Description
Chicken Pesto Pizza brings together zesty homemade pesto, juicy chicken, and melted cheese for a quick weeknight dinner that’ll have your family racing to the table. Crispy crust loaded with fresh ingredients makes this pizza a total crowd-pleaser you can whip up in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Components:
- 1 pre-made pizza crust
- 1 cup chicken, shredded
- ½ cup pesto sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Toppings:
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Finishing:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 425°F and position a rack in the center for even cooking.
- Brush the pizza crust with 1 tablespoon olive oil to create a crisp foundation.
- Spread ½ cup pesto sauce across the entire surface of the crust, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Distribute 1 cup of shredded chicken evenly over the pesto layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese generously across the pizza.
- Scatter ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes strategically over the cheese.
- Place the pizza directly on the center oven rack and bake for 12-15 minutes until the cheese melts completely and edges turn golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the pizza rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing to allow cheese to set.
Notes
- Homemade pesto creates a more vibrant flavor than store-bought versions, so consider making your own if time allows.
- Fresh chicken works best when shredded or diced into small, uniform pieces to ensure even cooking and distribution across the pizza.
- For a gluten-free option, swap the regular pizza crust with a cauliflower or almond flour crust to accommodate dietary needs.
- Letting the pizza rest for 2-3 minutes after baking helps the cheese set and makes slicing cleaner and easier.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 700 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg