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With homemade pizza dough, mozzarella cheese, chicken sausage and roasted red peppers, this chicken sausage pizza is perfect for Pizza Fridays!
We love pizza so much, we have it every Friday - from meatball pizza to a Philly cheesesteak pizza to chicken pepperoni pizza.
The options really are endless. You can make them super complicated or really simple like this chicken sausage pizza. While it has just a few ingredients, it is packed with flavor.
Why This Recipe Works
- Perfect crust - Crafted from scratch, this homemade pizza dough results in the ideal crust, simultaneously crispy and airy.
- Cheesy - When you have pizza, you expect cheese and you get that with this recipe with both mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Healthier choice - Enjoy a guilt-free pizza option with lean chicken sausage, providing protein without compromising on taste.
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Ingredient Notes
- Pizza dough - While I like to make my own, store-bought dough works fine.
- Marinara sauce - I strongly suggest investing time in making your own, though store-bought alternatives are also a convenient option.
- Cheese - You use mozzarella and Parmesan cheese to get both creaminess and saltiness.
- Chicken sausage - Opt for high-quality, flavorful chicken sausage, either pre-cooked or raw, depending on your preference.
- Roasted red peppers - Not only add color, but a slight sweetness to the pizza.
- Fresh basil - Adds a fresh, herby touch. You can't go wrong with oregano either.
Ingredient Swaps
As with any recipe, you can mix up the ingredients you use. Some variations include:
- Instead of chicken sausage, try turkey sausage, spicy Italian sausage, or plant-based sausage alternatives for a different flavor profile.
- Change up the sauce with a white sauce, garlic-infused olive oil or a barbecue sauce as opposed to marinara sauce.
- Experiment with different cheeses like feta, goat cheese or Gruyère in place of or in addition to mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Try sun-dried tomatoes instead of roasted red peppers for a sweet and tangy flavor.
Step-by-Step Photos
Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.
Cook the chicken sausage in a skillet until golden brown and broken up. Set aside to cool.
Lightly oil a 10x15 sheet pan. With oiled hands, gently stretch the dough across length and width just past the edge of the baking sheet in an even layer. Evenly spread the sauce over top before adding the cheese, sausage and peppers.
Bake at 500°F for about 15 minutes. Finish with some basil.
FAQs
Of course not. I just like making pizza dough, but you can buy fresh pizza dough where you roll out yourself or pre-baked crusts.
I still suggest buying the fresh dough. Most grocery stores carry it these days, but Trader Joe’s has the best!
I would highly recommend this homemade marinara sauce or even this roasted tomato sauce.
However if you want to buy at the store, try Rao's or Ragu.
Yes, pre-cooked chicken sausage works well and can save you time in the preparation process.
Yes, you can use gluten-free pizza dough or explore alternative crust options like cauliflower crust or gluten-free flatbreads.
Let's be honest, there isn't anything wrong with cold pizza. But if you must reheat this meatball pizza, don't do it in the microwave or it will get soggy.
Just place on a baking sheet in the oven at 375°F for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
Equipment
The equipment you use is important to how the pizza turns out. What is needed is the following:
- Large bowl - Used to mix the for the pizza dough.
- Skillet - Needed to cook the sausage.
- Baking sheet - You want a 10x15 sheet pan so it is big enough for the pizza.
- Pizza stone - While it's not baked directly on a pizza stone, the stone imparts heat into the sheet pan.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Take the time to make your own dough. My go-to is this no-knead pizza dough.
- Let the dough rest if it won't cover the whole sheet pan before stretching again to fit.
- If short on time, just use store-bought sauce and pre-cooked sausage.
- Don't go overboard on the sauce. You want to just spread it lightly.
- Take the time to grate your own cheese. No pre-shredded cheese with this pizza.
Similar Recipes
If you’ve tried this chicken sausage pizza or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Chicken Sausage Pizza
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 375 grams all-purpose flour (about 3 cups)
- 1 ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon dry active yeast
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp warm water
Pizza
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz chicken sausage, casings removed
- ¼ cup marinara sauce
- 8 oz low-moisture mozzarella, grated
- ¾ cup roasted red peppers, sliced
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 4-6 fresh basil leaves, julienned
Instructions
Pizza Dough
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, salt and yeast. Add the water and mix with a wooden spoon or your hands. It should be sticky, but not lumpy.
- Cover with saran wrap and a towel in a warm place, allowing it to rise for 24 hours. Transfer to a floured surface and shape into ball. Use when ready.
Pizza
- Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add chicken sausage and break up with wooden spoon. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until browned on all sides. Remove from heat and let cool
- Preheat oven to 500°F. Lightly oil a 10x15 sheet pan. With oiled hands, gently stretch the dough across length and width just past the edge of the baking sheet in an even layer.
- Evenly spread the marinara sauce over the pizza dough. Spread the cheese throughout. Top with chicken sausage and roasted red peppers. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes, rotate the pizza, and bake another 3-5 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese has melted. Remove from oven and top with fresh basil.
Notes
- Take the time to make your own dough. My go-to is this no-knead pizza dough.
- Let the dough rest if it won't cover the whole sheet pan before stretching again to fit.
- If short on time, just use store-bought sauce and meatballs.
- Don't go overboard on the sauce. You want to just spread it lightly.
- Take the time to grate your own cheese. No pre-shredded cheese with this pizza.
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