Tasty Pizza Chicken Recipe

Pizza and chicken are two of my favourite foods, and when I discovered I could put the two together, I think I was in heaven! My pizza chicken recipe is incredibly simple to make and tastes delicious. It’s one of those meals that everyone in the family loves and it can be served with pretty much anything. I love to eat it with salad in the warmer months and hearty vegetables when the weather turns colder.

I’m sharing the very basic recipe with you here, but you can switch this up and add to it as much as you like. I sometimes add pepperoni, ham or sweetcorn or whatever else we’ve got left over in the fridge that needs to be used up.

Ingredients

For a delicious Pizza Chicken Recipe, gather the following ingredients to make this mouth-watering dish:

• Chicken breasts: You’ll need 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. 
• Passata: Passata is a thick, uncooked tomato sauce made from strained tomatoes and adds a rich tomato taste to the dish. You’ll need 300ml of passata for this recipe.
• Grated Mozzarella: Approximately 100g of grated mozzarella cheese will be required to give the dish its classic, gooey, and melty texture.
• Tomato Puree: Along with passata, 2 tablespoons of tomato puree will intensify the tomato flavour in the dish.
• Onion powder: To add a subtle hint of onion without overpowering the dish, use about 1 teaspoon of onion powder.
• Garlic powder: Add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder to bring in that delicious, aromatic garlic flavour.
• Salt and black pepper: Season the chicken breasts with a pinch of salt and a good crack of black pepper according to taste preferences.
• Cooking oil spray: Use a cooking oil spray to lightly coat the pan before cooking the chicken, ensuring it doesn’t stick to the surface.

You will also need a large mixing bowl and a large, ovenproof dish.

Preparing the Chicken

Preheat the oven to 200°C (Gas Mark 6).

To create a delicious Pizza Chicken recipe, start by laying the chicken breasts on a cutting board and using a sharp knife to trim any excess fat. You can use smaller chicken fillets if you like too, that’s what I had in when I was writing up this recipe so that’s what I’ve used.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste. This can be done by sprinkling the seasoning evenly on both sides of the chicken. If you’d like a bit more flavour, feel free to use other spices as well, such as garlic powder or paprika, although be careful not to over-season as you’ll be using seasoning in your sauce too.

Spray a frying pan with cooking oil and heat to a medium heat.

Cook the chicken in the pan for just a couple of minutes on each side to brown and seal the chicken.

Place the chicken breasts in an oven-proof dish.

Making the Pizza Sauce

In a large mixing bowl, combine the passata, tomato puree, onion powder and garlic powder. You can add any other herbs or spices you fancy at this point too. You can also switch out garlic powder for lazy garlic if you want to, but the powder does allow the flavour to be more evenly distributed through your sauce. 

If you prefer a touch of sweetness, you may wish to add a small amount of sugar. Mix the sauce thoroughly, ensuring that the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the sauce.

Once the sauce is well-blended, pour it into the oven-proof dish over the top of your chicken, making sure it’s all evenly covered.

Now, it’s time for the best part: adding the cheese. Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the chicken and sauce. The more cheese, the better! If you’re a cheese connoisseur, you can even incorporate different varieties, like a bit of cheddar or parmesan, for an extra sharp twist.

Once your pizza chicken masterpiece is assembled, carefully place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Allow the dish to bake uncovered for around 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Then cover loosely with foil and cook for a further 15-20 minutes.

While the pizza chicken is baking, you can get on with preparing your side dishes. I love to serve with a crusty bread roll and crisp side salad, but you can choose pretty much anything you like. 

Serving Suggestions

A simple salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette dressing complements the pizza chicken perfectly. Not only does it add crunch, but it also helps to balance out the rich flavours of the pizza chicken. For those following a gluten-free lifestyle, make sure to choose gluten-free salad dressings and other condiments.

You can also serve with comforting foods such as roast potatoes and warming vegetables for a more substantial dinner too. My diced paprika potatoes also go really well, so long as you haven’t added paprika to the pizza chicken as that could be a little overpowering!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cook chicken for a pizza?

To cook chicken for a pizza, first season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper and your choice of spices or marinades. Then, you can either bake, grill or sear them. When the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F), it’s fully cooked and can be sliced or shredded to be used as a topping on your pizza.

What are some popular toppings for chicken pizza?

Popular toppings for chicken pizza include barbecue sauce, bacon, red onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and a variety of cheeses such as mozzarella, feta or goat cheese. You can also add fresh herbs like basil, parsley or cilantro for added flavour.

How is chicken prepared for pizza?

Chicken can be prepared for pizza by seasoning it and cooking it through baking, grilling or pan-searing. Once it reaches a safe internal temperature, slice or shred the chicken to use as a topping on the pizza dough before baking the pizza.

What are the calorie counts for pizza topped chicken?

The calorie count for pizza topped chicken will vary depending on the toppings and sauce.