Description
This Spicy Chicken and Pickled Jalapeno Pizza is a bold and flavorful recipe combining a perfectly baked crust, spicy seasoned chicken, melted mozzarella, and tangy pickled jalapenos. Finished with an optional drizzle of ranch or spicy sauce and fresh cilantro garnish, this pizza offers a deliciously spicy kick for pizza lovers looking for an exciting twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
Chicken Topping
- 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Cheese and Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup pickled jalapeños, sliced
- ¼ cup ranch dressing or spicy sauce (optional)
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) to prepare for baking the pizza.
- Prepare the Dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness for the base.
- Add Olive Oil: Transfer the rolled dough to a pizza stone or baking sheet and brush the surface lightly with olive oil to ensure a crispy crust.
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, mix the shredded cooked chicken with chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder until the chicken is evenly coated with the spices.
- Spread the Chicken: Evenly distribute the seasoned chicken over the dough as the first layer of toppings.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the chicken layer to create a gooey cheese topping.
- Top with Jalapeños: Scatter the sliced pickled jalapeños evenly on top of the cheese for a tangy, spicy kick.
- Bake Pizza: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 15–20 minutes until the crust turns golden brown and cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Cool the Pizza: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes to set the toppings and improve sliceability.
- Drizzle with Ranch: Optionally, drizzle ranch dressing or a spicy sauce over the pizza for added flavor dimension.
- Garnish: Sprinkle fresh cilantro leaves on top for a fresh, herbaceous finish and serve.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more pickled jalapeños or a drizzle of hot sauce.
- Use a pizza stone if possible for a crispier crust.
- Substitute mozzarella with a blend of cheeses like cheddar or pepper jack for variation.
- If you prefer, use homemade pickled jalapeños for fresher flavor.
- This pizza can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pizza dough.
