Aldi Calzone (Mama Cozzi’s) Review

Author’s Note: No one paid me to write this. I have no affiliation with Aldi. Mmmkay.

Unlike me, it is not saucy.

I think this was more a “curiosity” purchase than anything. I had a dang good experience with one of the fresh “Mama Cozzi’s” thin-crust pizzas from Aldi. So, I thought this calzone might surprise me. I bought the “Spicy Sausage” flavor, although you can also choose Four Cheese, Philly Cheese Steak, Buffalo Chicken, or Pepperoni.

It comes in a plastic clamshell box, and it needs to be heated before eating. I opted to cook mine in my counter-top toaster oven. This was OK, but the top got a bit too dark. It was fine on the bottom, and “just right” inside. So, not a complete tragedy. You also have the option to microwave this calzone. But, ew. Please don’t.

The crust

The crust is not bad. It’s not as good as a freshly-made calzone from a pizza parlor (duh!), but it’s better than it could be. Mine was crispy-chewy-soft, like calzone should be. Just somewhat less fresh-tasting. Less yeasty. There were some small bits of herbs on top before baking, but these didn’t contribute any distinct flavor. Maybe because I incinerated them. Alas.

It has four cheeses, but no thumbs.

The cheese has a great stretchy ooze to it, and there’s a good amount for the calzone size. It appears to be mainly mozzarella, but there are three other cheeses, too: Ricotta, Provolone, and Romano.

Look at that ocean of molten cheese. Mmmmm.

Sparse sausage and peppers

I enjoyed the small pieces of colorful pepper inside, although there were not very many. The small sausage bits were spicy and flavorful. I relished them. But — like the peppers — they were scarce. Mostly, there is cheese. And crust. I would have preferred more sausage and pepper.

Size-wise, this is a fairly small calzone. I mean, it’s plenty big enough for one person. But it’s maybe half the size I’d order from a restaurant. That’s not a criticism, just an observation.

Ingredients in Aldi Mama Cozzi’s Sausage Calzone

I mean. This is a lot better than I expect from a grab-and-go packaged calzone. Surprisingly straightforward ingredients. I appreciate the absence of nitrites in the sausage.

Here’s my best attempt at typing out the ingredients:

• Unbleached Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
• Water
• Mozzarella Cheese (Cultured Pasteurized Part-Skim Milk, Salt and Enzymes)
• Spicy Sausage (Natural Pork, Spices, Water, Salt, Sugar, Natural Flavorings, Paprika)
• Ricotta Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Pasteurized Whey, Vinegar, Salt)
• Red and Green Peppers
• Onion
• Tomato Sauce (Vine-Ripened Fresh Tomatoes, Fresh Basil Leaf, Salt, and Naturally Derived Citric Acid)
• Sugar
• Provolone Cheese (Cultured Pasteurized Milk, Salt and Enzymes)
• Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt Enzymes)
• Salt
• Olive Oil
• Soybean Oil
• Yeast (Yeast, Sorbitan Monostearate, Ascorbic Acid)
• Dough Conditioner Blend (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Enzymes, Ascorbic Acid)
• Minced Garlic
• Black Pepper
• Parsley
• Oregano

I do see that the ingredients list “Tomato Sauce,” and I’m curious about this, because I never found any. Where is it?

Cooking Instructions

You can bake this in a conventional oven at 375-400 degrees for 10-14 minutes, or microwave on high for 1-1.5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

A serving is one whole calzone and contains 460 calories. You get 17 grams of fat and 22 grams of protein. There’s a modest 4 grams of sugars (0 grams “added sugars’), and 2 grams fiber. For sodium, there’s a meal-sized 34% of your daily value.

Price and Servings

Since the entire calzone cost just $2.55, I can’t complain about the absence of marinara. That’s a very good price. It’s only 7 ounce, but still. Frugal souls rejoice!

Shelf-Life

The “best by” date on my calzone only allowed a couple days to consume. So, these aren’t something you can buy weeks in advance and keep on hand in your refrigerator. Buy them, and eat them immediately, I guess? I ate mine the day after I bought it.

Dramatic Conclusion

For a packaged, economy calzone, this one is “not bad.” I appreciated the quality (and quantity!) of cheese, but wished there was more of the spicy sausage and peppers. Sauce would have made this taste so much better. Marinara sold separately!

The End.

More Reviews You Might Like (or Hate)

Check out these other reviews I’ve written. Or don’t. That’s fine, too:

• Publix Deli Grab-and-Go Chicken Pot Pie
• The Fresh Market Salmon and Crab Cakes
• Aldi Priano Spinach & Cheese Manicotti