An easy and low carb dinner recipe using baked chicken topped with pizza sauce, lots of gooey cheese, pepperoni, and any of your favorite toppings!
Pizza is my guilty pleasure. Who’s with me? But I always feel gross after eating a big slice of greasy pizza. So in an effort to have my pizza and eat it too, I’ve come up with this healthy and yummy dinner idea using just a few simple ingredients that you can feel good about eating. This baked chicken is naturally low carb and gluten free, and takes about 5 minutes to prep!
A pizza recipe so good you won’t even miss the crust!
If you’re looking for easy baked chicken recipes, this is a great recipe for the whole family because you can customize the toppings with whatever you’d like. Make it simple with just gooey cheese or a supreme with loads of veggies. My kids love pepperoni and black olives, but mushrooms, bell peppers, sausage, onions, or anything else can be loaded on top of the cheese.
Ingredients
- 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups pizza sauce
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup mini pepperoni or 12 regular sized pepperonis
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Step 1 Heat a large skillet on medium high and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder and half of the Italian seasoning (1 tablespoon). Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and brown for 3-4 minutes on each side. *Note- it is OK if the chicken is not cooked through after 3 minutes. It will finish cooking in the oven*
Step 2 Place the browned chicken breasts into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the top of the chicken. Add the remaining sauce to the bottom of the dish around the chicken.
Step 3 Sprinkle on the remaining Italian seasoning and cover each chicken breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.
Step 4 Bake at 400° F for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is 165° F and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browed.
Step 5 Remove from oven and let cool for a minute or two before enjoying! Top with fresh basil and grated parmesan if you’re feeling fancy.
Recipe Notes
- This low carb meal is completely customizable. Add your family’s favorite pizza toppings such as sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, onions, chopped garlic, parmesan, etc.
- You could also serve this chicken with a side of buttered noodles for big appetites and picky eaters. A side of garlic bread and Caesar salad is also a nice option!
- Use as little or as much pizza sauce as you like. I always measure with my heart on this recipe. You can’t possibly have too much sauce, right?
- Browning the chicken is optional but it helps the chicken cook quicker, preventing the toppings from burning in the oven. It also eliminates the watery mess you sometimes get with baked chicken.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. This recipe can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure to omit the cheese until you are ready to eat it. Dairy generally does not freeze well.
Chicken Pizza Bake
Ingredients
- 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups pizza sauce
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup mini pepperonis (or 12 regular sized pepperonis)
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet and heat on medium high. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and half of the Italian seasoning (about 1 tablespoon).
- Brown chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes per side. *Note- The chicken may not cook through in this time. That's ok! It will finish cooking in the oven*
- Add the browned chicken breasts into your prepared baking dish and spread pizza sauce evenly over the top. Add any remaining sauce to the bottom of the dish around the chicken.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning over top of the sauce, cover each chicken breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese, and evenly top with pepperoni.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Are you looking for side dish ideas? You could serve this chicken with a side of buttered noodles or fettuccine alfredo for big appetites and picky eaters. A side of garlic bread and Caesar salad is also a nice option!
- Customize this chicken every time you make it with your family's favorite pizza toppings such as sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, jalapeños, onions, chopped garlic, parmesan, etc. Anything goes!
- Use as little or as much pizza sauce as you like. I always measure with my heart on this recipe. You can't possibly have too much sauce, right?
- Browning the chicken is optional but it helps the chicken cook quicker, preventing the toppings from burning in the oven. It also eliminates the watery mess you sometimes get with baked chicken.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. This recipe can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure to omit the cheese until you are ready to eat it. Dairy generally does not freeze well.
Don’t forget to pin and save this easy chicken dinner recipe for later! 🙂
