Pizza Chicken Bake

This Pizza Chicken Bake is a fun way to get your pizza fix. Chicken is sprinkled with savory seasonings and then baked until tender and juicy. Topped with pizza sauce, two kinds of cheese, and pepperoni, this simple recipe is perfect for the whole family!

You’ll also love this pizza grilled cheese, air fryer French bread pizza, and Instant Pot pizza stuffed peppers!

I’m a pizza lover through and through.

I could eat pizza every single day and not get tired of it. It’s my favorite food and I’ll use any excuse I can get to add more pizza into my life!

Besides traditional pizza, this pizza pasta salad, pepperoni pizza hamburger helper, and slow cooker pizza chili are a few of my favorite recipes. If you love the flavors of pizza, you’ve got to try these simple meals.

Now let’s get into this pizza chicken bake recipe. It’s an easy, one pan recipe that’s loaded with the flavors of pepperoni pizza. If you’re looking for a low carb or crustless pizza recipe, you’ve come to the right place. Because when a pizza craving hits, it’s hard to ignore.

This chicken with pizza flavors is a unique way to get an easy meal on the table. Seasoned, baked chicken is enveloped in marinara sauce, melty cheese, and pepperoni slices. It’s made with simple ingredients and is perfect for pizza night.

If your family or friends love pizza, I guarantee they’ll adore this fun recipe. It checks all of the boxes for an easy weeknight (or weekend) dinner!

Ingredients Needed for Easy Chicken Pizza Bake:

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts: I used four large breasts, though you can use smaller ones or pound the chicken for thinner meat.
• Seasonings: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt and black pepper
• Olive oil
• Pizza sauce: I used this brand, but you could also use marinara sauce.
• Cheeses: shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
• Pepperoni slices
• Fresh basil: for garnish

How to Make the Best Pizza Chicken Bake:

• Season: mix seasonings in a small bowl and then generously coat each side of chicken breasts.
• Sear: in a large, oven-proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and then sear chicken breasts for 1-2 minutes per side, until golden brown. This will lock in the flavor when the chicken cooks in the oven.
• Oven: transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, spoon pizza sauce over each chicken breast, followed by cheeses and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning. Return to oven and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165℉.

What Kind of Sauce is Best to Use?

I recommend using your favorite pizza sauce or tomato sauce. I love this brand, but any kind will work. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even make your own sauce. The pizza sauce will give the one pan pizza chicken a more authentic taste, because it is heavier on the oregano flavor.

Can You Use Chicken Thighs or Tenders?

Absolutely! Boneless or bone-in chicken thighs work well, though you may need to adjust the cooking time, depending on the size. I also love using chicken tenders or chicken cutlets. It cooks faster, though, so keep an eye on the oven time.

What Other Toppings to Use:

Your favorite pizza toppings work well in this recipe. Here are a few of my favorite toppings:

• Cooked and crumbled bacon
• Diced bell peppers
• Sliced mushrooms
• Black olives
• Onions
• Fresh spinach
• Artichokes

How to Store Leftovers:

Leftover chicken will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

To freeze: place cooled chicken in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to three months. When ready to serve, let thaw completely in the refrigerator.

To reheat: you can reheat this quickly in the microwave or warm it in the oven with extra sauce drizzled over the chicken.

What to Serve With This Dinner:

There are so many tasty options to serve with this dinner, but I like to serve this baked pizza chicken with:

• a simple salad
• garlic bread
• creamy parmesan rice
• angel hair pasta or egg noodles
• cauliflower rice

Tips and Tricks for Making Chicken Pizza:

• Spice it up: doctor up your favorite pizza sauce with fresh garlic, garlic powder, red pepper chili flakes or Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
• Cheeses: while the shredded, packaged cheese works well in this recipe, if you have time, shred a block of cheese. The texture will be creamier and meltier than the pre-shredded kind.
• Swap: instead of regular pepperoni, swap it for for turkey pepperoni, or omit it entirely and use another topping, such as bacon, sausage, or veggies.
• Don’t skip the sear! This will lock in the seasonings and give you a burst of flavor when you bite into the chicken.

Looking for More Easy Chicken Recipes? I’ve Got You Covered!

• Garlic Chicken Piccata
• One Pan Lemon Parm Chicken Gnocchi
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
• Black Bean Chicken Chili
• Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken