This Pepperoni Pizza Chicken recipe is the best of both worlds, chicken and pizza! This comfort food dish comes together in under an hour and is sure to be requested by the whole family often!
Note: We published this recipe in April 2020 and just updated it with photos and tips. We hope you enjoy the improved experience!
With fresh herbs, cheesy goodness, tasty pepperoni slices, and a delicious pizza sauce, you can have an amazing and easy meal any night of the week! Classic pizza flavors and baked chicken are a perfect combination!
You may also enjoy this air fryer garlic bread, these pizza bowls, this chicken pomodoro, this keto pizza, or these pizza fries.
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❤️Why we love this recipe
- Simple ingredients. Made with pantry staples and common items on your shopping list, you can find anything you don't already have on hand in any grocery store!
- Easy recipe. This recipe only has a few steps for a delicious result. No need to worry about learning any new difficult skills for this recipe.
- Customizable. It's quite easy to customize this recipe to your liking. All of your favorite pizza toppings are perfect for this. Substitutions and variations are below.
- Protein-packed. The combination of chicken, slices of pepperoni, and cheeses result in a lot of protein, as well as a very filling meal!
- Gluten free & low carb. Great for those on a keto or gluten free diet, this recipe naturally suits both of these ways of eating.
- Flavorful recipe. The flavor combinations of aromatic herbs, marinara, spices, cheese, and proteins make each bite of this dish an amazing one.
🍕Ingredients
Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Marinara sauce or pizza sauce
- Pepperonis
- Parmesan cheese - Grate a block of parmesan or use pre-shredded.
- Fresh mozzarella cheese - Pre-shredded is fine.
- Fresh basil & oregano - Optional, but delicious!
- Red pepper flakes - Optional and to taste.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried oregano
Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.
✨Substitutions & variations
Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.
- Chicken - Swap chicken breasts for chicken thighs or breaded chicken tenders.
- Cheese - Feel free to swap parmesan and mozzarella for other Italian cheeses, like provolone, asiago, or other Italian cheeses.
- Sauce - Swap marinara for vodka or alfredo sauce. You can swap tomato sauce for marinara sauce as well, but if you go this route, you may want to add extra seasonings to taste as the marinara sauce is a lot more flavorful.
- Additional toppings - Add bell peppers, red onion slices, mushrooms, and anything you love on your pizza to this dish and it will work perfect. Precook them separately and then add them on top.
- Spicier - For a spicier dish, increase the red pepper flakes, add a touch of cayenne, or use spicy pepperoni.
- Pepperoni - Swap regular pepperoni with turkey pepperoni for a leaner option. Mini pepperoni, bacon, salami, soppressata, and prosciutto are all great alternatives.
🔪Prep work
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Measure out all of the ingredients.
- Pre-cut basil into ribbons.
- Grate the parmesan if using a block.
📋Instructions
First, cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, stopping before cutting all the way through. In a large bowl, toss the chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, and the seasonings. Make sure to coat the insides of the chicken as well. (Image 1)
In a casserole dish, spread some of the marinara sauce evenly on the bottom. Add some of the basil and fresh oregano. (Image 2)
Add some of the sauce, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, basil, and pepperoni inside each of the chicken breasts and place them inside the casserole dish. (Image 3)
Close the chicken and top with more marinara sauce and basil. (Image 4)
Add more sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, and pepperoni on top of each chicken breast. (Image 5)
Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into a piece of chicken. Bake at 375°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 40 minutes. Once cooked, broil for 3-5 minutes until the top is crispy and golden brown. Remove and let rest for 5-8 minutes. (Image 6)
✨Pro Tip: Use an oven safe meat thermometer (affiliate link) to monitor the internal temperature of the chicken while it cooks. Some chicken breasts are thicker than others, so using a meat thermometer ensures accuracy. You want the internal temperature to reach at least 165°F.
Garnish with basil, parmesan, salt, pepper, and more red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy!
✨Tips & tricks
- Cheese layering - Topping each layer of cheese evenly will allow the flavors and texture to mix evenly! Avoid clusters of different cheeses.
- Extra toppings - Treat this dish like your favorite pizza and add whatever you like to make it more filling. Precook your other toppings beforehand and add any optional seasonings (like Italian seasoning) at any point or use as a garnish at the end!
- High-quality ingredients - Choosing fresh, high-quality ingredients will give you the best flavor for this recipe.
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💭Frequently Asked Questions
You can store these leftovers in the casserole dish, covered with saran wrap or aluminum foil in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also store individual portions in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven with low heat or in the microwave.
o not freeze.
Yes! Assemble the dish and store in the refrigerator, up to a day in advance. Once ready to cook, just bake as directed. The baking time may be increased if the dish is cold, so be sure to use the oven safe thermometer to make sure the chicken is fully cooked to 165°F.
Side dish ideas
Not sure what to serve with steak bites? Here are a few suggestions!
- Arugula spinach salad
- Lemon garlic pasta
- Air fryer fingerling potatoes
- Redskin mashed potatoes
- Air fryer waffle fries
- Lemon garlic green beans
More Recipes To Consider
Did you try this recipe? Make sure to leave a 5-star review below! 🌟 This helps other readers find our recipes and encourages them to try them. Also, be sure to leave a comment with your experience. Follow along, and tag @AFullLiving on Instagram with your photos!
📖 Recipe
Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ - ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional and to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 pounds chicken breasts, butterflied
- 28 ounces marinara or pasta sauce of choice
- handful of fresh sweet basil, chiffonade (cut into ribbons, and optional)
- 16 ounces fresh mozzarella slices (can also just use shredded mozzarella cheese)
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella
- 4 ounces freshly grated parmesan
- 6.5 ounces pepperoni
- handful of fresh oregano (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. First, cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, about ⅔rds of the way through. In a large bowl, toss the chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, and the seasonings. Make sure to coat the insides of the chicken as well.
- In a deep casserole dish, spread some of the marinara sauce evenly on the bottom. Add some of the basil and fresh oregano.
- Add some of the sauce, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, basil, and pepperoni inside each of the chicken breasts and place them inside the casserole dish. Close the chicken and top with more marinara sauce and basil. Add more sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, and pepperoni on top of each chicken breast.
- Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into a piece of chicken. Bake at 375°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 40 minutes. Once cooked, broil for 3-5 minutes until the top is crispy and golden brown. Remove and let rest for 5-8 minutes.
- Garnish with basil, parmesan, salt, pepper, and more red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy!
- You can store these leftovers in the casserole dish, covered with saran wrap or aluminum foil in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also store individual portions in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven with low heat or in the microwave.
Notes
-
- Cheese layering - Topping each layer of cheese evenly will allow the flavors and texture to mix evenly! Avoid clusters of different cheeses.
- Extra toppings - Treat this dish like your favorite pizza and add whatever you like to make it more filling. Precook your other toppings beforehand and add any optional seasonings (like Italian seasoning) at any point or use them as a garnish at the end!
- High-quality ingredients - Choosing fresh, high-quality ingredients will give you the best flavor for this recipe.
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