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Easy Pepperoni Pizza Chicken Bake

ByAmee Livingston Updated:
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Pizza chicken is a delicious low-carb chicken recipe made with boneless chicken breasts, marinara sauce, deli-style pepperoni, and sliced buffalo mozzarella cheese. Boneless chicken breasts marry the Italian flavors of your favorite pizza to make this easy chicken dinner.

looking down at a pan of chicken breasts with marinara, pepperoni, and cheese

I was trying to figure out what to have for dinner one evening. I had some leftover cooked chicken breasts in the refrigerator, and I was trying to get creative and whip up something fun for the kids. My son said, “Mom, why don’t you make pizza chicken!” Hmmm…pizza chicken?! Sounds interesting…so I threw together this simple dish to satisfy his cravings. That day, a new family favorite recipe was born.

I cut the chicken breasts up into bite-sized chunks and placed them in individual serving-sized ramekins, topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a slice of pepperoni. Into the oven, they went to bake until bubbly perfection. From then on, “Pizza Chicken” has been a regular dinner request in this house. This simple dish is a tasty twist on classic chicken parmesan. 

Now, when I make this dish, I use whole 4-oz chicken breasts and bake them in a cast-iron skillet, topped with fresh chopped basil from the garden. Low-carb, delicious, and comes together in just over 30 minutes.

Ingredients you’ll need:

2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
6- 4 oz boneless chicken breasts 
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper 
1 1/2 cups store-bought marinara sauce (I go for a sauce that’s low in sugar)
6 large slices of pepperoni (I have this sliced in the deli)
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 6 slices
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

How To Make Low-Carb Pizza Chicken

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. In a small dish, stir together garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle chicken breasts with the seasoning mixture on both sides. When the skillet is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. 

chicken breasts seared in a cast iron skillet

Remove pan from heat and top chicken breasts with marinara sauce. Add one slice of pepperoni on each breast.

chicken breasts topped with deli pepperoni and marinara in a skillet

Next, top with one thick slice of mozzarella. 

buffalo mozzarella on top of chicken breasts with pepperoni and sauce in a skillet

Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired. Serve with your favorite pasta and vegetables.

baked pepperoni pizza chicken

More delicious and easy Italian-inspired recipes

Grilled Pizza Zucchini Boats

Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan

Simple Crockpot Italian Chicken 

Gluten-Free Oven-Fried Eggplant

If you love this easy pepperoni pizza chicken recipe, I would be so grateful if you could leave a 5-star 🌟 rating in the recipe card below. I love reading your comments and feedback!

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holding up a piece of pizza chicken with melty mozzarella on top
a cast iron skillet with baked pizza chicken and parsley on top

Easy Pepperoni Pizza Chicken Bake

Boneless chicken breasts marry the Italian flavors of your favorite pizza to make this easy chicken dinner.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 307kcal
Author: Amee

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 4 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups store-bought marinara sauce I look for one low in sugar
  • 6 slices pepperoni from the deli section
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese sliced into 6 slices
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  • Heat olive oil in a Cast Iron skillet over medium-high heat. 
  • In a small dish, stir together garlic powder, salt and pepper. 
  • Sprinkle chicken breasts with seasoning mixture on both sides. 
  • When skillet is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat and top chicken breasts with marinara sauce. 
  • Add one slice of pepperoni on each breast.
  • Next, top with one thick slice of mozzarella.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes.  Garnish with fresh basil, if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 17g
Tried this recipe?Mention @ameecooks or tag #ameecooks!

*This post was updated with new photos on April 10, 2020 from the original recipe posted Oct. 19, 2011.

Amee Livingston
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Hi, I'm Amee and I'm completely obsessed with all things fitness, recipe makeovers, and creating tasty, time-saving, recipes. Born and raised in South Carolina, I have a deep love for southern food culture. I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Cancer Exercise Specialist, recipe developer, and freelance content creator. I believe that anyone can be an amazing home cook, and there's nothing better than family time around the table!

4 Comments

  1. I love this! It is one of my husbands favorite meals but I can’t bear to eat it the traditional way anymore…I will have to try this! We will all LOVE it!! Great post 🙂 Sorry, I never comment but I do read your posts…I just flit around from site to site!

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