Rustic Tuscan Chicken Pizza with Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Sauce
Indulge in the flavors of Central Italy with this Tuscan Chicken Pizza recipe. Forget standard takeout; this homemade version features a golden, honey-infused crust, tender herb-roasted chicken, and a luxurious, velvety white sauce made from scratch.
Perfect for a gourmet family dinner or a weekend project, this recipe balances the richness of thickened cream and parmesan with the brightness of fresh spinach and red capsicum.
Ingredients:The Honey-Infused Dough
- Warm water: 175ml
- Honey: 1 tsp
- Active dry yeast: ½ tsp
- All-purpose flour: 210g
- Salt: 1 tsp
- Olive oil: 1 tbsp
Ingredients:Herb-Roasted Chicken
- Chicken breasts: 2
- Oil: 2 tsp
- Oregano: 1 tsp
- Salt & Pepper: 1 tsp each
Ingredients:Signature Tuscan White Sauce
- Oil: 1 tbsp
- Diced onion: ½
- Butter: 1 tbsp
- All-purpose flour: 10g
- Fresh milk: 50ml
- Thickened cream: 50ml
- Chopped tomato: 75g
- Spinach: 1 large handful
- Italian seasoning: 1 tsp
- Parmesan: 75g
- Salt: To taste
Ingredients:Toppings
- Mozzarella: 200g
- Red capsicum: 50g
Preparation Method:
- In a small bowl, combine the warm water, honey, and yeast. Allow the mixture to sit until frothy. In a separate large bowl, whisk the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil, then mix and knead until smooth. Cover and let the dough rest for approximately 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Rub the chicken breasts with oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pan-fry over medium heat until golden brown and thoroughly cooked. Once cooled slightly, slice or dice the chicken for the topping.
- Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onion until translucent. Melt in the butter, then whisk in the flour to create a roux. Gradually stir in the milk and thickened cream, simmering until thickened. Fold in the chopped tomatoes, spinach, Italian seasoning, and parmesan. Season with salt to taste and stir until the cheese is melted and the spinach is wilted.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C. Roll out your dough to create the pizza base.
- Spread a generous layer of the prepared Tuscan white sauce.
- Scatter the mozzarella evenly over the sauce.
- Arrange the cooked chicken and red capsicum across the top.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes until the crust is crisp and the cheese is bubbling. For a fresh finish, sprinkle with chopped green leaves before serving.
