Description
Pizza Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that combines juicy seasoned chicken breasts topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and fresh tomato slices. Perfect for a quick dinner, this recipe delivers the classic pizza taste with a healthy protein twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Toppings & Sauce
- 1 (14 ounce) jar DeLallo Pizzeria Style Pizza Sauce
- 2 ounces DeLallo Sliced Pepperoni (or to taste)
- 1 medium tomato (sliced)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- Fresh basil (torn/chopped, to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and move the rack to the middle position for even baking.
- Season the Chicken: Season both sides of each chicken breast with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to infuse flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the chicken for 5 minutes on each side to lock in juices and develop a golden crust.
- Prepare for Baking: Transfer the seared chicken breasts to a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Pour the pizza sauce evenly over and around the chicken.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over each chicken breast to provide a melty pizza topping.
- Add Toppings: Top each chicken breast with slices of tomato and pepperoni for authentic pizza flavors.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Adjust time to 15 minutes if breasts are small, or up to 25 minutes for larger breasts.
- Rest the Chicken: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow juices to redistribute and ensure juiciness. The internal temperature will continue to rise slightly during this time. Chicken is safe to eat at 165°F.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh torn or chopped basil on top for a burst of freshness and enjoy your pizza-inspired chicken dish.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to check that chicken reaches 165°F internally for safe consumption.
- For a lower-fat option, use part-skim mozzarella cheese and turkey pepperoni.
- Feel free to customize toppings with mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers.
- If you don’t have a skillet, sear chicken directly in an oven-safe pan or bake chicken breasts fully then add toppings and broil briefly to melt cheese.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
