With all the flavors of pepperoni pizza, this kid-friendly Pepperoni Chicken Recipe will be a hit with the whole family. Say goodbye to boring chicken, this easy recipe is exploding with flavor!
Serve it with garlic bread and a side salad for a meal that everyone will remember. It’s great over pasta, or just on its own.
I have a hard time getting my teenage daughter to eat enough protein. But she loves pepperoni, so I thought I might have a chance with this recipe. Success!
She not only finished her portion for dinner, she happily gobbled up leftovers the next day. So if you have some picky eaters at your house, this recipe might be a lifesaver for you too!
It can even be prepped in the morning or the night before. After adding the pepperoni, simply cover your dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
Just keep in mind that you will need to bake the chicken longer if it is cold. I think 15-20 extra minutes should be enough, but you may need longer.
HOW TO MAKE PEPPERONI PIZZA CHICKEN
- PREP – Spray a 9×13″ pan or other shallow dish with cooking spray. Pound the boneless chicken breasts to equal thickness. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- SAUTE – Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, basil, and garlic powder. Cook chicken in the oil in a skillet until golden brown, about 2-4 minutes per side. You don’t need to cook it through.
- ASSEMBLE – Place chicken breasts in the prepared pan. Spread the marinara sauce on top of each piece of chicken. Arrange the pieces of pepperoni over the top.
- BAKE – Bake the chicken uncovered at 375° for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly. Cover with cheese and bake another 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and the internal temperature is 165°.
- SERVE – You can serve the chicken as is, or over hot cooked pasta. I like to garnish it with fresh basil.
Leftover chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container. It can be reheated in the microwave, or in a skillet with a bit of water.
VARIATIONS:
- For a lower-fat dish, you can use turkey pepperoni.
- I cut my large chicken breasts in half, but you can buy chicken cutlets or tenders if you prefer.
- Get creative with your favorite pizza toppings! Peppers, mushrooms, olives, and sausage would all be a tasty addition.
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Yield: 6 servings
Pepperoni Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dry basil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 ounces pepperoni slices
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Pound chicken breasts so they are the same thickness. Spray a 9×13″ baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 375°.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with salt, pepper, basil, and garlic powder. Cook each side in the hot skillet for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown.
- Transfer the chicken pieces to the baking dish. Spread pizza sauce over each piece, then arrange the pepperoni over the top.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly. Top with cheese and bake another 2-3 minutes or until the cheese melts.
- If desired, serve with hot cooked pasta.
Notes
-Feel free to add additional pizza toppings like peppers, red onion, mushrooms, and olives.
-As is, this dish doesn’t have a lot of extra pasta sauce. Feel free to double the sauce if you want to have plenty for pasta.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 412Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 151mgSodium: 774mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 54g
Quick to prepare and packed with your favorite pizza flavors, this pizza chicken recipe is the perfect comfort food!