High Protein Chicken Pizza
Scott Hagnas
April 2008

This is a quick and convenient way to make pizza, and you won't have to eat any extra meat on the side in order to get in your protein! Here, we'll just use a chicken breast as the crust. After the basic directions, I provide recipes for two old favorites. You can make any style of pizza you like this way, just follow the basic guidelines.

Time: 30 minutes

For the "crust":

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 Tbsp olive oil

Pizza sauce:

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped red onion
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 tsp black pepper

Toppings for the Italian sausage and olive pizza:

• 3 oz Italian sausage
• chopped black olives
• chopped mushrooms
• chopped red onions
• 1 Tbsp tahini

Toppings for the Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza:

• 2 oz sliced Canadian bacon
• chopped pineapple

To create the "crust", use a mallet to pound the chicken breasts into flat, thin crusts. This will take a little effort - you might not want to try this right after finishing a grueling workout of deadlifts and rope climbs! While you are pounding, preheat the oven to broil. Once you have two thin, approximately round "crusts", they are ready to bake.

Spread the olive oil on a baking pan. Brush each side of the chicken with the oil, then place the pan in the oven. Broil for 1 1/2 minutes, then flip the chicken over and broil for 1 1/2 minutes on the other side. Remove from the oven, and now the pizzas are ready to top. Reduce the oven heat to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, make the pizza sauce. Warm the tomato paste and tomato sauce in a small saucepan. In a separate small skillet, saute the garlic and onion for 3 minutes, then add them to the tomato mixture. (Basil and oregano would be good additions to the recipe at this point, as well. When I prepared this, we were away from home, and I didn't have access to our spices) Mix to combine well. Simmer on low.

Spread the pizza sauce on the broiled chicken "crusts". Add the toppings of your choice. Place the pizzas back into the oven, baking for around 12-15 minutes. They are then ready to slice and serve.

Zone info: This really depends on your toppings, and the size of your chicken breasts. 1 oz chicken = 1 block protein. The pizza sauce as above totals 5 carb blocks, 26 fat blocks. Add the info for your toppings to get an accurate total.

 Performance Recipes are Paleo-friendly and do not contain grain, wheat, gluten, or dairy except in rare cases. Please use your judgement if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.