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This homemade chicken pesto pizza is the perfect addition to Friday night pizza night. With this easy homemade crust, your family will be begging for it every pizza night!

 

The Best Pizza Night Pizza

Every Friday night is pizza night in our home like we love pizza night. We used to always get take out, but then one day we discovered a super simple easy pizza crust that is so easy to make and delicious to eat! From that moment on, pizza night changed. It became make your own pizza night with all the toppings you could ever ask for. With the new year I am trying to make healthier choices when it comes to my homemade pizza, and can I just tell you this Chicken Pesto Pizza better for you and the perfect healthy pizza so you can still enjoy pizza night with the family.

Why Homemade Pizza?

So often we like to hit the easy button by ordering takeout, but this homemade pizza recipe is hitting the easy button. With this Chicken Pesto Pizza recipe and Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast dough, you will have hot, delicious homemade pizza in less time than it will take you to call and order take out and have it delivered. Making homemade pizza is a no brainer because nothing tastes better than homemade with Fleischmann’s® Yeast.

Nothing Quite Like Homemade Pizza

When it comes to making pizza there is nothing better than making it from scratch. Not only does it taste better but I love the memories that are shared while making pizza! The mixing, the measuring, the pouring of the ingredients… the joy it brings to all my kid’s faces when I say it’s homemade pizza night! The little faces looking through the oven door as they watch their homemade pizza bake that they just created.

Fool-Proof Pizza Tips

Making homemade pizza can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. This recipe is simple to make, especially when you follow these tips!

Use Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast

You want to use a yeast you can trust, and with 150 years of experience, it is the only yeast we use in our home. Fleischmann’s® Yeast helps you bake quality recipes that you can be proud of. Baking from scratch with Fleischmann’s® Yeast is always a better choice creating a taste that you will love.

Expired Yeast

When making pizza crust, you want to make sure that your yeast is not expired. Expired yeast is the number one cause of why your pizza crust does not rise.

Follow Directions

When using Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast, you want to make sure you always follow the directions perfectly on the yeast packet. This will ensure your easy pizza crust rises to perfection, perfect for homemade pizza night.

Water Temperature

Did you know that the temperature of the water can actually kill your Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast? You want your water to be warm, but not hot, nor cold. Hot water will kill your yeast, and cold water will not activate your yeast. I love to use a thermometer to check the water to make sure my Fleischmann’s® Yeast is properly activated. You want your water to be between 120 ̊F-130 ̊F.

Chicken Pesto Pizza

Yield- One 12 inch pizza

Prep Time- 15 minutes

Cook Time- 12-15 minutes

Ready in less than 30 minutes

Easy Pizza Crust Ingredients

Adapted from this 30-minute crust recipe.
1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 envelope Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup very warm water (120° to 130°F)*
3 tablespoons corn oil

Chicken Pesto Pizza Ingredients

1 cup prepared homemade basil pesto or store-bought
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes

• Pizza Pan
• Mixing Bowl
• Pizza Cutter

How to Make Chicken Pesto Pizza

First, you will want to preheat your oven to 425°F and prepare your pizza pan with cooking spray. Set this aside.  In a large bowl, mix 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar, and salt. Whisk until fully combined.

Next, you will want to measure and test the temperature of your water. You want it to be between 120° to 130°F. Once the water is the correct water temperature, add it to the dry ingredients as well as the oil.   Mix this for 1 minute or until fully mixed. Your dough should form a ball that is slightly on the sticky side. If your dough is too sticky to handle, add flour 1 Tablespoon at a time until you can handle it. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 4 minutes. Let the dough rise for 10 minutes.

Spread the dough evenly to fill greased pizza pan or baking sheet. Pinch around the edge to form a rim.

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Top your easy pizza crust with pesto, chicken, cheese and cherry tomatoes.

Bake on the lowest oven rack for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust starts to brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cut and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks for Making Chicken Pesto Pizza

1. Do not add too much flour to your dough. Only add enough so you can handle it.
2. Be sure to spread the crust completely to the edge of the 12inch baking pan.
3. If you are using a pizza stone, you do not need to grease the bottom.

Other Topping Ideas for Chicken Pesto Pizza

When making this easy Chicken Pesto Pizza, there are so many fun toppings that you can add to your pizza. Try adding:

• Red onions
• Bacon
• Artichoke hearts
• Fresh Basil
• Sun-dried Tomatoes
• Roasted Garlic

Share in the comments how your easy Chicken Pesto Pizza Turns Out!

Yield: Serves 8

Chicken Pesto Pizza

Print

This homemade chicken pesto pizza is the perfect addition to Friday night pizza night. With this easy homemade crust, your family will be begging for it every pizza night!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 envelope Fleischmann's® RapidRise® Yeast
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup very warm water (120° to 130°F)*
• 3 tablespoons corn oil
• 1 cup prepared basil pesto sauce
• 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
• 1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F and prepare a pizza pan with cooking spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt. Whisk until fully combined.
3. Measure and test the temperature of your water. When the temperature is correct, add it to the dry ingredients along with the oil. Mix for one minute or until fully incorporated.  
4. The dough should form a ball and will be slightly sticky. If it is too sticky to handle, add flour 1 Tablespoon at a time until you can handle it. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 4 minutes. 
5. Let the dough rise for 10 minutes. 
6. Spread the dough evenly to fill greased pizza pan or baking sheet. Pinch around the edge to form a rim.
7. Top with pesto, chicken, cheese and cherry tomatoes. 
8. Bake on the lowest oven rack for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust starts to brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes

1. Do not add too much flour to this. Only add enough so you can handle it. 
2. Be sure to spread the crust completely to the edge of the 12inch baking pan. 
3. If you are using a pizza stone, you do not need to grease the bottom.

Love what you see? Leave a comment and don’t forget to rate it below! We always love knowing how your recipe turns out! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @micheletripple to show me your finished product!

Visit the website to find more quick and easy recipes using Fleishmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast. Follow along on Facebook, on Instagram as @FleischmannsYeast, and Pinterest.