Chizza – Chicken Crust Pizza

written 08/25/2023, updated 08/25/2023

What

Breaded chicken breast, fried, then topped with cheese and other topping, then baked to melt. No egg, no buttermilk.

Meat injector for speed or marinate overnight.

Also good for chicken fried chicken type of recipes that use sauces, or fried chicken sandwiches. Alternatively, eat it plain.

Ingredients

*Measurements are all to your taste

Main: Chicken Breast, Peanut Oil

Marinade: Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Chicken Broth

Breading: All-Purpose Flour, cornstarch, Season-All

Topping: Mozzerella Cheese, etc

Optional: hot pepper, onion, pickle juice, mustard, etc. Whatever you want.

Supplies: Plastic zipper bag or mixing bowl if marinating overnight, bowl for mixing of marinade, meat mallet, plastic wrap, meat injector (optional), meat thermometer, oil thermometer

Time

20 minutes Prep + 10 minutes (meat injector) or overnight set (marinate) + 30 minute cook = 1 hour (plus overnight if marinating)

Steps

Prep

  • Prepare the marinade or injector filling – In a bowl combine to your desired taste: chicken broth salt, pepper, garlic powder (substitute whatever you’d like, such as pickle juice)
  • Taste, when to your liking, set aside, or if using meat injector, pull it up into the injector
  • Prepare the meat
  • Decide how big a chizza you want
  • Cut chicken breast and flatten using mallet and plastic wrap until no smaller than 0.5 in or slightly larger than the width of the injector if using. Otherwise, into thickness of your desire
  • If you want a larger chizza, then you can butterfly and then flatten
  • If using injector, start injecting the chicken with the marinade, trying not to miss any areas, then let sit for about 10ish minutes while you prep the fryer
  • If marinating overnight, then put in plastic zipper bag or bowl, pour marinade in, mix, and set aside in refrigerator

Cooking

  • If marinating overnight, take chicken out and let come to room temperature
  • Set up the fryer, using a thermometer to monitor oil
  • In a bowl, put equal parts all-purpose flour and cornstarch
  • Season it and mix (I like to use Season-All, but you can use any mix of paprika, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, hot pepper, herbs etc)
  • Spread some on the bottom of a dish
  • Place chicken breast in a dish
  • Use remaining breading to sprinkle overtop the pieces, until both sides are coated
  • Carefully place into fryer (may have to do one at a time) when oil reaches around 350F (175C)
  • Monitor and flip (around 5 minutes a side, depending on thickness and size)
  • Temperature check the meat. It’s done when it’s 165F
  • Remove and place on a towel lined dish to set for a few minutes
  • Preheat the toaster oven to 350F Bake (or use broil or pizza setting)
  • While waiting, place mozzarella cheese and other toppings on the chicken
  • Bake for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted to your liking
  • Remove

ENJOY

Breaded Chicken Rolls

written 07/08/2023, updated 07/08/2023

Variation without excess sauce or cheese

What

Chicken breast rolls stuffed with sauce, bacon, and spinach, breaded with Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Crumbs. Can easily be dairy-free without addition of cheese. No eggs. No soy. Unless in sauce.

Fun for a family because each roll can be customized for each person in terms of sauce, seasonings, and filling

Ingredients

Main: Chicken breasts (whole or sliced), Kellogs’s Corn Flakes Crumbs (or whatever breading, like panko), filling, seasoning, sauce, physical fastener

Your choices of whatever you like:

Filling: spinach, cheese slices, bacon, dried cranberries, onions, etc

Seasonings: soy sauce, salt, pepper, sugar, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, etc

Sauce: A-1, mustard, hot sauce, mango, tomato, etc

Fasteners: toothpicks, cooking twine, etc

Time

45 minutes prep + 30-45 minutes bake = 1.5 hours total

Steps

I used 4 whole breasts, pictures below

  • Cook bacon
  • Sauté spinach and flavor lightly with lemon, garlic, soy sauce, pepper, and crumbled bacon, if desired
  • Prepare and set out any seasonings or sauces (your hands will be dirty)
  • Prepare breading in dish and set aside
  • Line a baking pan with baking rack (you want airflow under the chicken)
  • Prepare a sheet of plastic wrap and set nearby
  • Butterfly the whole breasts (if using pre-cut breasts, skip ahead)
  • Lay plastic wrap on top of butterflied chicken
  • Using a meat tenderizer mallet, pound until flat
    • Repeat for all chicken
    • One by one, season the chicken on both sides
    • Pour sauce and rub it in
    • Layer cheese, bacon, and spinach
    • Top with more sauce, bacon, and cheese
    • Carefully fold in the sides, and then roll (Sauce and cheese will escape any holes or seams!)
    • Bind with physical fasteners (I use toothpicks)
    • Drizzle oil (optional)
    • Cover in Kellogg’s Crumbs/breading
    • Bake in oven between 350-400 degrees F for about 30-40 minutes (depends on how much chicken)
    • Remove fasteners
    • Slice, enjoy

Pictures

Notes

  • Sauce is imperative if you don’t want it to turn out dry
  • Fun to make for the family because everyone gets to choose their own sauce/flavor
  • Pre-cooked bacon is easy, but imparts little flavor
  • Bakes quickly since chicken is thin and filling is pre-cooked
  • Thermometers are not recommended given how thin the meat is, can be used as a gauge
  • Cutting open a test piece is the best option to test for doneness
  • Cheese is not necessary, but makes it oh so good
  • Colored toothpicks not recommended, lol. Color comes off in chicken.
  • Bite sized is fun to eat, but annoying to prepare
  • Try not to create holes when butterflying
  • Try not to lose any sauce or cheese to holes during baking. Makes it very dry