This recipe is sponsored by Stella Cheeses. My husband Ben likes to remind me that I “can’t please everybody. You’re not pizza.” WELL, after enough times of hearing this echo from him, I finally took his advice… to the dinner table. Combining the most popular protein for family meals (chicken) with the flavors of (conceivably) the most popular food (pizza) will have kids and adults alike chanting “huzzah!” I could happily eat pizza just about any night of the week. This recipe delivers its indulgent flavor in a healthy way, so you can feel great eating “pizza” anytime. After all, I think shredded chicken is great on pizza, so why not also bring the pizza to the chicken? Adults will appreciate the nuances of a simmered sauce and the ability to customize toppings (see some recommendations below). Kids will appreciate, well…PIZZA!
Secrets to the Best Pizza Chicken
Three tricks elevate this ultra easy meal into something that will convince everyone at the table that this healthy pizza chicken recipe came straight from the ovens of Italy.
Use Good-Quality Cheese. The quality of cheese is too often overlooked, and it can make a major difference. I used Stella Fontinella Cheese. It has a creamy, smooth texture that melts beautifully in the oven. The flavor offers hints of sweetness and nuttiness. Think of it as more festive than standard mozzarella. It will boost your everyday cooking from ordinary to something special. Simmer the Sauce. High on my list of important pantry staples in The Well Plated Cookbook (get your copy here today!) is good-quality store-bought pasta sauce. To give it from-scratch flavor, here we add it to a pan of sautéed onions and garlic, then stir in Worcestershire sauce, and let it simmer. These tricks are far easier than starting sauce from scratch and create a sauce that tastes remarkably authentic. Sear the Chicken. Searing the chicken on the stove before placing it in the oven builds a foundation of flavor. This uncomplicated step is so worth it!
How to Make Pizza Chicken
This one-pan meal uses simple fridge and pantry ingredients to create a sublime spin on a quintessential protein.
The Ingredients
Chicken. We loved this pizza chicken with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you can also easily make pizza chicken with thighs. Onion + Garlic. These two are sautéed together at the beginning to create a deep, rich flavor. Italian Seasoning. Scrumptious Italian flavor packed into one simple seasoning. Red Pepper Flakes. A modest amount of red pepper flakes add a perfect pinch of heat. Pasta Sauce. Jarred sauce helps make this dish quick and easy, and with our flavor additions, it tastes delish. I used a tomato basil flavor sauce, but you could use any flavor you prefer. Worcestershire. An umami bomb that perks up our store-bought sauce. Cheese. Like we talked about above, using a high-quality, melty cheese is ultra important here, and Stella Fontinella Cheese is perfect. Toppings. See some delicious options in the “Topping Ideas for Pizza Chicken” section below.
The Directions
Topping Ideas for Pizza Chicken
You can keep this recipe classic with pepperoni as we did, but there are many ways to top pizza chicken:
Pepperoni. Using pepperoni requires no extra work and the pieces crisp nicely in the oven as the chicken bakes. I opted for turkey pepperoni, which is leaner than the traditional version. Olives. Using canned, pre-sliced olives is another topping option that does not require prep and brings some saltiness. Mushrooms and/or Green Pepper. Both are perfect for giving pizza that “supreme” profile. Make sure to thinly slice the mushrooms and finely dice any green peppers so each can sufficiently cook through as the chicken bakes. Fresh Basil. Ideal if your craving that light and bright pizza flavor with true Italian flare.
What to Serve with Pizza Chicken
Salad. A light and simple salad like this Arugula Salad or Caesar Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crispy Chickpea Croutons would be perfect with this recipe. Bread. A saucy, good-to-the-last-drop dish like this deserves to be sopped up with a slice of Rosemary Olive Oil Bread. Vegetables. Serve this dish alongside some healthy veggies like Roasted Broccoli and Carrots or Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic.
Meal Prep and Storage Tips
To Meal Prep. For pizza chicken meal prep, chop the garlic and onion up to 1 day in advance. Store them in separate airtight storage containers in the refrigerator. To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. To Reheat. Rewarm pizza chicken in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat. To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Healthy Chicken Recipes
Chicken Cacciatore Chicken Kabobs Crockpot BBQ Chicken Grilled Chicken Tenders Crock Pot Chicken Marsala
If you try this pizza chicken recipe, please comment below to let me what you think! I hope it’s just the thing you’re craving tonight. I am sharing this post in partnership with Stella Cheeses. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands and companies that make it possible for me to continue to create quality content for you!
