Recipe: Pizza Chicken
The flavors of pizza, but with a protein-packed upgrade! Pizza Chicken brings the taste you love from a classic pizza—savory tomato sauce, melty mozzarella, and your favorite toppings—onto a tender chicken breast. Using chicken as the base makes it higher in protein and lower in overall carbohydrates. Adding vegetable toppings like broccoli, onions, peppers, or mushrooms not only adds flavor and texture but also boosts fiber, vitamins, and mineral content, making it a satisfying, nutrient-packed entree. Serve it with roasted veggies and whole-wheat pasta for a balanced, delicious meal.
Vegetables on pizza began appearing in the early 20th century, especially as pizza spread beyond Italy. Some of the earliest “garden pizzas” in the U.S. included peppers, mushrooms, and olives on top of mozzarella, and were sometimes called “Mediterranean” or “vegetable” pizzas on menus as early as the 1950s.
Pizza Chicken
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 8 oz each, sliced in half lengthwise (creating 4 thin pieces of chicken)
- 1/4 C marinara sauce
- 1/2 C part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
- Cooking spray
- Toppings of choice: diced fresh veggies (peppers, broccoli, onions, olives, mushrooms, etc.)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Spray a baking dish or deep oven-safe pan with cooking spray.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then season it with salt and pepper. Place in a baking dish. Cook chicken for 12-15 minutes.
- After 12-15 minutes (when the chicken reaches 165 degrees), spoon 1 Tbsp of marinara sauce over each piece of chicken, then top each with 2 Tbsp of shredded mozzarella cheese. Add toppings of choice.
- Bake for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Tips:
- Customize the “pizzas” anyway you would like! Love pepperoni? Top with turkey pepperoni.
- Prefer your veggies more tender before topping? While the chicken bakes, sauté them for 3-5 minutes in a non-stick pan.
Swap:
- For the cheese: Violife Just Like Mozzarella Shredded Cheese Alternative or any non-dairy cheese of choice.
