What is it with kids and pizza? My kids could eat pizza any time, day or night, whether they were hungry or not. It’s like kid catnip.
Too bad pizza isn’t filled with the protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that kids need for a proper, nutritious meal, right? That was the thought that led me to the idea of turning chicken breast into “pizza.”
By adding some pepperoni, dairy-free cheese spread, and pizza sauce, chicken breast is magically transformed into pizza—and is welcomed by the kids with opened mouths.
Note: It’s important that you take the time to pound out the chicken breasts to ½-inch thickness before covering with the yummy pizza toppings and rolling up. To easily do this, cover the chicken with plastic wrap, or put it in a large zip-top bag, then place it on a cutting board. Use a sturdy skillet or saucepan and whack it gently until properly flattened. Yes, this part is fun.
1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for 10 minutes and drained
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon sweet paprika
pinch of black pepper
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
sea salt and black pepper to taste
20 pepperoni slices, nitrate-free
1 cup pizza sauce
Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor plus and pulse until smooth. Be patient, as it can take about 5 minutes—wait until it’s really creamy.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a glass 10 × 15-inch casserole pan with olive oil and set aside.
Rinse the chicken breasts and pound them out to 1/2 inch thick (see note above). Season both sides with salt and pepper, then spread 2 tablespoons of the Dairy-Free Cheese Spread on top of each chicken breast. Sprinkle with most of the basil, then arrange a few slices of the pepperoni on top of the chicken breasts in an even layer. Roll each breast and place, seam side down, in the prepared casserole pan.
Pour the pizza sauce over the rolled chicken breasts and sprinkle with the remaining basil. Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until cooked through.
Slice each chicken breast roll and serve warm.
Calories: 386
Fat: 23g
Carbohydrates: 12g
Sodium: 736mg
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 21g
Sugar: 2g