Chicken Crust Pizza
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
My chicken crust pizza recipe uses just three ingredients and yields a thick, chewy, and crispy crust. It’s ready in minutes and satisfies pizza cravings.
Pizza is one food that I could never give up, even when dieting. My chicken crust pizza has been a dinnertime staple, satisfying my pizza cravings, and I never feel like I’m missing out. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a base of ground chicken instead of a traditional flour-based one. You bake it up, add pizza toppings, and broil until the cheese melts.
I took inspiration from my crustless pizza, but cut down on the ingredients and ratios to yield a sturdy, chewy crust. It did take some testing to get right, but this version absolutely knocks it out of the park, and it is one of the few low-carb recipes my picky partner approves of.
Why I love this chicken crust pizza recipe
- It needs just 3 ingredients. The crust needs just ground chicken, mozzarella cheese, and spices!
- Ready in 15 minutes. Compare that to a classic pizza that takes four times as long.
- Easy to customize. Switch up the meat in the crust, the toppings, and the sauce!
- No chicken flavor. The beauty of ground chicken is that it is very mild-tasting. It tastes like a thick, cheesy crust when mixed with spices and cheese!
What readers are saying
★★★★★ – “Definitely a family fav! So easy, too!” – JoAnne
Key Ingredients
- Ground chicken. As the chicken is mixed with cheese, leaner cuts can be used. I used 90/10 ground chicken breast, which has 10% fat. You can use a higher-fat cut of chicken, but be sure to mop up excess liquid.
- Italian seasoning. Adds some flavor to the chicken without being overpowering.
- Cheddar cheese. Freshly grated cheddar cheese. This cheese is in addition to the topping.
- Pizza sauce. Skip the sugar-laden store-bought kind and make your own. I like using my own pomodoro sauce or sugo, which are lower in sugar if that is something you are looking for. You can also blend up my fire roasted tomatoes for that gorgeous smoky flavor.
- Pizza toppings. I used bell peppers, mushrooms, and pepperoni. Use your favorite pizza toppings.
- Mozzarella cheese. I like topping anything pizza-like with a two-cheese blend, like a mix of mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and Jack cheese.
Canned and shredded chicken option
While ground chicken is best for a chicken crust pizza, you can also use canned and shredded chicken. As this kind of chicken isn’t as pliable as the ground kind, you need to add 1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise to help bind it with the cheese.
- Shredded chicken. Either shred baked chicken breast or air fryer chicken breast.
- Canned chicken. Choose chicken canned in water (NO flavorings!) and remove all excess liquid.
How to make chicken crust pizza
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1- In a bowl, combine the ground chicken, cheese, and Italian seasoning.
Step 2- Shape the chicken mixture into a ball. Transfer it to a pizza stone or baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Step 3- Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce, then your favorite toppings. Sprinkle cheese over everything.
Step 4- Bake everything for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Use ground chicken breast. Opt for ground chicken breast instead of dark meat for a healthier, lower-fat crust. I also find that it will hold the pizza much better.
- Par-bake the crust. If you want a crispier crust, bake the crust before adding the toppings.
- You’ll know the crust is fully cooked once it reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Use a meat thermometer to double-check.
- Season well. The chicken is a blank canvas, so adding spices and seasonings makes it taste incredible. Add your favorite herbs and spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and basil.
- Use a non-stick surface. I found that the crust sometimes sticks when using the wrong pans or baking sheets. I recommend one with a non-stick surface or a generously greased pizza stone. I’ve also made this in a cast-iron skillet.
Frequently asked questions
There are ZERO carbs in the ground chicken pizza crust. Ground chicken and mozzarella cheese have no carbs/trace carbs. The carbs come from the vegetables and the sauce added to them.
You can pre-make and pre-cook the crust, then freeze it until you are ready to make the pizza. I often keep 2-3 crusts in the freezer at all times.
More low carb ways to enjoy pizza
- Cloud bread pizza
- Keto pizza
- Cauliflower pizza crust
- Eggplant pizza
- Pizza bowls
- Keto pizza casserole
Chicken Crust Pizza
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 4 small mushrooms sliced
- 1/2 small bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the ground chicken, shredded cheese, and Italian seasoning in a mixing bowl and mix well.
- Transfer the ball of chicken onto the lined sheet and press down into a large pizza shape. If you want a crispier crust, pre-bake for 5 minutes.
- Remove the crust from the oven. Spread the pizza sauce, mushrooms, bell pepper, pepperoni, and cheese.
- Bake the chicken crust pizza for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and slice and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
✅ Nutrition reviewed
Nutrition information has been reviewed by registered dietitian Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Originally published August 2023
Has anyone tried this with non cow “cheese”? It seems like goat cheese would be too much goat. Would non dairy cheese work?
Thanks!
Lynn
maybe I’m missing something here: where does the 1 tablespoon of olive oil come into the picture?
Apologies for that overnight, Labrat- Our original tested recipe involved pan-frying the ground chicken first, but when we re-tested it, it was so much better without, and with the meat mixture cooked directly in the pizza pan. I’ll fix it now 🙂
Surprisingly good! I rolled the crust out really thin between 2 pieces of parchment and pre-baked it. Easy recipe. Thanks! 😊
Love this and it’s super easy to throw together. Even my non pizza fan mother likes it.
This chicken crust pizza is a weekly staple in my kitchen 🙂
Good!
If you do use canned chicken. I toss it in a food processor, process it into a pate mixture, then add the other ingredients too.
Hi Arman,
Are you using pre-cooked ground chicken or raw?
Thank you
Raw, but pre-cooked works- I just tried it out!
Absolutely delicious low carb treat for our pizza night.
This was a great idea, i drained the chicken a little to keep the moisture off it during cooking and it was perfect.
Which other cheese would suit here? Maybe grana paddano?
So this is very high protein crust pizza right?
Obsessed with this chicken crust pizza recipe. It holds its shape and is super cheesy and delicious!
If you don’t watch the video there are no instructions to cook the chicken first.
You might want to add that detail to the recipe
Thanks for adding the part about pre-baking the crust – worked out beautifully!
What did you put on top of pizza? I see something red. Like sausages?
Pizza can really be made from chicken? I cannot believe how creative you are. I make your recipes very often.
This is fantastic and clever
Love the idea and the “recipe” but you give 0 ingredient amounts. No temperature. Nothing. Would be a 5 star but I don’t get the 0 amounts of chicken. The no temperature to cook it at. No amounts of oil to use etc.
Love this chicken crust pizza. Perfect for a low carb fix.
Best chicken crust pizza recipe I’ve ever made!
Is the tomato sauce considered the pizza sauce?
Yes!
I added about 1/2 cup ground pork rinds to bind everything together a bit better. Then, before I pre-baked I put in refrigerator to firm up. Baked the crust a bit longer since it was cold, but it worked well! I used a combo of mozzarella, park, and Asiago cheese in the crust.
I follow this recipe exactly and it was perfect
This was really good despite the fact that the crust didnt stay together. It was more like a ground chicken casserole dish than a pizza. Not sure what I did wrong except for maybe it was because I decided to use dairy free cheese instead. I will try this again here lat some point but will use regular mozzarella cheese and not the dairy free next time to see if that helps. If anyone has any tips, let me know.
My chicken was very juicy after cooking. Should I have drained it before adding cheese?
Yes that can sometimes happen depending on the brand.
Could you make the chicken crust using Dairy free shredded cheese? Thanks!
I haven’t tried but feel free to experiment and see!
Definitely a family fav! So easy too!
I really appreciate the low carb recipes I have been looking for ways to help me be fit and trim. Thank you Lois Reece.
The recipe card calls for cheddar cheese. Is it supposed to say mozzarella? thanks
That is correct, sorry!
I have made this recipe except with very finely chopped shredded chicken breast. My new favorite! So good! One carb and high protein! A win win recipe!!!!!
I’m glad you used turkey, I just put mine in the oven but could only find ground turkey. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! This is one cheesy pizza! It was really delicious. I followed your easy recipe (almost) exactly and made it with ground turkey, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, red peppers and parsley. I just left off the tomato sauce and I didn’t miss it at all.