Description
This Delicious Pepperoni Pizza Chicken Bake is an easy and flavorful dinner that combines juicy seasoned chicken breasts with classic pizza toppings like zesty pizza sauce, melted mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and pepperoni slices. Ready in just 50 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight meal that brings all the comforting flavors of pizza into a satisfying baked chicken dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- 1 jar (14 oz) pizza sauce
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 15-20 slices pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for even baking and ensure the cheese melts perfectly.
- Prepare the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts horizontally into thinner pieces to promote faster cooking and better absorption of flavors.
- Arrange the chicken: Place the chicken pieces evenly in a 9×13 baking dish so they cook uniformly.
- Season the chicken: In a small bowl, mix Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Rub this blend generously on both sides of each chicken piece to infuse flavor.
- Add the sauce: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the seasoned chicken, making sure each piece is thoroughly coated for maximum taste.
- Layer the cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese evenly on top of the sauced chicken to create a rich, cheesy layer.
- Add pepperoni slices: Distribute the pepperoni slices evenly over the cheese to bring that classic pizza flavor to every bite.
- Cover and bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes to lock in moisture and keep the chicken juicy.
- Finish baking uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, allowing the cheese to bubble and turn golden.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the dish for 1-2 minutes after baking uncovered, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- If chicken breasts are very thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness before slicing for more uniform cooking.
- Use low-sodium pizza sauce if you want to reduce the sodium content in this dish.
- Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently in the oven to maintain crispiness and meltiness.
