 
    • Seal the pita with the egg wash by running the egg wash inside the rim of the pita on each side with a pastry brush. Be careful not to use too much and  'soak it' or it will get soggy and fall apart. Then brush egg wash over the pita until it's covered, but not soaked. 
    • Take a fork and press down along the cut of the pita (on the straight side), as you would a pie crust, sealing it in. 
      How to make healthy Homemade pizza pockets | baked - foodmeanderings.com
    • Sprinkle each pita with parmesan cheese, distributing equally between the pitas. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. 
    • Serve hot as a meal or snack with raw veggies (like carrots and celery) and berries or pack for a lunch (they can be reheated or eaten cold). You can also freeze them.

    Notes

    🌡️STORING
    • Fridge: you can keep these in the fridge for up to 3 days in a sealed container
    • Freezer: you can freeze these pizza pops for up to 3 months in a sealed container or ziplock bag
    • Reheating: you can reheat from frozen in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, depending on your microwave.
    • To keep warm: Wrap in aluminum foil before adding to an insulated lunch bag. *Do not reheat with aluminum foil on
     
    My Amazon Recommendations (affiliate links)
    Nutrition Facts
    📋 Healthy Pita Pizza Pocket Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (1 pocket)
    Calories 127 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Cholesterol 9mg3%
    Sodium 393mg17%
    Potassium 118mg3%
    Carbohydrates 17g6%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 7g14%
    Vitamin A 420IU8%
    Vitamin C 1.7mg2%
    Calcium 107mg11%
    Iron 1.2mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pocket | Calories: 127kcal (6%) | Carbohydrates: 17g (6%) | Protein: 7g (14%) | Fat: 3g (5%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Cholesterol: 9mg (3%) | Sodium: 393mg (17%) | Potassium: 118mg (3%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 420IU (8%) | Vitamin C: 1.7mg (2%) | Calcium: 107mg (11%) | Iron: 1.2mg (7%)
    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
    Rate this Recipe

    🍱More Lunch Box Recipes!

    • Ukrainian Bento Box Lunch Idea
    • Cold Shortcut Skillet Fried Chicken
    • Easy Mediterranean Chicken and Wild Rice Cups
    • The 5 Minute Turkey Club Ranch Wrap
    • Easy Spicy Peanut Pasta Salad (Vegan): Leftovers are the best!

    « Red Lentil Chocolate Dessert Lasagna
    The Mediterranean Monte Cristo Sandwich »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elaine

      September 05, 2018 at 7:04 pm

      I love how you’ve lightened up this classic recipe and made something that you feel good about feeding your kids! A lovely tribute to your uncle, too.

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        September 08, 2018 at 8:11 am

        Thank you, Elaine. Yes, my kids constantly bug me for pizza pops so it's nice to be able to make them an alternative they equally love (and stick it in a lunch bag)!

        Reply
    2. Denise from Urb'n'Spice

      September 05, 2018 at 9:21 pm

      That was a great story, Terri. I am sure that your Uncle would have loved these pizza pockets. I am looking forward to trying them. Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        September 08, 2018 at 8:09 am

        Thank you, Denise :). I hope you enjoy them!

        Reply
    3. Riz | Chocolates & Chai

      September 07, 2018 at 2:34 pm

      You’ve told such a lovely story, Terri.

      I can really see the importance of pizza pockets to you. And I love how you’ve transformed it into something healthier so that you can continue to bite into the memories.

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        September 08, 2018 at 8:08 am

        Thanks, Riz! Yes, I'm happy to be able to continue to enjoy pizza pops all these years later (in a healthy way:) )

        Reply
    4. Chef Markus Mueller

      September 09, 2018 at 6:03 pm

      Really liking your take on using pitas as the crust for these pizza pockets! I have always made 'hand pie' style pizza pockets where you make the dough your self and then wrap it around the filling kind of like a calzone..its super messy though, and really takes a lot of practice to get good at|! This is so much easier!

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        September 11, 2018 at 7:12 am

        Thanks, Markus! Yes, this is really easy and although I love pizza dough, I agree, it takes time, practice and it's a lot more calories! 🙂

        Reply

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    I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer, and a busy working mom who is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks, and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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