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One-skillet spicy pizza chicken with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and crispy bacon served hot
Isaac blogger

Spicy Pizza Chicken

A bold and comforting spicy pizza chicken made with tender chicken simmered in a rustic tomato sauce, finished with melted mozzarella for an easy one-skillet dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Calories:
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3½ lb bone-in chicken pieces
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 5 oz alcohol-free cured pork or turkey bacon, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
  • 2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped (optional, alcohol-free)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 3½ cups diced ripe tomatoes
  • 1 sprig fresh basil
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella or bocconcini, halved (alcohol-free)

Method
 

  1. Before You Begin
  2. Preheat and prepare your cookware as needed. Cooking times and results may vary depending on your equipment and ingredients.
  3. Season Chicken
  4. Pat chicken dry and season evenly with salt and pepper.
  5. Crisp Bacon
  6. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Cook diced bacon until lightly crisp. Remove and set aside.
  7. Brown Chicken
  8. Add chicken pieces to the skillet and cook, turning as needed, until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
  9. Build Sauce
  10. Add garlic, chili flakes, and optional anchovies. Cook briefly until fragrant. Stir in cherry tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and basil. Simmer gently until tomatoes soften and sauce thickens slightly.
  11. Finish Cooking Chicken
  12. Return chicken to the skillet and transfer to a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven. Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internally and is hot throughout. Cooking time may vary depending on piece size and equipment.
  13. Melt Cheese
  14. Top with mozzarella and return to oven until cheese melts and lightly browns.
  15. Rest and Serve
  16. Sprinkle reserved bacon on top. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Measure ingredients accurately for consistent results.
• Cooking times may vary depending on equipment and ingredient size.
• Allow chicken to rest briefly before serving for best texture.
Storage
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and store airtight up to 4 days.
Reheating
• Reheat gently until warmed through, adding a small splash of broth if needed.