Ingredients
Scale
- Chicken:
- 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 – 2 lbs total)
- Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups (approximately 12–15 oz) good quality pizza sauce or marinara sauce (check labels for dairy-free and low sugar options)
- Seasonings for Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- “Cheese”:
- 1 ½ – 2 cups shredded dairy-free mozzarella cheese (choose a brand known for good melting qualities)
- ¼ cup dairy-free Parmesan-style topping (optional, for extra flavor)
- Toppings (Choose your favorites!):
- ½ cup sliced dairy-free pepperoni (check ingredients, some may contain dairy derivatives)
- ½ cup sliced bell peppers (any color)
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
- Red pepper flakes (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or an oven-safe skillet large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer.
- Prepare the Chicken:
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, you can either butterfly them (slice horizontally almost all the way through and open like a book) or pound them to an even thickness of about ½ – ¾ inch. This helps them cook more evenly and quickly.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel.
- In a small bowl, combine the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and then sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over all sides of the chicken, rubbing it in gently.
- Sear the Chicken (Optional but Recommended):
- If you have an oven-safe skillet, heat it over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, just until lightly browned. This step adds extra flavor but can be skipped if you’re short on time – just place the seasoned raw chicken directly into the prepared baking dish. If not using an oven-safe skillet, transfer seared chicken to your greased baking dish.
- Assemble the Bake:
- Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in the prepared baking dish (or keep them in the oven-safe skillet if you used one).
- Spoon the pizza sauce evenly over each chicken breast, ensuring they are well-coated.
- Sprinkle the shredded dairy-free mozzarella generously over the sauced chicken.
- If using, sprinkle the dairy-free Parmesan-style topping over the mozzarella.
- Arrange your chosen toppings (pepperoni, bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, etc.) over the cheese layer, just like you would on a pizza.
- Bake:
- Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F or 74°C in the thickest part) and the dairy-free cheese is melted and bubbly. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts. If you skipped the searing step, it might take closer to 30-35 minutes.
- Rest and Garnish:
- Once cooked, carefully remove the baking dish from the oven.
- Let the Pizza Chicken Bake rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices in the chicken to redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.
- Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One Normal Portion
- Calories: 450-550