Description
This crispy Pizza Chicken recipe combines breaded and fried chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, and your favorite pizza toppings. Baked to perfection, it offers the classic flavors of pizza on a juicy chicken base, making it a delicious low-carb alternative to traditional pizza.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Breading
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup vegetable oil (can substitute canola or olive oil)
- ½ cup flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 eggs (whisked until airy and frothy)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ¼ cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
Sauce and Toppings
- 24 oz. marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated)
- Pizza toppings of choice (e.g., pepperoni, sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, onions)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Red pepper flakes (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Breading Stations and Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Set up three separate stations for breading — first mix the flour, seasoned salt, and pepper; second mix the whisked eggs with garlic powder; third combine breadcrumbs with shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Bread the Chicken: Slice each chicken breast into 2-3 thinner pieces and pound to about ½ inch thickness. Pat the slices dry to ensure the coating sticks well. Dredge each piece first in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess, then briefly dip into the egg mixture letting excess drip off, and finally coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb and Parmesan mixture.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat enough vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat until it reaches approximately 350°F, ensuring the oil covers about one-third of the chicken pieces’ thickness. Fry two chicken slices at a time without crowding, for about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Use tongs to carefully remove the chicken and transfer it to a cooling rack. Repeat for all chicken.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spread about 80% of the marinara sauce evenly on the bottom of an oven-safe baking dish. Arrange the fried chicken pieces on top, spoon the remaining marinara sauce over them, then layer with mozzarella cheese, your preferred pizza toppings, and finally sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over everything.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 13 minutes. Check at 10 minutes to ensure the cheese has melted and toppings are cooked promptly. Remove from oven once the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately to enjoy a crispy, cheesy pizza chicken dish.
Notes
- You can customize the pizza toppings with pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, onions, or any favorites you prefer.
- A cast iron skillet is ideal for frying as it retains heat well and helps create a crispy crust.
- Ensure chicken slices are patted completely dry before breading to help the coating adhere properly.
- Use plain or Italian seasoned breadcrumbs according to taste preferences.
- For a lighter option, you can bake the breaded chicken pieces instead of frying, but the texture will differ.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: pizza chicken, breaded chicken, fried chicken, Italian-American recipe, low-carb pizza alternative, chicken with marinara sauce
