Chicken basil pesto pizza night is easy, quick and effortless. We have our favorite pizza spot but today we are going for fun family time with all tiny hands on deck. Cooking with kids can be quite messy but by using some store-bought ingredients, today is all fun and no mess. And if you’re just cooking for yourself or two, this is sure going to be a quick, easy and enjoyable meal.
CHICKEN BASIL PESTO PIZZA INGREDIENTS
We love how quick this pizza dinner comes together. As much as make from scratch is right up our alley, some days we cut corners when we find the right ingredients.
- Chicken Breast : Our favorite lean protein for pizza night. Cut into small chunks and get to seasoning. We used some dried basil, oregano, rosemary, salt and black pepper.
- Basil Peso: Find your favorite basil pesTo brand, or if you make basil pesto at home even better.
- Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese: We love the dual cheese option. An additional sprinkle of Parmesan after baking just gives it another layer of flavor.
- Pizza Dough: We found a good artisan pizza dough at our local grocery store. No specific recommendations so go for your favorite brand. We are using a pound of garlic and herb pizza dough made with whole wheat flour.
- Olive oil: Greasing our baking sheet prevents the dough from sticking to the pan.
MAKING THE PIZZA
- Cook the chicken: As mentioned we are seasoning our chicken with some dried basil, thyme , rosemary, oregano, salt and black pepper. If you have some Italian seasoning around, go for it. Cook with a little olive oil in a skillet until done. This should take abut 10 minutes or so depending on how small your chicken chunks are.
- To enjoy that nice crispy crust that we love in a home oven, we par-bake before adding the toppings. Spread dough on to a greased 14 inch baking sheet and cook for 5-7 minutes (middle rack, oven preheated to 425) or until it can hold a shape. After, we will flip on a board and add our toppings.
- To build the pizza, start with the pesto and spread a nice layer over the crust. Then add Mozzarella cheese, followed by halved cherry tomatoes, cooked chicken, greens and a handful of Parmesan cheese. Adjust cheese and pesto as you wish.
- Finally, bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is slightly brown.
We absolutely love how easy it is to put this meal together. Give this a go with a little bit of planning and a few store grabs. Think easy weeknight dinner, game nights or movie nights. It’s a winner.
CHICKEN BASIL PESTO PIZZA
Chicken Basil Pesto Pizza, a simple and quick weeknight dinner for all to enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough refrigerated garlic and herb dough
- 3-4 Tbsp basil pesto
- 1 and 1/4 Cup Shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Cup mixed greens (Spinach and arugular)
- 1/2 Cup cherry tomatoes cut in halves
CHICKEN
- 1 large chicken breast (~ 3/4 pound)
- 1 tsp basil
- 1/4 tsp rosemary, thyme, dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Remove pizza dough from refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking.
THE CHICKEN
- Cut chicken breasts into small chunks. Then season with 1 tsp basil,1/4 tsp rosemary, thyme, dried oregano,1/2 tsp salt,1/4 tsp black pepper and 1 Tbsp olive oil
- Heat about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet, add chicken and sear, stirring often for 7-10 minutes until cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
THE PIZZA
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Grease a 14 inch low rim baking sheet with olive oil. Place dough on baking sheet. Oil your fingers and flatten dough into a disc. Then lift and carefully stretch dough using fingers and knuckles until about 14 inches. Place dough back on greased baking sheet. Stretch more to cover sheet if necessary.
- Bake dough for 5-7 minutes until it can hold its shape. Remove and carefully flip onto a clean chopping board.
- Evenly Spread 3-4 Tbsp basil pesto on crust. Then follow with 1 and 1/4 Cup Shredded Mozzarella cheese.
- Then add 1/2 Cup cherry tomatoes , cooked chicken, 1 Cup mixed greens and 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese.
- Carefully place directly on middle rack and bake for 10-12 more minutes or until cheese is melted and crust slightly brown.
- Remove from oven and place on a clean cutting board. Finish off with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and more basil pesto if desired.
- Cut and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 21gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 905mgPotassium: 207mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 491IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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