Keto Pepperoni Pizza Chicken Bake (Printer View)

Low-carb pizza flavor with juicy chicken breast, marinara sauce, gooey mozzarella, and pepperoni. Ready in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 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 1/2 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

# Method Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden.
04 - Transfer seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish.
05 - Spoon marinara sauce evenly over the chicken.
06 - Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce-covered chicken.
07 - Layer pepperoni slices over the cheese.
08 - Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese.
09 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is bubbly and golden.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired, and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent and pizza-like but fits perfectly into keto and low-carb eating without any weird substitutes or aftertaste.
  • You can have dinner on the table in 40 minutes flat, and most of that time is hands-off baking.
  • The pepperoni gets crispy around the edges while the cheese turns golden and bubbly, which somehow feels more satisfying than delivery ever did.
02 -
  • Don't skip patting the chicken dry before searing because moisture keeps it from browning, and that golden crust is what makes this taste restaurant-quality instead of steamed.
  • Check that your marinara sauce is actually sugar-free by reading the label because some brands hide carbs, which defeats the whole point of keeping this keto.
03 -
  • Buy whole pepperoni and slice it yourself if your grocery store carries it, because the thicker cut renders more flavorfully than thin sliced.
  • If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, pound them to an even thickness before searing so they cook uniformly and no one ends up with an overcooked or undercooked piece.
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