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    Home » Main Dishes » Easy Pizza Chicken

    Published: Mar 23, 2022 · Modified: Mar 23, 2022 by Carolyn

    Easy Pizza Chicken

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    20.2K shares
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    This Easy Pizza Chicken is like your favorite pizza without all the carbs. It’s an easy one pan meal that takes only 5 ingredients and 35 minutes to make, start to finish. And it’s totally kid approved!

    A serving of pizza chicken on a rustic yellow plate.

    Why do chicken thighs always come in packs of five? Isn’t that a strange number, relative to how other things come? Chicken breasts tend to come in fours, chicken legs in twos.

    But a package of thighs always seem to contain five. Which, being a family of five, is very convenient for me. And absolutely perfect for making Easy Pizza Chicken.

    When I say easy, I mean ridiculously easy. My whole family loves this mouthwatering keto chicken recipe. My kids practically break out into cheers when I tell them it’s on the menu. And I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing I don’t have to face any dinnertime battles.

    A top down image of keto pizza chicken on a rustic plate on a white wooden table.

    Chicken thighs vs breast

    I advocate for choosing chicken thighs over breasts whenever possible, especially when following a keto diet.

    While you can use either in this pizza chicken recipe, thighs have a number of advantages. They are juicier and more nutrient dense than breasts, and because they have a higher fat content, they don’t dry out as easily during cooking. They also tend to be less expensive.

    And they cook faster too, so you can get dinner on the table in less time and with less effort. So I usually have several packages of chicken thighs somewhere in my freezer for easy keto dinners just like this one.

    Top down image of the ingredients for easy pizza chicken.

    Ingredients

    Pizza chicken takes only 5 basic ingredients you can find in any grocery store. You will need:

    • Avocado or olive oil
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
    • Marinara sauce or pizza sauce (no added sugar)
    • Sliced pepperoni
    • Mozzarella cheese
    • Additional seasonings as desired
    Seared chicken thighs with tomato sauce and pepperoni for pizza chicken.

    How to make the best pizza chicken

    It really is ridiculously simple. Let’s get started…

    1. Choose an oven-proof skillet: The first time I made this pizza chicken recipe, I browned the thighs in a pan and then transferred them to a baking dish. But as long as you own a good pan that can go from stove-top to oven, you can cut out this step entirely. You can also use a dutch oven.
    2. Brown the chicken first: Browning on the stovetop brings out the best flavor in chicken thighs. And it only takes a few minutes per side.
    3. Smother in sauce: Choosing a low carb sauce can be tough but you do have some choices. See the frequently asked questions for good options.
    4. Top with cheese and pepperoni: Sprinkle the cheese over everything and top each chicken thigh with a few slices of pepperoni.
    5. Bake until golden and bubbly: Finish the pizza chicken in the oven to make sure it cooks through completely.
    Pizza chicken in a cast iron skillet before baking.

    Customize your pizza chicken!

    • Don’t limit yourself to just cheese and pepperoni. Try adding your favorite pizza toppings like sautéed mushrooms, olives, green peppers, basil, artichokes, or spinach.
    • Add some garlic or onion into the pan for a little extra flavour.
    • Make your own quick and easy pizza sauce. I like to whisk some tomato paste and water, and then add in garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use chicken breasts?

    Yes, you can use those if you prefer. But chicken breasts tend to be quite large and each one should be considered two servings. You could also cut them into two chicken cutlets before cooking.

    What about bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs?

    This works as well but you do need to work around the bones in the chicken when eating. They can also take a bit longer to cook through properly.

    What’s the best keto-friendly marinara?

    There are a few decent store-bought choices. Rao’s is a good one, as is Yo Mama’s Foods. I always look for sauce with no more than 5g of carbs per ½ cup serving. Make sure you look at the serving size, as many of them list only ¼ cup.

    Can you make pizza chicken ahead?

    Pizza chicken is best when fresh, but you can store it in the fridge for a few days and warm it up before serving. It’s such an easy meal to make, and you can scale up or down, as you need.

    A serving of keto pizza chicken on a white plate in front of a cast iron skillet.

    More delicious one pan meals

    • Tomato Basil Chicken
    • Mexican Cauliflower Rice
    • Chicken Enchilada Skillet
    • Keto Greek Lemon Chicken
    • Beef and Zucchini Skillet
    • Chicken Bacon Ranch Skillet

    Easy Keto Pizza Chicken

    This Easy Pizza Chicken is like your favorite pizza without all the carbs. It's an easy one pan meal that takes only 5 ingredients and 35 minutes to make, start to finish. And it's totally kid approved! 
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: pizza chicken
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 443kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
    • 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • Salt and pepper
    • 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce (make sure it has no added sugar)
    • 2 ounces sliced pepperoni (I like this one from Applegate)
    • 1 ½ to 2 cups shredded mozzarella

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350F.
    • Heat oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat (if it’s a cast-iron skillet, be generous with your oil to avoid sticking). Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt and pepper and to pan. Cook until lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes per side.
    • Pour pizza sauce over chicken thighs, spreading to coat. Arrange pepperoni over chicken and sprinkle with mozzarella.
    • Bake 25 minutes, then turn on broiler for a minute or two until cheese is bubbly and browned in spots.

    Video

    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Keto Pizza Chicken
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving = ⅙th of chicken)
    Calories 443 Calories from Fat 242
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 26.84g41%
    Cholesterol 202mg67%
    Carbohydrates 3.59g1%
    Fiber 0.61g2%
    Protein 35.7g71%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    20.2K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Erin says

      April 18, 2022 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      An easy weeknight meal that the whole family will eat. Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Allyson Zea says

      April 18, 2022 at 12:29 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t believe this is keto! It looks fabulous!

      Reply
    3. katerina @ diethood.com says

      April 18, 2022 at 11:56 am

      5 stars
      This was so easy and delicious! Everyone loved it! I am definitely going to make it again and again! Thanks!

      Reply
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