Global Bread Pockets Made Easy: Delicious Hacks with Pillsbury Dough

Dough pockets cut in half on a wooden board next to a blue napkin.

Runza (USA)

Let’s start with a Midwestern classic: runza. This hearty bread pocket, packed with ground beef, cabbage, and onions, is the perfect comfort food—though vegetarian versions, like cheese runza, are every bit as filling. Pillsbury Crescent Dough Sheets are the ideal hack for recreating homemade runza. Simply roll out the dough, add your savory filling, and seal the edges to form the pocket. Bake until golden, and you’ve got yourself a homemade runza without the hassle of making dough from scratch.

If this homegrown delicacy sounds like something you want to taste for yourself, try this Chopped Cheese Runza recipe, featuring the perfect balance of tender dough and filling. This dish showcases how Pillsbury Crescent Dough can be shaped into a sturdy, delicious pocket, perfect for on-the-go meals or cozy nights in. The whole family will love this delicious runza recipe, and you’ll love how simple it is to make.

Golden baked dough pockets on a blue plate with marinara sauce for dipping.

Calzone (Italy)

The Italian calzone is essentially a folded pizza stuffed with cheese, meats, and sauce, making it a must-try for pizza lovers. To make it easier, Pillsbury Pizza Crust is a fantastic option. Its stretchy texture is perfect for wrapping around your favorite fillings, whether you prefer the classic combination of mozzarella and pepperoni or want to experiment with vegetables and sausage.

Just like in our Runza recipe, shaping a calzone is simple: roll out the pizza crust, pile on your fillings, and fold it over like a turnover. Be sure to seal the edges with a fork and slice small vents in the top to let steam escape. This Pepperoni Calzone recipe shows exactly how easy it is to create an Italian favorite right in your kitchen.

Golden dough pockets stuffed with ground beef set on blue plates with guacamole on the side.

Empanadas (Spain and Portugal)

Empanadas are beloved across Spain, Portugal, and Latin America for their flaky, golden crusts and savory fillings, from beef to chicken to veggies. Pillsbury Pie Crust is a perfect shortcut to make these hand pies at home. Its buttery texture mimics the flakiness of traditional empanada dough, and it’s incredibly easy to shape into those signature half-moon pockets.

For the best empanada hack, roll out your pie crust and use a circular cookie cutter or a glass to create rounds. Add your filling in the center, fold over the dough, and crimp the edges with a fork. Bake until golden brown. This Beef Empanada recipe is a great example of how you can use Pillsbury dough to bring Spanish flavors to your table.

Golden dough pocket cut in half stuffed with meat and veggies with a side of salsa.

Pasty (UK)

The British pasty is another hand-held meal originally designed for portability. Traditionally filled with beef, potatoes, and onions, these savory pies are easy to prepare with Pillsbury Pie Crust or Crescent Rolls. Pillsbury dough creates a perfect golden pocket for whatever hearty filling you choose.

Shaping pasties is similar to empanadas: roll out the dough, add your filling, and fold it over to seal the edges. You can also experiment with fillings like chicken or even vegetarian versions. This Easy Chicken Pasty recipe offers a great take on the classic pasty, made simple with Pillsbury dough.

Baked crescent dough triangle pockets set on a wooden board.

Samosa (India)

Samosas are triangular, crispy pastries filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and sometimes meat. Instead of the traditional dough, Pillsbury Crescent dough can be used to simplify the process of making samosas. The dough is easy to work with and bakes up crispy, with just the right amount of flakiness.

To shape your samosas, cut your Crescent dough into squares, add your filling, and bring the corners up to form a triangle, sealing the edges tightly. For a baked version, try this Spicy Beef and Sweet Potato Samosa recipe using Pillsbury Crescent dough.

Golden pastry cut in slices filled with meat and veggies, set on a wooden board.

Jamaican Patty (Jamaica)

A Jamaican patty is a flaky, spicy pastry filled with seasoned meat, often made with jerk spices. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls offer a quick way to recreate the flaky crust of this Caribbean classic. The Crescent dough bakes up beautifully golden and works well for holding in those rich, spiced fillings.

To shape Jamaican patties, cut your Crescent dough into rectangles, add your filling, fold over, and crimp the edges with a fork. Try this Spicy and Sweet Jamaican Jerk Wrap, which can be adapted into a bread pocket using Pillsbury dough for a fun, flavorful twist.

Small dough pockets on a platter, one broken apart showing a meat and cabbage filling.

Pirozhki (Russia)

Russian pirozhki are small baked or fried pockets filled with mushrooms, meat, or cabbage. Pillsbury Crescent dough makes it easy to create these handheld delights with minimal prep time.

For an easy pirozhki hack, simply fill your Crescent dough with the desired filling, shape it into small pockets, and bake until golden. This Mushroom Pirozhki recipe shows how Pillsbury dough can be the perfect substitute for traditional pirozhki dough, resulting in a flavorful and easy appetizer or snack.

Steamed buns on a platter with a small bowl of dipping sauce.

Bao (China)

Bao, or steamed buns, are a beloved Chinese snack filled with everything from pork to vegetables. While the traditional method involves steaming dough, you can create a baked version using Pillsbury Grands!™ Biscuits. The biscuit dough is fluffy and light, mimicking the texture of traditional bao.To shape bao, simply flatten the biscuit dough, fill with your ingredients, and pinch the dough closed at the top. Bake for a quick and easy take on this Chinese classic. Try this Grands!™ Asian Bao recipe to get started.

What’s Poppin’? Global Flavors with Pillsbury Dough

Global flavors are more popular than ever, and there’s no easier way to bring them into your home than with Pillsbury dough. Whether you’re craving a crispy empanada, a savory homemade runza, or a spicy samosa, Pillsbury products provide the perfect base for recreating these global bread pockets with minimal effort. With the versatility of Crescent rolls, pizza crust, and pie dough, you can explore new cuisines without the fuss of making dough from scratch. There’s no easier way to take your taste buds on a trip around the world—one delicious bread pocket at a time!