I’m a big fan of salad on pizzas, and this chicken Caesar pizza is one of my new favorite things to eat. I baked up a delicious white pizza with Caesar dressing as the sauce, then topped it with a freshly made chicken Caesar salad–croutons included! It’s chewy, cheesy, and crunchy all in one. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this easy recipe puts a fun spin on pizza night!
Caesar Salad Pizza with Chicken
This chicken Caesar pizza is a riff on my favorite white chicken pizza recipe topped with chicken Caesar salad. I started with pizza dough but you can use a pre-made crust for convenience. Then I used Caesar dressing both as a dressing and as a pizza sauce, and it worked so well. It really melts into the dough, making it super moist and fluffy. This Caesar salad pizza with chicken breast makes me feel a little healthier when I indulge on pizza night. The crunchy salad mixed with the gooey, melty mozzarella cheese is so good!
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My Umami Secret Weapon
Caesar dressing is famous for its umami flavor, which primarily comes from anchovies. If you really want to bump this pizza up to gourmet levels, finely mince one anchovy fillet into the sauce/dressing you spread on the crust before baking. It disappears into the cheese but makes the crust taste incredible! I do this whenever I’m making this pizza for a group of friends, but I usually skip it when I’m making it for my picky kiddos!
Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza Recipe
Equipment
- Pizza Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough (or ready-to-bake pizza crust*)
- 1 cup Caesar dressing (divided)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (**)
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (or sliced rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup croutons
- ⅓ cup shaved Parmesan cheese (plus more for topping)
- ground black pepper (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Roll out the pizza dough if needed. Transfer to a pizza pan.1 pound pizza dough
- Spread ½ cup of Caesar dressing over the crust.1 cup Caesar dressing
- Top with the shredded mozzarella cheese.1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- While the pizza is baking, add the lettuce, chicken, croutons, and Parmesan cheese to a bowl. Toss with the remaining ½ cup Caesar dressing.3 cups chopped romaine lettuce, 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast, 1 cup croutons, ⅓ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- Top the pizza with the tossed caesar salad.
- Top with more Parmesan cheese and black pepper if desired.ground black pepper
Notes
- If your oven allows it, bump the heat up to 450°F or 475°F. A higher, faster heat creates a better crumb and better browning on the cheese. Just keep a closer eye on it–it may cook in 8-10 minutes instead of 12-14.
- Optionally, pop the rolled-out dough into the oven on its own for 3-5 minutes (less time if you bumped up the oven temp) before adding any sauce or toppings to ensure it bakes fully through.
- Optionally, brush the edges of the dough with garlic butter or a light coating of olive oil and dried oregano before putting it in the oven.
- Don’t add too much sauce/dressing, or your pizza will turn out soggy.
- If your leftover chicken is a bit dry, toss it in a little bit of dressing before adding it to the pizza.
- Pat the lettuce dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner before tossing to prevent a watery topping.
- Let the pizza cool slightly (about 3-5 minutes) before adding the salad greens; otherwise, they will wilt.
- Top with fresh lemon zest just before serving for a pop of freshness.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
Any Chicken Works!
There are tons of different options when it comes to what kind of chicken to use on this Caesar salad pizza. I used simple cooked chicken breast cut up into slices, but you can use any cooked or leftover chicken you have on hand. This is a great way to use shredded chicken or canned chicken. For a real gourmet flavor, grilled chicken breast or blackened chicken really adds some zing!
How to Make Chicken Caesar Pizza Step by Step
Prep: Gather the list of ingredients for this Caesar pizza. Bring the pizza dough up to room temperature while you shred the cheeses, chop the romaine, and slice the cooked chicken.
Sauce the Pizza: Preheat your oven to 400°F. If your oven goes higher, I highly recommend bumping it up to 450°F or 475°F. This higher heat mimics a professional pizza oven, giving you a much better crumb and better browning. Roll out 1 pound of pizza dough (if needed) and transfer to a pizza pan. Spread ½ cup of Caesar dressing over the crust.
Add the Cheese: Top with 1 cup of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake the Pizza: Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted (check earlier if baking at a higher temperature). Once baked, let the pizza cool for 3-5 minutes before topping to prevent the greens from wilting.
Toss the Salad: While the pizza is baking, add 3 cups of chopped romaine lettuce, 2 cups of sliced cooked chicken breast, 1 cup of croutons, and ⅓ cup of freshly shaved Parmesan cheese to a bowl. Toss with the remaining ½ cup of Caesar dressing.
Top the Pizza: Top the baked and slightly cooled pizza crust with the tossed chicken Caesar salad.
Garnish and Serve: Top with more Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper if desired.
How to Store and Reheat
If you plan to have leftovers, I recommend storing the Caesar salad and the pizza in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the pizza (without the salad) for up to 3 months. Reheat the pizza in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes (or 10-15 minutes if frozen) or until warmed through, before adding the salad back on top.
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