Chicken Crust Pizza Recipe
Here I am again, with a low-carb alternative to a favorite dish. Today, I offer chicken crust pizza.
Making pizza with a crust of chicken and cheese is a delicious gluten-free and keto alternative to traditional pizza. Plus, chicken crust is extremely easy to make, unlike regular pizza dough.
Why is chicken crust such a fantastic option for anyone looking to be gluten free, or wanting to limit their carbohydrate intake? There are a few reasons.
Nutritious
Chicken crust provides a low-carb alternative that fits within with keto guidelines (as I know them, which isn’t saying much). Pizza made with a chicken crust allows us to enjoy pizza without derailing our weight-loss efforts.
Since the bulk of this pizza is chicken and cheese, it’s high in protein which helps maintain muscle and keep us feeling full and satisfied longer than traditional crust.
Chicken is also pretty healthy. Did you know chicken is a good source of vitamins B6 and B12, plus niacin and selenium? Plus, did I mention how much I love the taste?
Versatile
Chicken is so versatile! It has a mild flavor that pairs well with so many other foods. I think chicken might be one of my absolute favorite foods. Yep, even more than chocolate or bread. Chicken can be mixed with just about any cheese for the crust. And chicken crust can be topped with any sauce and any topping that you like on pizza. Our favorite toppings are mushrooms and red onion. Occasionally we add pepperoni but really, with chicken as the base that seems a little redundant. Haha!
Because of the versatility of this recipe, we also get creative with the seasonings, sauce, and toppings that we use. Usually it’s heavy on the garlic, of course. But we also like to add Italian seasoning, or play with toppings and seasonings to make something different. We often have cheddar cheese, though mozzarella is a terrific option. A little pepper jack will turn up the heat and flavor! Do you love BBQ chicken pizza as much as I do? You can make that!
Easy
This recipe is so simple, too. And it uses ingredients we usually keep in the house, like cheese and canned chicken. We also always have uncooked chicken thighs, if I really want to get busy in the kitchen. Just cook the chicken and shred it up, if you don’t like canned chicken. For cooking in the RV the canned stuff is super easy, and stores well in the pantry.
Perfecting the recipe
You may be asking, “hey, is this dish perfect?” And I’ll say, not completely, but I’m working on it. I prefer a pizza slice I can pick up and eat with my hands, not a fork. And I have yet to perfect this crust to be hand-held. I am getting closer, though. I use the air fryer to cook ours, with parchment paper. So the middle of the crust stays tender, where I’d prefer it to be crispy.
Next time, I’ll cook the crust then flip it over so the crispy cooked part is on the bottom. I think that will help. I just need to get up the nerve to flip it without it falling apart! Then, the chicken crust pizza will be perfect!
Chicken Crust Pizza Recipe
The crust:
1 pound Cooked Chicken
1 cup Shredded Cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
The Toppings:
1 cup Sauce of your choice
To taste Your favorite pizza toppings
To taste A bit more shredded cheese
Prepare the Crust
Shred the chicken. For an easy hack, use a can of chicken. We like the Kirkland brand
The can is 12.5 ounces so your pizza will be a bit smaller
Mix in the shredded cheese and parmesan. I like mozzarella but didn’t have any this time
If you wish, add a beaten egg to make it stick better, but I don’t seem to need that
Bake the Crust
I bake mine in our air fryer, with parchment paper lining the pan. You can also bake it on a pizza stone, but I can’t tell you how long that will take. I still recommend parchment
Bake until the edges of the crust are starting to brown and crisp up
Remove from oven. One day, I’ll try flipping it over so the crispy top is at the bottom. If you try that please let me know how it works!
Top it Off
Spread sauce on top of the crust. Any sauce will do; pizza or marinara or white garlic (actually my favorite; I’m becoming less tolerant of tomatoes in my old age)
I like to leave a bit of crust exposed at the edges, but you do you!
Add whatever toppings you like. We don’t usually add meat, since the crust is meat
All of your toppings should be cooked, as you won’t bake it much longer and you don’t want raw toppings
Top with a little more shredded cheese (I mix shredded and parmesan)
Heat it Up
Bake until toppings are warmed completely, and cheese is melty
Chicken crust pizza and caesar salad
