Chicken crust pizza is simply stupendous.
So go on and grab a pound of ground chicken: Its pizza night.
One thing Id like to get out of the way is that this isnotchicken parm.
Chicken parmesan is a dish witha history, and generations of Italian-American parents passing on very specific family recipes.
While chicken crust pizza is damn good, its not exactly worthy of the same title.
Would you dub a chicken nugget dipped in ketchup next to a string cheese “chicken parmesan”?
I rest my case.
Essentially, it’s crucial that you bread both sides of a very large chicken patty.
I use the help of two sheet trays to do so.
They also come in handy during baking.
Mix everything together thoroughly.
Its a mixture akin to a chicken meatball, but without any bread crumbs inside to tenderize the structure.
My crust ended up about nine inches in diameter.
Make a 1:1 mixture of fine bread crumbs and panko in a bowl.
Dont forget the edges.
Spray a light layer of oil onto the crumbed-side.
Its time to flip it.
Put another silicone mat or piece of parchment on top of the chicken.
Put another sheet tray, bottom-side down, on top of the mat.
Bread the other side and oil it.
Replace the mat on top of the chicken and the sheet tray, bottom-side down.
Place a weight on top.
(This can be another sheet pan or a heavy skillet.)
Bake the crust at 400F for 25 minutes.
Remove the weight, top tray, and top liner, and bake the crust for another 10 minutes.
Add toppings
Remove the pizza but keep the oven on.
Return the pizza to the oven and broil the pizza for three to five minutes.
My oven has a lo broil option, and it took four minutes for the cheese to bubble.
The crust slices beautifully, and stands up to being held in-hand, as a pizza should.
Preheat the oven to 400F.
In a small bowl, combine the panko, bread crumbs, and a pinch of salt.
In a mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the first five ingredients.
Place a sheet pan upside-down and lay a silicone mat on it.
Pour half of the bread crumb mixture onto the chicken patty.
Spread it around the surface, pressing gently, until it evenly covers the chicken top and sides.
Spritz more oil onto the breaded chicken and onto a second silicone mat.
Place that mat, oil-side down, on top of the chicken patty.
Place a second sheet tray, bottom-side down, on the mat.
Holding both sheet trays, flip the chicken crust over.
Take the tray and mat off so you’ve got the option to bread the other side.
Spritz more oil onto the newly breaded side and replace the mat and sheet tray.
Broil the pizza to brown the cheese and toppings lightly, about 3-5 minutes.
Cool the pizza on a wire rack for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
