Everyone’s favorite dinner ingredient, chicken, is as versatile as it is beloved. Whether it’s roasted, baked or grilled, served on pastas or in sandwiches, you can’t go wrong with chicken. And you certainly can’t go wrong with a simple, savory chicken pizza.
Chicken works with just about any pizza recipe, including our most weird and unique pizza ideas. The meat is a blank canvas that can be paired with virtually any sauce, vegetable, meat, and even bean, like in this recipe. Putting chicken on a pizza also makes for a more filling meal and adds a boost of lean protein.
We think this meal should top any chicken dinner ideas list. From start to finish, it’s just around 30 minutes to prepare, so make sure the rest of the dinner crew has the table set and the Parmesan shakers ready to go!
Ingredients for Chicken Pizza
- Chicken breast: We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe. Cut the meat into uniform-sized pieces so it cooks evenly, and keep the pieces bite-sized so guests won’t need a fork and knife for their pizza! You can save about 15 minutes in this recipe by using precooked or leftover chicken meat.
- Pizza crust: A premade pizza crust makes this a very quick and easy dinner. Unsure which one to buy? Here’s our Test Kitchen’s pick for the best premade pizza crust.
- Pesto sauce: Fresh, bright, garlicky pesto sauce is delicious with chicken, and here it nicely ties together the flavors of all the toppings. Use a store-bought pesto, or make your own. Here’s how to make pesto like a pro.
- Black beans: Black beans add extra protein, fiber and heft to this pizza, but if you’re not a fan, feel free to omit. Or replace with another canned bean of your taste.
- Cheese: Two cheeses top this chicken pizza: mozzarella for its melting, ooey-gooey powers, and Parmesan cheese for its nutty, savory flavor.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the chicken
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken, stirring now and then, for 10 to 15 minutes, until cooked through and no longer pink.
Step 2: Top the pizza
Place the pizza crust on a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan. Spread the pesto evenly across the top.
Layer the chicken, tomato, beans and cheeses onto the pizza.
Editor’s Tip: Leave an inch or so around the pizza edge without any toppings to allow for a crust.
Step 3: Bake
Bake the pizza for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Editor’s Tip: Let the pizza stand for a few minutes before slicing to give everything time to set.
Recipe Variations
- Use homemade pizza dough: Upgrade the pie by making your own pizza dough. You just need a bit of time to let the dough rise. This pizza recipe would also work with a gluten-free pizza crust.
- Add sauce: Use another sauce in place of the pesto, or use another sauce to dip the baked pizza into. Classic tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, balsamic glaze and ranch dressing are all good options.
- Add veggies: Add your favorite toppings to the pie for extra flavor. Peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms and more all taste great with chicken.
- Top with herbs or greens: Add a handful of spinach leaves to the pie a few minutes before baking is done for a pop of color and slightly bitter edge. Or sprinkle the baked pie with fresh herbs like basil or cilantro.
- Add spices: The combination of chicken and black beans would taste delicious turned into a Mexican pizza. To get there, season the chicken with taco seasoning in the skillet before topping the pizza. Top the baked pizza with inspired ingredients like chopped avocado, pico de gallo or guacamole.
How to Store Chicken Pizza
Leftover chicken pizza should be kept in the refrigerator, tightly covered with foil or sealed in an airtight container. It will keep for up to four days, though the crust will get increasingly soggy as it sits.
How to Reheat Chicken Pizza
While you can simply blast slices of pizza in the microwave to heat them, there are better ways to reheat pizza. Heating the pizza in the oven ensures that the crust crisps up. You can also reheat pizza in a skillet: Add couple of drops of water to the skillet, and cover with a lid to ensure the slices heat evenly.
How to Freeze Chicken Pizza
Yes, you can freeze pizza! Allow the cooked pizza to cool, then seal tightly in at least two layers of foil and a freezer-safe resealable storage bag. Pizza will keep well in the freezer for up to two months. Let thaw in the fridge, then reheat as suggested above.
Chicken Pizza Tips
Can I put raw chicken on a pizza?
No, it’s not a good idea to put raw chicken on a pizza. It will not cook through in the time it takes to cook the pizza crust! Make sure your meat is fully cooked before putting it on the pizza to bake.
How can I prevent the chicken from becoming dry or overcooked on the pizza?
To avoid your chicken from drying out in the oven, try baking the pizza on a lower rack in the oven. This allows high heat to brown the crust and cook it quickly enough that the toppings don’t burn.
Should I add cheese before or after pizza toppings?
Put cheese under the toppings if you want them to get crispier in the oven (like mushrooms, sausage and pepperoni). Put cheese on top if you want the cheese to become slightly brown and for the toppings to become tender (like chicken, caramelized onions and garlic). For chicken pizza, we suggest putting cheese on after the rest of the toppings.
