This baked pizza chicken is a simple, high-protein dinner that packs big pizza flavor. Tender chicken breasts are seasoned, topped with pizza sauce, melted mozzarella and your favorite toppings for an easy weeknight meal.
If you’re looking for new ways to serve chicken, this pizza chicken will quickly become a favorite. It’s juicy, flavorful, kid-friendly and turns everything you love about pizza into a baked, satisfying chicken dinner.
One of the best parts of this recipe is how well it keeps. You can season the chicken in advance and store it on the baking sheet in the refrigerator until dinnertime.
When you’re ready to cook, top each breast with pizza sauce, bake, add cheese and toppings, then return to the oven until the cheese is melted. Quick, flavorful and fun to customize.
Pizza Chicken Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Italian seasoning. A convenient blend of dried herbs; you can substitute separate dried basil and oregano if needed.
- Pizza sauce. Use a favorite store-bought sauce or your preferred homemade pizza sauce.
- Toppings. Pepperoni is easy and popular, but you can swap in cooked bacon or ham, mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers, onions, or extra fresh basil.
How to Make Pizza Chicken
Follow these steps for reliable results. This method works whether you assemble right away or prep ahead of time.
Start by placing a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet and lightly greasing the rack or pan.
Make the spice rub by mixing Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Arrange the chicken breasts on the prepared rack. Lightly coat each breast with olive oil or spray with olive oil spray. Sprinkle one-third of the seasoning under each breast, then place the breasts bottom-side down on the rack and sprinkle the remaining seasoning over the tops.
Cover and let the seasoned chicken rest for 15–30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate for longer.
To prepare in advance
Cover the seasoned chicken and refrigerate for up to 6 hours so it’s ready to bake later in the day.
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce over each chicken breast. Bake for roughly 20 minutes, adjusting time for thicker or thinner pieces.
After the initial bake, top each breast with 3–4 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella, add fresh basil and your chosen toppings (pepperoni, vegetables, etc.). Finish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and a pinch of crushed red pepper if desired.
Return to the oven and bake another 15–20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Serve
Serve pizza chicken with roasted vegetables like broccoli or balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts, or pair it with a crisp salad. It’s also excellent alongside crusty bread or garlic bread to soak up any extra sauce.
Store/Freeze
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave or covered in the oven at 325°F (163°C) until warmed through.
Pizza Chicken Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can season the chicken up to 6 hours in advance and keep it refrigerated on the baking sheet. For best texture, bake the chicken fresh before serving.
Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) using an instant-read thermometer to ensure doneness.
Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well; adjust cooking time as needed for thickness.
Popular options include pepperoni, bacon, ham, mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers, onions and fresh basil. Mix and match to suit your family.
Absolutely. Slices of fresh mozzarella work great for a margherita-style pizza chicken.
If you try this recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment and rating. It’s always lovely to hear how you customize the toppings and sides.
Pizza Chicken
Laura
Video
Equipment
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baking sheet with wire rack
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measuring spoons
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measuring cups
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spatula
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pyrex measuring cup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (sliced thin, 6 pieces)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (or olive oil spray)
- 6 Tablespoons pizza sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 3 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup pepperoni
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
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Put a wire rack inside a baking sheet and lightly grease it.
Season the Chicken Breasts
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Combine Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
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Spray or rub the chicken breasts with olive oil on both sides.
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Sprinkle one-third of the seasoning on the bottom side of each breast, place bottom-side down on the wire rack, then sprinkle the remaining seasoning over the tops.
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Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 6 hours.
Assemble & Bake
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
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If chilled, let the chicken sit at room temperature about 15 minutes before baking.
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Spread 1 tablespoon pizza sauce over each breast and bake for 20 minutes (adjust for thickness).
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Remove from the oven, top each breast with 3–4 tablespoons mozzarella and fresh basil, then add desired toppings.
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Sprinkle ½ tablespoon Parmesan and crushed red pepper if using.
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Return to the oven and bake another 15–20 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) and the cheese is melted.
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Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Italian seasoning. Use a store blend or combine dried basil and oregano.
- Pizza sauce. Use homemade or your preferred jarred sauce.
- Toppings. Swap pepperoni for other proteins or add vegetables and fresh herbs.
Store/Freeze
Leftovers keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 1 month in the freezer. Reheat covered in the oven at 325°F (163°C) or in the microwave until warmed through.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 3g
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Protein: 29g
Nutrition information is an approximation.
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