Keto Pepperoni Chicken Bake (Printable)

A savory low-carb bake featuring chicken, rich marinara, melted mozzarella, and classic pepperoni slices.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Sauce & Cheese

05 - 3/4 cup sugar-free marinara sauce
06 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Toppings

07 - 20 slices pepperoni
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Do not cook through completely.
04 - Transfer seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
05 - Spoon marinara sauce evenly over each chicken breast.
06 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese uniformly over the sauce-covered chicken.
07 - Arrange pepperoni slices over the mozzarella cheese layer.
08 - Sprinkle Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese over the entire casserole.
09 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
10 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like pizza night but won't derail your macros because everything here works in harmony with keto life.
  • Dinner comes together in 40 minutes flat, making it perfect for those evenings when you're hungry and tired.
  • Your family won't feel like they're eating "diet food" because this genuinely satisfies like comfort food should.
  • The pepperoni crisps up in the oven, creating little pockets of flavor that make every bite feel special.
02 -
  • The chicken needs to be only partially cooked when you sear it because it will finish cooking in the oven with the sauce and cheese, and overcooked chicken is the fastest way to regret dinner.
  • Drying the chicken completely before searing makes all the difference between a restaurant-quality crust and something that just sits there steaming.
  • Sugar-free marinara is non-negotiable because regular sauce can add 5-7 carbs per serving and completely change the nutritional profile you were counting on.
03 -
  • Check your marinara sauce label obsessively because sugar hides everywhere, and it will single-handedly defeat the purpose of choosing this recipe over actual pizza night.
  • Let the casserole rest for those 5 minutes even if you're starving because the residual heat continues cooking slightly and the cheese sets, making it easier to portion and far less likely to slide around on the plate.
  • If your oven runs hot, start checking the chicken at 18 minutes because nobody wants to explain why dinner is dry and overcooked.
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