Chicken Pesto Pizza Recipe (2024)

Homemade chicken pesto pizza with the crispiest crust, loads of walnut pesto and a kick from pepper jack cheese.

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Ultimate Chicken Pesto Pizza from Scratch!

I am clearly on the pizza train here, but I really can’t help it. I made and froze two batches of my Italianpizza doughyesterday, and so of course it was the perfect reason for me to make one more pizza.

Yay for chicken pesto pizza for dinner on a rainy Tuesday! Seriously though, you’ve got to make the perfect grilled chicken from last summer to use in this recipe.

Sure you could also use leftover rotisserie chicken, but to really make this pizza be as special as it is in my dreams, I need to make that grilled chicken tenderloin covered in the smoked paprika spice mix.

I switched things up a bit and made a vegan walnut pesto sauce, but you can just make a classic Genoese pesto with pine nuts and basil if you prefer.

Then I layered slices of my favorite organic pepper jack cheese, followed by the chicken and a sprinkling of more grated pepper jack. I want that cheese to just nicely hug the chicken from all sides like a cozy blanket. Of course you can alway leave out the chicken and keep it vegetarian.

Don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but I sure do hope you grabbed a pizza stonefrom amazon already. You really need to have a hot pizza stone to cook a crispy pizza crust at home. Not only that, but make sure to preheat that pizza stone together with your oven as high as it is allowed for a good 45 minutes or more. Mine only goes up to 500°F but really perfect temperature for thin and crispy crust.

Hey, did you know that pizza was invented in Napoli Italy?

There’s even an association that protects the true Napolitana pizza, which cannot be any thicker than 3 mm. That’s what I strive for when making my pizzas, which is the reason why I insist you use this rustic pizza dough recipe. You can stretch it so thin you can read the morning paper through it. Unless you are into deep dish pizza, then I can’t help you today. Maybe another day..so come back 😉

Just like it is the case with every single pizza that I make, I always bake the crust for a couple of minutes on my pizza stone before adding my topping. Then I take it out of the oven, so the oven won’t get cold while I assemble all my toppings.

Back into the oven it goes for about five minutes or so, just until the cheese is nicely, gooey melted and the crust has little crispy brown marks.This little step is what makes the difference between crispy pizza bottom or a soggy center.

Pesto Pizza

Once summer rolls around you can actually grill the pizza dough right next to the chicken on your grill, then add all your goodies on top and let the cheese melt.

I totally get that using pepper jack cheese is not your traditional choice, but it adds so much flavor, and it melts so amazingly that it is definitely worth breaking the pizza laws for.

I might be in trouble with the Napolitana pizza police for this one, but the dough is on point tough! That should count for something right ?!

Hey, did you know that the best way to slice this pesto chicken pizza is not with a pizza cutter, but with your kitchen shears..? Try it!

Pesto Pizza Toppings

  • baby arugula + goat cheese
  • marinated sun dried tomatoes or sun dried tomato pesto
  • heirloom tomatoes, basil and balsamic glaze
  • sauteed spinach and marinated artichoke hearts
  • pesto + whipped ricotta + roasted tomatoes (pizza pesto e ricotta & pomodori)
  • Italian sausage and kale (pizza pesto alla Salsiccia)
  • crispy sage.

Chicken Pesto Pizza Recipe (6)

5 from 1 vote

Chicken Pesto Pizza Recipe

The ultimate cheesy gooey chicken pesto pizza with the crispiest crust and a kick from pepper jack cheese.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:25 minutes mins

Cook Time:10 minutes mins

Total Time:35 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 batch rustic pizza dough (formed into 6 dough balls)
  • 1 pound best grilled chicken sliced
  • 1 1/2 pounds pepper jack cheese shredded or thinly sliced
  • 2 basil sprigs for garnish
  • Red pepper flakes for serving

Walnut Pesto

Instructions

  • Prepare your pizza dough according to the recipe directions.

Walnut Pesto

  • Add the basil leaves, walnuts, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice to the bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth but still with a little bit of texture. Adjust seasonings to your taste with sea salt and refrigerate until ready to use.

Make the Pizza

  • Preheat your oven to 500”F with the pizza stone in it for at least 45 minutes or longer.

  • Sprinkle some flour on your kitchen counter or over a pastry board and place one of the pizza dough balls on top. Sprinkle with some flour and using the palm of your hand gently press down on the dough until flat.

  • Flip the dough on the other side and sprinkle some more flour on top if needed. Continue to press down with the palm of your hand and gently stretching the sides until the pie is thin too your liking. You could also use your knuckles and help stretch the dough as well, just be careful not to tear it.

  • Sprinkle some flour on your pizza peel or cardboard and gently place the dough on top.

  • Sprinkle a little flour or corn meal on top of the pizza stone in the oven and very carefully transfer the pizza pie to the pizza stone. Just give the pizza peel or cardboard box an nice little shake and it will slide right in.

  • Bake the pizza pie for 3 minutes then remove it from the oven back to your pizza peel.

  • Spoon a thin layer of the walnut pesto over the top and layer with the pepper jack cheese slices. Sprinkle the grilled chicken on top and a little bit more pepper jack cheese.

  • Gently transfer the pizza pie back to the hot pizza stone and bake an additional 5 minutes or so , until the cheese has melted and the crust is crispy.

  • Repeat with the remaining pizza pies and allow each pizza to rest for a few minutes for the cheese to set before cutting into it. Sprinkle with the fresh basil and enjoy with extra red pepper flakes on top.

Course: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 6 people

Author: Florentina

More Pizza Recipes:

  • Burrata Pizza
  • Pizza Margherita Recipe Video
  • Berry Pizza
  • Fried Pizza Dough
  • How to Freeze Pizza Dough
  • Savory Pie ( Stuffed Gnocchi)
  • Grilled Fig Pizza
  • Grilled Spinach Artichoke Pizza Bianca
Chicken Pesto Pizza Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is pesto chicken pizza healthy? ›

My Pesto Pizza with Chicken comes together really quickly and easily. It is tasty and actually pretty good for you:) Loaded with fresh veggies, lots of lean protein and whole grains.

Do you cook chicken before adding to pizza? ›

1. Meats. Pizzas usually don't take very long to bake, and the bake time is really to crisp the dough and melt the cheese. Raw meats — like sausage, chicken, or bacon — usually won't cook through in the short baking time, so they should be precooked.

Is pepperoni good on pesto pizza? ›

This Pesto Pepperoni Pizza is the ultimate easy Summer dinner! It's fresh, seasonal and so delicious thanks to an extra drizzle of hot honey at the end!

Is pesto good or bad for you? ›

Because its ingredients include olive oil, nuts, and cheese, pesto can be high in calories and fat. However, the fat is primarily unsaturated and may have heart health benefits. Pesto is also full of antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage.

Is pesto OK for weight loss? ›

Given all of the above, pesto can undoubtedly be considered a healthy food, and as long as you keep track of portions, it can also be part of a diet that supports a healthy weight. Pesto is nutrient-dense, and because of its fat content, it's also calorically dense.

Should you prebake pizza dough before adding toppings? ›

If you're baking the pizza in the oven, whether on a pizza stone or not, I always pre-bake the dough for 4-5 minutes before adding toppings, to make sure the pizza dough cooks crisp on the outside and soft and airy in the middle. Once you add the Pizza Sauce and toppings, return it to the oven to finish baking.

Can you put raw chicken on a pizza in the oven? ›

(Don't put raw chicken on your pizza or it will not have enough time to cook through). I used that saved time to make favorite homemade pizza dough, but you could also use store-bought.

Which meat is best with pesto? ›

Just a spoonful or two of pesto sauce can add so much flavor to your favorite cuts of meat and seafood—from chicken breasts to pork chops to grilled shrimp. These pesto pork chops are super simple weeknight entrée. Pair them up with a simple pesto pasta, a crisp garden salad or roasted veggies.

Is pesto pizza a thing in Italy? ›

Some time later, with the creation of various modifications of Italian pizza, a variant containing pesto instead of the traditional tomato sauce was also created. To enjoy your favourite flavour in your own home, order an al pesto pizza or a Neapolitan pizza delivery.

What does pesto taste like on pizza? ›

To me, a good pesto pizza should have bold pesto flavor. I don't want it to taste faintly of basil, garlic, Parmesan and olive oil—I want those flavors to bowl me over. The key is to spread a generous layer of pesto over the pizzas before baking, and then top them with more pesto when they come out of the oven.

How long to cook homemade pizza at 350 degrees? ›

Bring the sauce to a boil, and then cook for 10 minutes on low heat. Lightly flour a rolling pin, and the surface on which you are opening the dough. Use the rolling pin to stretch the dough out to desired shape. * Bake pizza at 350 degrees; usually cooks in about 20 minutes.

What order do you put ingredients on homemade pizza? ›

You've got your dough as the foundation. Then your sauce. The cheese is the next solid layer. Then your toppings (after all, they're called top-pings and not bottom-ings), and then finally your garnishes like basil, pepper, fresh mozzarella, etc, after the pizza is cooked.

How many calories are in chicken pesto pizza? ›

Slices - Pesto Chicken - 1/8 of a 20" pizza, Pizza My Heart
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 1 slice
How many calories are in Pesto Chicken Pizza Slice? Amount of calories in Pesto Chicken Pizza Slice: Calories 490Calories from Fat 225 (45.9%)
% Daily Value *
17 more rows

Is chicken pizza good for health? ›

Some Types Are High in Calories, Carbs, Sodium and Sugar

Plus, some pizzas contain added sugar in the crust, certain toppings and sauces. In fact, one serving (1/4 pizza) of Red Baron Barbecue Chicken pizza contains a whopping 21 grams (4 teaspoons) of sugar (8).

What is the healthiest pizza option? ›

What's the healthiest pizza to eat? There are plenty of pizza choices that can be considered healthy. Some options that can easily fit into a nutritious and balanced diet include a thin-crust pizza and a cauliflower-crust pizza. Topping choices on the more nutritious side are vegetables, chicken, shrimp and cheese.

Is pesto or pizza sauce healthier? ›

If your main goal is to cut calories and fat, go for the marinara. If, however, you'd like to add some extra nutrients via greens such as basil or kale, and nuts, such as pine nuts or walnuts, opt for the pesto every once in a while. It's a tasty alternative to marinara, and a little goes a long way.

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