Description
This Chicken Pizza Bake is a delicious and easy-to-make dish combining tender chicken breasts with classic pizza flavors like marinara sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, this bake is finished with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning and fresh basil for a burst of freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (divided, or more to taste)
Toppings:
- 1 1/2 cup pizza sauce (or sub Rao’s marinara for dairy-free)
- 4–5 thick slices mozzarella cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
- 1/3 cup sliced pepperonis (regular or turkey)
Garnish:
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Grease a baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning, adjusting to taste.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side until they are browned but only about 80% cooked through.
- Assemble the Bake: Arrange the chicken breasts evenly in the prepared baking dish. Pour the pizza sauce evenly over the chicken, then layer the mozzarella cheese slices and pepperoni on top. Sprinkle the remaining Italian seasoning over everything. For extra sauciness, add additional pizza sauce around the chicken.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving for added flavor and color.
Notes
- Cheese Substitution: You can substitute 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese for the cheese slices or cheese of choice to change texture and coverage.
- Vegetable Toppings: Add low-carb vegetable toppings such as sliced bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, or spinach to enhance flavor, texture, and nutrition without adding many carbs. Feel free to use any vegetables you prefer if carbs are not a concern.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with toppings (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
