Pepperoni Pizza Chicken

5 from 1 vote

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!

Prep Time10

Cook Time40

Total Time50

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 664kcal

Author: Briana

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.

Nutrition