We have to admit that we — and our families — frequently crave pizza, but sometimes we want a more nourishing version of the standard delicious indulgence. That’s why we created this easy Chicken Crust Pizza recipe that’s as satisfying as it is guilt-free!
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Instead of using bread, we craft a crust with hearty yet lean chicken and then top it with traditional-style sauce, tomatoes, oregano, and cheese. What we really love is that it’s so easy to customize — just like classic pizza, you can sprinkle on any of your favorite toppings from meats and veggies to anchovies and even pineapple. Yes, we know that last one’s controversial — we’ll keep it our secret!
What is Chicken Crust Pizza?
Chicken crust pizza is a tasty twist on traditional pizza, where the typical dough base is replaced with a flavorful and protein-packed chicken crust. To create this fun, protein-packed pizza, chopped chicken is mixed with various seasonings, cheeses, and herbs to form a sturdy and delicious crust. The mixture is then spread out on a baking sheet or pizza pan and baked until golden and crispy, providing a firm foundation for any number of toppings!
The result is a pizza that is not only low-carb and gluten-free but also incredibly satisfying and flavorful. Plus, with its high protein content, it’s a guilt-free indulgence that will leave you feeling full and satisfied. Whether you’re following a specific dietary plan or simply looking to switch up your pizza game, chicken crust pizza is sure to become a new favorite in your culinary repertoire.
Ingredients You Need
- Chicken breasts – The star of the show, these provide the base for your pizza crust, ensuring a protein-packed low-carb foundation for your masterpiece. Slice them into chunks so that they can be easily blended with the other ingredients.
- Grated parmesan cheese – This adds a savory punch and helps bind the crust together, creating a crispy, flavorful crust.
- Egg – Acting as the glue that holds everything together, the egg helps bind the ingredients, giving your crust the perfect structure and texture.
- Dried oregano – Oregano brings that authentic pizza flavor to your crust.
- Garlic powder – Because garlic makes everything better, right? Adding a hint of aromatic garlic powder ensures your crust is bursting with flavor from edge to edge.
- Salt – Don’t underestimate the power of salt! It enhances all the other flavors in your crust, ensuring each bite is perfectly seasoned and oh-so-satisfying.
- Black pepper – Black pepper adds a subtle heat that complements the other spices, giving your crust that extra depth of flavor.
- Marinara sauce – What’s pizza without sauce? We know there are white pizzas out there, so you can definitely do that, too, but for us, slathering the chicken crust with marinara adds a welcome burst of tangy sweetness.
- Tomato slices – Fresh, juicy, and colorful, tomato slices not only add a pop of vibrant color to your pizza but also provide a refreshing contrast to the savory flavors of the crust and cheese.
- Additional Parmesan cheese for topping – We like to be generous with our parm on the top — can you ever have too much cheese?
- Additional oregano for sprinkling – A final dash of oregano adds a fragrant finish to your pizza and makes it look as good as it tastes.
How to Make This Chicken Pizza Crust Recipe
- Create the crust. Add the chunks of chicken, parmesan cheese, egg, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to a food processor and pulse until pasty.
- Form the crust. Place the chicken mixture in the prepared baking dish and stretch it into the desired shape.
- Bake. Place the baking dish in the oven and cook until it is a light golden brown color.
- Craft the pizza. After removing the crust from the oven, cover it with marinara sauce and tomatoes before adding the parmesan and oregano.
- Cook. Cook the pizza until the cheese becomes bubbly and melty.
- Serve. After taking the pizza out of the oven, let it cool slightly, then serve.
Variations
- Spices – Experiment with different spices to season the chicken or sprinkle on top, like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, or crushed red pepper for a kick.
- Cheeses – Mix in different cheeses to add flavor and texture. Try mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, or even feta for a tangy twist. A few dollops of ricotta can add some creamy goodness to the pizza, too!
- Herbs – Fresh or dried herbs can enhance the flavor of the crust. Consider adding dried basil, thyme, or rosemary to the chicken mixture. You can also add fresh basil on top.
- Vegetables – Incorporate finely chopped vegetables into the chicken crust for added nutrients and flavor. Experiment with spinach, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Sauces – Spread a thin layer of your favorite sauce over the chicken crust before adding toppings. Instead of tomato sauce, try pesto, barbecue sauce, or Buffalo sauce. Or, for a white pizza, use a pastry brush to spread herb-infused olive oil over top.
- Toppings – Get creative with your pizza toppings! Choose from classic options like sliced tomatoes, olives, onions, and mushrooms, or try unique combinations like pineapple and jalapenos, or fig and prosciutto.
- Seasonal Ingredients – Tailor your pizza crust to the season by using seasonal ingredients. For example, add roasted butternut squash and sage in the fall, or fresh corn and cherry tomatoes in the summer.
Can I Store Leftovers?
You can definitely store the leftovers! We don’t recommend freezing because the cheese will not retain the same consistency when it thaws, but you can refrigerate it.
Place the leftover chicken crust pizza in a resealable bag or airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it in intervals in the microwave, or in the oven.
More Chicken Recipes
If you loved this easy chicken crust pizza recipe, check out more ways we take chicken to the next level!
Chicken Milanese with Mediterranean Salad
Za’atar Chicken with Vegetables
Cornflake Chicken with Hot Honey
Chicken Crust Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce
- Tomato slices
- Additional Parmesan cheese for topping
- Additional oregano for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, combine the chicken breasts (cut into chunks), grated Parmesan cheese, egg, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Pulse until the mixture is well blended and resembles a coarse paste.2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, shaping it into a round or rectangular crust shape, depending on your preference. Make sure it's not too thick.
- Bake the chicken crust in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until it’s cooked through and the edges are lightly browned.
- Once the crust is cooked, remove it from the oven. Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the crust, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Place tomato slices on top of the marinara sauce.1/3 cup marinara sauce, Tomato slices
- Sprinkle additional grated Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes.Additional Parmesan cheese for topping
- Sprinkle some dried oregano over the cheese for extra flavor.Additional oregano for sprinkling
- Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Once done, remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Was wondering what constitutes a serving of this in the nutritional information. One slice, or a 1/4 of the size pizza you made in the photos?
One batch makes 6 servings! We cut ours into six slices. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa