With this delicious Pepperoni Pizza Chicken, you can enjoy all the flavors of pepperoni pizza in a low-carb and protein-packed meal.
Pepperoni pizza is a classic favorite of kids and adults. Traditional pepperoni pizza can be high in carbs and gluten, making it inaccessible to a variety of eaters. This Pepperoni Pizza Chicken takes the classic ingredients from pepperoni pizza, serving them in an easy, low-carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free and high-protein meal that the whole family is sure to love. (For low-carb, keto and gluten-free be sure to check the labels on your ingredients to ensure they are compliant.)
Want another grain-free low-carb dishes with pepperoni? Try this Pizza Bowl, Bocconcini Tomato Salad or this Italian Chopped Salad.
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Ingredients
Here's what you need to make Pepperoni Pizza Chicken:
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- pepperoni
- marinara sauce
- shredded mozzarella cheese
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here's how to make Pepperoni Pizza Chicken:
Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise into cutlets.
Place the chicken cutlets on a greased sheet pan. Brush each cutlet with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes.
Once the chicken is cooked, spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on each cutlet. Top the marinara sauce on each cutlet with 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella, then top the mozzarella with several slices of pepperoni. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Once the cheese is melted, allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes prior to serving.
Hint: Line the baking pan with parchment paper or foil prior to baking for easy cleanup.
Substitutions
Want to substitute an ingredient in this Pepperoni Pizza Chicken bake? Here's how:
- Chicken breasts - use store-bought chicken cutlets in place of the breasts to skip the step of slicing them.
- Garlic - sprinkle garlic powder oven the chicken when sprinkling with salt and pepper.
- Pepperoni - use turkey or chicken pepperoni in place of classic pepperoni for a lighter dish.
- Mozzarella cheese - use an equal amount of grated parmesan in place of the mozzarella.
- Marinara sauce - use an equal amount of pizza sauce in place of the marinara sauce.
Variations
Try one of these variations of Pepperoni Pizza Chicken:
- Spicy - add sliced jalapenos or red pepper flakes on top of the pepperoni to add some spice.
- Supreme - add crumbled sausage, sliced cooked mushrooms, sliced black olives, diced onions and diced green pepper on top of the pepperoni to make Supreme Pizza Chicken.
- Caprese - omit the pepperoni, then cook the chicken to melt the mozzarella and top each finished piece of chicken with fresh basil leaves for Caprese Chicken.
- Stuffed pizza chicken - for a more involved preparation, stuff a butterflied chicken breast with the marinara, mozzarella and pepperoni, then brush with the oil and season with salt and pepper and bake for 30 minutes at 425.
Equipment
This equipment comes in handy when making Pepperoni Pizza Chicken:
Storage
Store leftover cooled baked Pepperoni Pizza Chicken in an airtight dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Top tip
Cook this Pizza Chicken in the air fryer at 400 for 15 minutes (or until a meat thermometer registers 165 when inserted into the chicken) rather than in the oven, then proceed with adding the toppings and cooking an additional few minutes to melt the cheese.
FAQ
Most varieties of pepperoni are made from a combination of beef and pork. However, there are varieties of pepperoni that are made entirely from chicken, turkey or that are meatless, these types of alternative pepperoni will be clearly marked on the front of the package.
Related
Looking for other easy chicken recipes? Try these:
Pairing
Serve this Pepperoni Pizza Chicken with one of these side dish recipes for a balanced meal the whole family will love:
Recipe
Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 oz pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise into cutlets.
- Place the chicken cutlets on a greased sheet pan. Brush each cutlet with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake the seasoned chicken at 425 for 25 minutes.
- Once the chicken is cooked, spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on each cutlet. Top the marinara sauce on each cutlet with 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella, then top the mozzarella with several slices of pepperoni. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Shannon
A family favorite in our house.