Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken: Your Ultimate 30-Minute One-Pan Weeknight Dinner
Transform your weeknight dinner routine with this incredible Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken! It’s a lightning-fast meal, perfect for busy evenings, and incredibly easy to clean up since it all comes together in just one skillet. Get ready for a delicious, family-friendly dish that’s on the table in about 30 minutes!
Are you tired of bland weeknight meals that take forever to prepare and leave you with a mountain of dishes? Say hello to your new favorite quick and easy chicken dinner: Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken! This innovative recipe brings together the comforting flavors of a classic pizza with tender, juicy chicken, all cooked in a single skillet in under 30 minutes. It’s the perfect solution for those hectic evenings when you crave something satisfying and exciting without the fuss. This dish pairs wonderfully with a side of al dente pasta to soak up all the rich sauce or a warm, crusty piece of garlic bread for dipping.
What makes this pizza chicken truly special is its universal appeal. It’s a fantastic option for picky eaters, offering a fun and familiar twist on a traditional chicken dinner, and far more engaging than your typical pizza night. The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility; you can easily customize it with your family’s favorite pizza toppings. Think crispy bacon bits, sautéed mushrooms, sliced bell peppers, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for an extra kick. This adaptability ensures that every member of your family gets exactly what they want. In a real hurry? This chicken skillet is incredibly forgiving. You can prepare it ahead of time, assembling the chicken and sauce components, or simply opt for a high-quality store-bought marinara sauce to drastically cut down on prep time. This flexibility makes it a game-changer for busy households.
Key Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Understanding the role of each ingredient and knowing your substitution options can elevate your cooking experience and ensure a perfect dish every time. Here’s a detailed look at the core components of our Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken:
- Chicken: For this recipe, I highly recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The main reason is efficiency: they can be easily sliced in half lengthwise, creating thinner cutlets that cook much faster and more evenly. This quick-cooking aspect is crucial for our 30-minute goal. When slicing, aim for uniform thickness to ensure consistent cooking. If you prefer, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can also be used, offering a richer flavor and moister texture. However, with thighs, you will need approximately four, and it’s best not to slice them in half, as their natural thickness and fat content help them stay tender. Be aware that the cook time will be slightly longer, so always monitor with a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F for food safety.
- Pepperoni: I typically use your standard, readily available pepperoni from any grocery store. It provides that classic, savory, and slightly smoky flavor that defines a pizza. However, don’t hesitate to experiment! If you’re a fan of heat, a spicy pepperoni can add a wonderful kick to your pizza chicken skillet. For those who appreciate a heartier bite, a thick-cut pepperoni offers a more substantial texture and intense flavor. Mini pepperonis are also a fun option, especially if you have kids, as they distribute more evenly throughout the dish.
- Shredded Cheese: To achieve that quintessential pizza flavor and melt, I use a delightful white cheese combination of low-moisture mozzarella and provolone cheese. Mozzarella offers excellent meltability and a mild, milky taste, while provolone adds a sharper, more complex flavor. Together, they create a balanced and irresistibly gooey topping. The good news is, you’re not limited to these! Many other shredded cheeses can be substituted or added for variety. Consider sharp cheddar cheese for a bolder taste, Provel cheese for a true St. Louis-style pizza experience, grated parmesan cheese for a salty, umami kick, or even a touch of Gorgonzola for a sophisticated, pungent note. Feel free to mix and match to find your family’s favorite blend.
- Cherry Tomatoes: These small, sweet tomatoes are fantastic for adding fresh acidity and a burst of flavor to the sauce. Slicing them in half before cooking helps them break down faster and release their juices, contributing to a vibrant, homemade sauce base.
- Aromatics & Spices: Minced garlic forms the aromatic foundation of the sauce, providing depth and warmth. The dried oregano and basil are classic Italian herbs that tie all the pizza flavors together. Don’t forget the paprika, ground black pepper, and sea salt for seasoning the chicken, enhancing its natural taste and creating a flavorful crust.
Why You’ll Love This Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
Ready FAST in Just 30 Minutes: This recipe is designed for speed, making it the perfect solution for busy weeknights when time is of the essence. The quick cook time means less waiting and more enjoying a delicious, homemade meal with your family.
A Fun Twist that Kids and Adults Will Love: Forget boring chicken dinners! This dish combines the universally loved flavors of pepperoni pizza with healthy chicken, creating a meal that’s both exciting and satisfying for all ages.
Easily Customizable for Different Taste Preferences and Picky Eaters: The versatility of this recipe is a major plus. From various cheeses and pepperonis to an array of vegetable toppings, you can tailor it to suit everyone’s individual tastes, ensuring even the pickiest eaters clean their plates.
Can be Prepped Ahead of Time: Planning makes perfect, and this recipe allows for convenient meal prepping. You can get a head start by preparing components in advance, making dinner even smoother on the busiest days.
Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
Follow these simple steps to create a mouthwatering Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken that will become a regular in your dinner rotation.
Chicken Prep & Cook
- Prepare the Chicken: Begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). This ensures it’s ready for the final baking step. Next, take each boneless, skinless chicken breast and carefully slice it in half lengthwise. This creates thinner cutlets that will cook much faster and more evenly. Use a sharp knife and try your best to slice them uniformly. A good technique is to hold the chicken down flat with one hand while slicing horizontally with the other. Once sliced, remove any excess fat.
- Season the Chicken: Generously coat both sides of your chicken cutlets evenly with your chosen spices (dried oregano, dried basil, paprika, ground black pepper, and sea salt). Don’t be shy; a good seasoning layer is key to flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a large 12-inch cast iron skillet (or any similar oven-safe skillet) over medium-high heat. Once hot, add in a tablespoon of olive oil. Place the seasoned chicken in the skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan (cook in batches if necessary). Cook for approximately 3 minutes per side, until beautifully golden brown and a thermometer reads an internal temperature of about 160 degrees F. The chicken will finish cooking in the oven and reach the safe 165 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
Sauce Prep and Cook
- Sauté Aromatics: Using the same skillet where you cooked the chicken (don’t clean it, those bits add flavor!), add your sliced cherry tomatoes. Cook them over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, allowing them to soften slightly and release their juices. Then, stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Simmer the Sauce: Add all the remaining sauce ingredients (tomato paste, tomato sauce, water or red wine, dried oregano, dried basil, and optional red pepper flakes) to the skillet. Stir everything well to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce simmer gently for at least 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and develop, creating a rich and savory base. For an even deeper flavor, you can let it simmer longer, up to 10-15 minutes, adding a splash more water or wine if it thickens too much.
Bring it Together
- Assemble the Dish: Once your rich, aromatic sauce is ready, carefully nestle the seared chicken breasts back into the pan, ensuring they are partially submerged in the sauce.
- Add Toppings & Bake: Evenly sprinkle your combination of mozzarella and provolone cheese over the chicken and sauce. Then, arrange the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese. Transfer the skillet to your preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. The dish is ready when the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly, and the sauce is simmering around the edges.
- Garnish & Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven. For a fresh finish, top with fresh basil leaves and additional halved cherry tomatoes. Serve this Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken warm, alongside your favorite pasta or with slices of crunchy garlic bread to scoop up every last drop of that delicious sauce.
Pro Tips for Success
Mastering this Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken is easy with a few insider tips:
Slice the Chicken for Speed: The real secret to how quickly this delicious chicken dinner comes together lies in slicing the chicken breasts in half lengthwise. This technique thins the chicken, significantly reducing its cook time and ensuring it cooks through quickly and evenly. I find using a sharp chef’s knife and holding the chicken down flat with the palm of my non-dominant hand while carefully slicing horizontally with the other hand works best. This creates two thinner cutlets from each breast, maximizing surface area for seasoning and searing.
If you choose not to slice the chicken, the recipe will still work perfectly, but be aware that the overall cook time will be extended by approximately 15 minutes or more, depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F.
Maximize the Sauce with Pasta or Bread: I absolutely love how rich and flavorful the sauce in this skillet pepperoni pizza chicken becomes. To ensure no drop of that deliciousness goes to waste, consider tossing in some freshly cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the chicken and sauce. This allows the pasta to absorb all the wonderful flavors, truly taking this chicken dish up a notch. Alternatively, for a simpler pairing, serve with a generous amount of garlic bread or classic breadsticks for dipping into the robust sauce. The bread is perfect for mopping up every last bit!
Adjust the Spice Level: This recipe is family-friendly, but you can easily adjust the heat. For a spicier kick, use a hot pepperoni or increase the amount of red pepper flakes in the sauce. If you prefer a milder flavor, omit the red pepper flakes entirely.
Add More Veggies: Enhance the nutritional value and texture by incorporating more vegetables. Sliced bell peppers, onions, or even some sautéed spinach can be added to the skillet with the cherry tomatoes and garlic for a more robust dish.
Pre-prep for Ultimate Convenience: For the busiest evenings, you can pre-chop your ingredients and even prepare the chicken and sauce ahead of time. Store them separately in airtight containers in the fridge, then combine and bake when you’re ready to eat. This significantly reduces active cooking time on the day of serving.
How to Store Leftovers & Meal Prep
Store any leftover pepperoni pizza chicken bake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. This dish reheats beautifully! I personally prefer to rewarm leftovers in a large skillet in the oven (at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes, covered with foil to prevent drying) as it helps the cheese re-melt nicely and keeps the chicken tender. However, for a super-fast option, you can certainly warm individual portions in the microwave until heated through, stirring the sauce to ensure even temperature distribution. For meal prepping, consider dividing the cooked dish into individual serving containers for easy grab-and-go lunches or dinners throughout the week.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Absolutely! This recipe is fantastic for meal prep. You can fully cook the chicken and prepare the sauce ahead of time. Then, combine the chicken and sauce in your skillet or baking dish, top with cheese and pepperoni, cover tightly, and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply pop the pizza chicken into a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the sauce is warm and bubbling, and the cheese is beautifully melted and golden. This method significantly cuts down on weeknight cooking.
Yes, you can partially freeze components of this skillet chicken pizza, which is great for long-term meal planning! I recommend prepping and cooking the chicken, then preparing the sauce separately. Store the cooked chicken and the sauce together in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to make the dish, let it thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer the thawed chicken and sauce to your skillet or baking dish, then proceed with the original instructions by topping with cheese and pepperoni and baking until hot and bubbly. This method ensures freshness and convenience for future meals.
The possibilities for customizing this pizza chicken are endless, allowing you to truly make it your own! If you want to “meat it up,” consider adding some crispy cooked bacon bits, crumbled Italian sausage, or even mini meatballs. If vegetables are more your style, sautéed mushrooms, sliced bell peppers (any color!), black olives, or pickled jalapeños work wonderfully to add flavor and texture. For gourmet finishing touches after baking, a drizzle of fresh pesto goes great over top, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for extra heat, a dusting of grated parmesan cheese, or a luxurious garlic-infused olive oil can elevate the dish further. Don’t be afraid to experiment with what your family loves on their traditional pizza!
Yes, for an even quicker and easier take on this recipe, you can certainly use a high-quality store-bought marinara or red sauce. This is a fantastic shortcut for those exceptionally busy weeknights when you still want a delicious homemade-tasting meal without the extra effort of making sauce from scratch. While I highly recommend trying the homemade sauce recipe included here, as it truly enhances the flavor, I completely understand and support using a store-bought option when time is a critical factor. Don’t let sauce prep stand between you and this amazing dish!
You May Also Enjoy These Related Recipes…
- Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
- Easy 15 Minute Naan Margherita Pizza Recipe
- Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich with Pesto & Arugula
- Chicken Spiedini Recipe with Lemon Butter Sauce
Thank you so much for stopping by and trying out this delicious recipe! If you made this Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken, I would be absolutely thrilled to hear from you below in the comments section. Your feedback and ratings mean the world! If you want to keep up with what The Erhardts are Eating (and exploring, which is often equally as exciting), be sure to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter& Youtube. I love connecting with fellow food enthusiasts and adventurers!
Happy Eating!
Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Chicken Recipe
Caitlyn Erhardt
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Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 Large Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
For the Sauce
- 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes Sliced in Half
- 2 teaspoon Minced Garlic
- 6 Oz Tomato Paste
- 3 Oz Tomato Sauce
- ¼ Cup Water or Red Wine for More Bold Flavor
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes Optional
For the Pizza Bake
- 3 Oz Pepperoni
- ¾ Cup Mozzarella Cheese
- ½ Cup Provolone Cheese
- ½ Cup Cherry Tomatoes Sliced in Half
- 10 Fresh Basil Leaves Optional
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220°C). Next, slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise and remove any excess fat with a sharp knife. Coat both sides evenly with all the chicken spices (dried oregano, dried basil, paprika, ground black pepper, and sea salt).
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Heat a large 12-inch cast iron skillet (or similar oven-safe skillet) over medium-high heat, then add in olive oil. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook 3 minutes per side until golden brown. Once cooked through to an internal temperature of about 160°F, remove from the skillet and set aside. (It will finish cooking in the oven).
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Add sliced cherry tomatoes to the same skillet the chicken was cooked in. Cook for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, allowing them to soften. Then, add in minced garlic and cook an additional 1 minute until fragrant. Add in all the remaining sauce ingredients (tomato paste, tomato sauce, water or red wine, dried oregano, dried basil, and optional red pepper flakes) to the skillet and stir to combine. Let simmer for at least 5 minutes (or longer to develop more flavor).
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Once the sauce is finished, add the chicken breasts back into the pan, nesting them into the sauce. Sprinkle over the mozzarella and provolone cheese, then arrange the pepperoni on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is simmering.
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Once finished, remove from oven and top with fresh basil, additional halved cherry tomatoes, or any other extras of your choice. Enjoy warm with pasta or garlic bread for a complete meal.
Notes
Cheese Options: Alternate cheese ideas include sharp cheddar, creamy Provel, salty parmesan, or a zesty asiago cheese for a different flavor profile.
Chicken Options: Four boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be swapped in for the chicken breasts if you prefer a richer, moister cut. The cook time will be a bit longer (around 5-7 minutes per side for searing, plus baking time), and you should NOT slice them in half. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Pepperoni Options: Feel free to use thick-cut, spicy, or even mini pepperonis. My family generally prefers the classic, standard pepperoni for its familiar flavor.
Sauce Suggestion: For a quicker meal solution, you can use a good quality store-bought marinara sauce or red sauce instead of making it from scratch. While I love the depth of flavor in my homemade version, I completely understand the need for shortcuts on those busy weeknights.
Nutrition