A treasured IGE team member, Meagan, was in town from Florida last week and as a life long southerner she had a very specific goal for the trip: to see falling snow for the first time ever…and Iowa delivered! It’s funny, she arrived on a record-breaking day for warmth, then the next day we had a snow storm.
Stay weird, Iowa.
Anyway, she and I went outside to let the big, fat, flakes fall on us and pretend we were in a snow globe for a bit. She couldn’t have been more thrilled – it was so sweet!
While my heart eyes weren’t bursting quite as hard as Meagan’s were for the snow last week, they are exploding for this easy, one pan dish that takes just 15 minutes (if that) to make: Pizza Chicken!
This is the latest dish in my series of easy, one pan smothered chicken breast recipes and I am in LOVE. In love with how fast this recipe comes together, in love with the fact that its customizable and low carb, and in love with how you can make chicken taste like pizza for Heaven’s sake.
Amen!
Chicken with Pizza Toppings = Pizza Chicken!
Pizza chicken is chicken that taste like pizza. Again: AMEN! Boneless skinless chicken breasts are sliced in half widthwise to create quick-cooking cutlets, which are seared on one side in a hot skillet. Flip the chicken cutlets then top with pizza sauce, parmesan cheese, your favorite pizza toppings, and shredded mozzarella cheese, then place a lid on top to melt the cheese. Boom – dinner’s done!
We’re talking 10 minutes of prep time to slice the chicken and gather your pizza toppings, then another 8-10 minutes to cook the chicken and melt the cheese. Pizza Chicken cutlets are a a fabulous, kid friendly weeknight dinner recipe – prepare to promote this dish to the top of your favorite chicken recipes list!
Tips for Success
- Use Your Favorite Toppings: Pizza Chicken is more of a concept vs a must-follow recipe. That said, top the cutlets with your favorite pizza toppings. I love pepperoni and black olives on my pizza, so that’s what I’ve shown here.
- Chicken Cutlets vs Chicken Breasts. Again, I like using chicken cutlets for this dish because it’s a great way to stretch chicken, plus they cook quickly. If you prefer to use whole chicken breasts, be sure to pound them out to an even thickness before adding to the skillet to ensure they cook quickly and evenly.
- Pizza Sauce vs Marinara Sauce. The main difference between pizza sauce and marinara sauce is the oregano-forward flavor most pizza sauces have. That said, if you’ve only got marinara sauce in the house, that’s totally fine to use.
Who’s ready to get this low carb comfort food on the table?
Craving More? Try Pizza Fries!
How to Make This Recipe
Start by seasoning chicken cutlets with homemade seasoned salt, pepper, and a pinch of dried oregano on each side. Again, cutlets are chicken breasts that have been sliced in half widthwise. Spray a large skillet over medium-high heat with nonstick spray then add the chicken and saute until golden brown on the bottom – 1-2 minutes. Flip the chicken cutlets then turn the heat down to medium.
Spoon a couple Tablespoons pizza sauce on top of each cutlet, followed by a generous dusting of freshly grated parmesan cheese. The parmesan cheese really takes this dish up a notch – it smells SO fantastic!!
Sprinkle on shredded mozzarella cheese, or a pizza cheese blend, followed by your favorite pizza toppings then place a lid on top to melt the cheese and let the chicken finish cooking through.
That’s all she wrote! Scoop the Pizza Chicken onto plates then serve with a salad or swirl of pasta with extra warmed pizza sauce. YUM. However you serve it, and whatever you top it with, I hope you love this easy, tasty pizza topped chicken – enjoy!
More Recipes for a Pizza Craving
- Pizza Fries
- Gluten Free Pizza Crust
- Gluten Free Pizza Breadsticks
- Pizza Salad with Homemade GF Croutons
- Mini Pizza Quinoa Bites
- Pizza Pasta Bake
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Pizza Chicken
Description
Pizza Chicken will be on your table in less than 15 minutes! This low carb, gluten free chicken recipe is full of mouthwatering pizza flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken cutlets or chicken breasts (see notes)
- homemade seasoned salt and pepper
- dried oregano
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 4oz shredded mozzarella cheese or shredded pizza blend cheese
- Pizza toppings: pepperoni, sliced black olives, mushrooms, peppers, etc.
Directions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken on both sides with homemade seasoned salt, pepper, and a pinch of dried oregano. Spray skillet with nonstick spray then place the chicken pieces inside and saute until golden brown on the bottom side (1-2 minutes for chicken cutlets, 3-4 minutes for chicken breasts). Flip then turn heat down to medium.
- On top of each piece of chicken layer ~2 Tablespoons pizza sauce, ~1 Tablespoon parmesan cheese, ~1 oz shredded mozzarella cheese, and the pizza toppings of your choice. Place a lid on top to let the cheese melt then serve.
Notes
- Click here for my Homemade Seasoned Salt >
- To make chicken cutlets: Use a sharp knife to slice large chicken breasts in half widthwise.
- If using chicken breasts:Â Place chicken breasts on a cutting board then cover with saran wrap and pound to an even thickness using a meat mallet before cooking. The thinner you pound them the faster they will cook.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Kay 08.20.2023
Just stumbled across this, thought it was kinda funny cause this is what I used to do many years ago to get dad and my sibs to eat their fish, pizza fish! Lol! I would bake it though. Tilapia and salmon, only way to get dad to eat fish without -too much – complaining. Then we found out he was allergic (mildly) to tilapia. Oops. I used mini pepperonis and Italian seasoning. Sadly the smell of salmon and tuna now make me physically ill, but maybe this’ll help me remember it can be done to chicken too! (Spellcheck said “children. Pizza children? Um, no.)
Kristin 08.21.2023
Hahaha “children”. ;) So glad this recipe brought up some memories of the past. I do hope you’ll give it a try with chicken sometime soon! :)
Tom 01.18.2022
Nice recipe buy no picture if I want to print a copy.
My rule of thumb is “No Picture No Subscription”
Kristin 02.23.2022
Hi Tom. :) There is an image if you click print. Let me know if you don’t see it!
Angie 07.14.2021
Do you happen to have any nutrition counts for this dish? Also what sides did you serve with it? Thanks!!
Kristin 07.23.2021
Hi Angie! I usually serve a side salad or roasted vegetables like cauliflower or asparagus!
Karine 02.09.2021
Hi – this looks great! I’m planning on trying it tonight. A quick question – do you need to use a non-stick pan or do you think I can use a stainless steel skillet sprayed with oil?
Thanks!
Kristin 02.09.2021
You can use whatever pan you usually use – it doesn’t have to be nonstick!
Pam 05.01.2020
We LOVE this recipe! I make it at least once a week and use Italian seasoning instead of the seasoned salt and oregano. YUM!!
Stephanie Rutledge 02.25.2020
I love this idea so much, you can fill your pizza craving but not have to take in a ton of calories!
Kristen 02.12.2020
This was fantastic! Simple and delicious. A true hit with the kids!!!!
Lori rice 02.07.2020
This looks like something you and your son would like
Deborah 02.06.2020
Delicious
Kristin 02.06.2020
Thank you, Deborah!
Jennifer 01.22.2020
Easy recipe and very delicious. Thanks!
Jennie 01.22.2020
Such a quick & easy recipe! Made this last night and it was delicious. Thanks!
Kristin 01.22.2020
I’m so glad to hear it, Jennie!
T 01.20.2020
Funny – I’ve been making a similar recipe for years, got it from a friend who called it stovetop chicken parmesan. My recipe doesn’t call for olives or pepperoni, those sound like great additions. I started calling it “pizza chicken” when my kids were little to get them to eat it, and it worked! It’s still one of their favorite weeknight dinners.
Kristin 01.22.2020
Love that story! Whatever it takes, right? ;)
Celeste 01.17.2020
I give this recipe 5 stars! Made it last night–so quick and both of our kids loved it! Definitely making this one again and again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Kristin 01.18.2020
Thrilled to hear that, Celeste!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!!
Devon 01.14.2020
I had the same reaction to snow when I went to Colorado for the first time! Vail looked like a snow globe, and I acted like a 5 year old. It was wonderful!!
Meanwhile, I’m adding this recipe to the rotation. Yum!
Kristin 01.18.2020
Plus you had the added benefit of seeing snow in an already magical place!! Amazing!!
Paige Cassandra Flamm 01.14.2020
This looks amazing! I totally need to make this for dinner next week! My kids will love it!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Kristin 01.18.2020
I hope you all love it, Paige!
Nancy 01.14.2020
Sounds delicious, Kristin! My mom made pizza burgers like this when we were kids, served over Minute Rice. Picture that!?
Kristin 01.14.2020
I love it, Nancy!! I make Pizza Spaghetti for the boys every now again (just add chopped pepperoni and cheese into their regular spaghetti) and they think that’s very special. ????