Pesto Chicken Pizza with Mascarpone, Spinach, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

by Erin

This pizza may have a long name but it’s nothing to be afraid of and if you haven’t tried mascarpone on pizza before, you are seriously missing out!

Pesto Chicken Pizza 2

Most of the people in my life are not huge bakers/cookers and to some, food blogging is an exquisite realm full of weird ingredients and crazy techniques. And stories. I had to laugh when one of my best friends expressed her dislike for scrolling down a post to get past the story and to the recipe, because it’s true. When people use Google to find a recipe they want the recipe, myself included. Yet here I sit not writing about this pizza with its long name and unusual ingredients like “mascarpone” and “caramelized onions” and I’m okay with that because I started this blog to chronicle my food adventures and to share those recipes to anyone who wants to try it for themselves. I cannot tell you how many of my parents’ friends have been directed to my blog for the recipe for “X”. People besides my friends and family reading beyond the recipe is just a bonus (heck even my friends and family reading is a bonus). So whether or not you read this, leave a comment, or skip over it all to the recipe I appreciate you being here :-).

P.S. After trying this recipe you’ll want to put mascarpone on every pizza you make from now on.

Pesto Chicken Pizza 1

One year ago: Lattice Chicken and Sweet Potato Potpie

Two years ago: Apple-Cranberry Oatmeal

PESTO CHICKEN PIZZA WITH MASCARPONE, SPINACH, AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Makes 1 pizza

Ingredients:

1 recipe beer pizza dough (or favorite store bought dough)

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup basil pesto (homemade or store bought)

2 oz. Mascarpone cheese

9 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water

1 cup cooked, chopped chicken*

1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped

2/3 cup shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup shredded Italian cheese (Parmesan, Asiago, and/or Romano)

Red pepper flakes, optional

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 with a pizza stone** on a rack placed on the bottom third.
  2. While the pizza dough is rising, in a medium skillet over medium heat add the oil. Add onion, cover and cook until caramelized, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
  3. Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-14 inch round and transfer to a pizza peel sprinkled with corn meal**.
  4. Spread the pesto over the crust in an even layer leaving an edge for the crust. Layer with small dollops of Mascarpone, spinach, onion, chicken, and tomatoes. Top with mozzarella and Italian cheeses, and season with red pepper flakes if using.
  5. Transfer the pizza to the preheated pizza stone and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the crust is lightly browned, about 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before slicing and serving.

*Want to make it vegetarian? Substitute the chicken for sliced mushrooms.

**If not using a pizza stone, just transfer dough to a pan, top and bake.

Source: Adapted from Becky, friend of The Spiffy Cookie.

Signature

You may also like

10 comments

janet June 7, 2016 - 6:14 pm

I can’t wait to experiment with your other recipes. You have a neat twist on taste and easy.

Reply
Janet June 6, 2016 - 5:54 pm

Super yummy pizza. Thanks for the recipe. Can’t go wrong with pesto who would have thought pesto for pizza. Robin MIller has pizza that has just mozzarella cheese, chicken and olives. It’s simple and tasty too.

Reply
spiffycookie June 7, 2016 - 7:59 am

Thanks glad you enjoyed it! I love pesto on pizza.

Reply
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction October 16, 2014 - 9:49 am

Oh, this sounds so good! Love that you used mascarpone!

Reply
Joanne October 16, 2014 - 9:10 am

YES. I do want mascarpone on all future pizzas now! GENIUS.

Reply
Monet October 15, 2014 - 11:59 pm

Mascarpone!?!?! I can’t wait to try this!

Reply
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite October 15, 2014 - 4:54 pm

We are absolutely on the same page today with our pizzas. LOVE IT.

Reply
Laura October 15, 2014 - 12:17 pm

After discovering how good mascarpone is when I tried it for the first time a couple of months ago, I can’t fully believe I will want to put it on every pizza I make from now on. I LOVE this idea!

Reply
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) October 15, 2014 - 9:34 am

YESSSSS–long names so often mean an extra delicious recipe because of all the goodness packed in! Like with this piza-I love everything on it!

Reply
spiffycookie October 15, 2014 - 10:42 am

Haha heck yea. Long names means there’s so much deliciousness it had to all be included in the title.

Reply

Leave a Comment

* By using this form you consent to the storing of your message attached to the e-mail address you've used. (Data will not be shared with any 3rd-parties)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Accept Read More