Keto Pepperoni Pizza Chicken (Printable)

Juicy chicken topped with marinara, mozzarella, and crispy pepperoni for a low-carb pizza-inspired meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, approximately 1.5 lbs
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Sauce & Cheese

05 - 3/4 cup sugar-free marinara sauce
06 - 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Toppings

07 - 20 slices pepperoni
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown on exterior. Chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage.
04 - Transfer seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
05 - Distribute marinara sauce evenly over the chicken breasts, covering completely.
06 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese uniformly over the sauce-covered chicken.
07 - Arrange pepperoni slices in overlapping pattern over the melted cheese layer.
08 - Sprinkle Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese evenly across the surface.
09 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is bubbly with golden edges.
10 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like pizza night but actually fits your keto goals, which feels like getting away with something delicious.
  • Ready in 40 minutes total, making it perfect for those nights when you're hungry but don't want to overthink dinner.
  • The pepperoni gets crispy and slightly charred in the oven, creating these little flavor bombs mixed with tender chicken.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step, even though it feels like an extra thing, because those golden edges are where the real flavor lives.
  • Check your marinara sauce label obsessively because some brands sneak in sugar, and that's the sneakiest way carbs end up in your meal.
03 -
  • Use freshly shredded mozzarella rather than pre-shredded because it melts into that gorgeous bubbly layer instead of turning grainy.
  • If your oven runs hot, tent the dish loosely with foil for the first 15 minutes to prevent the cheese from browning too quickly before the chicken cooks through.
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