Keto Pepperoni Pizza Chicken Bake (Print View)

Juicy chicken topped with marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni for a melty low-carb pizza-inspired bake 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

# Directions:

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 165°F internal temperature 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 like pizza night without the guilt, carb overload, or complicated dough recipes.
  • The whole thing comes together in 40 minutes flat, which makes weeknight dinners feel less like a chore.
  • One pan, minimal cleanup, and somehow it manages to feel like comfort food AND something you'd actually order at a restaurant.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step thinking you'll just let the oven cook everything because that browning is where half the flavor lives.
  • The chicken keeps cooking in the oven after you pull it out, so slight undercooking at the sear stage actually prevents dryness in the final dish.
03 -
  • Use a meat thermometer clipped to the side of the baking dish if you have one, so you don't have to guess when the chicken is done.
  • Make extra pepperoni cups in the oven at the same time by laying slices on a rack, then crumble them over the finished dish for crispy texture you can't get any other way.
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