Name: Popper Chicken Jalapenos
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 105 min
Cuisine: Fusion of Mexican and Italian
Ingredients: 2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup of warm water; 1 teaspoon of dry active yeast; 1 teaspoon of salt; 1 chicken breast; 1 tablespoon of crushed chile from New Mexico (or chile mix); Optional: 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; Pepper, freshly cracked, to your taste; 1 tablespoon of olive oil; 1 cup of pickled jalapeños; 1 cup of mozzarella cheese cubes; 2 tablespoons of olive oil for garlic mixture; 2 minced garlic cloves; A tiny pinch of salt for garlic mixture

Bold Chicken and Jalapeno Pizza | iamcooker.com

This daring spin on classic pizza combines fiery chicken, zesty pickled jalapeños, and a fragrant garlic oil foundation for a mind-blowing taste experience. Without the usual tomato sauce, every hand-picked ingredient gets its chance to pop with flavor.

I first whipped this pizza up when I needed to use some leftover pickled jalapeños. The combo turned out so good it's now what we can't wait to eat every Friday night.

Key Ingredient Breakdown

Pickled Jalapeños: They add zippy heat and needed tanginess
Fresh Garlic: Always chop it fresh for the most flavorful oil
Mozzarella: Go with fresh for that amazing pull and creaminess
Chile Powder: Try to grab New Mexican for the real deal taste
All-Purpose Flour: The protein matters a lot - grab unbleached for better results

Crafting Your Delicious Pizza

Step 1 - Get Started with the Dough:: Stir yeast into warm water that feels nice like bath water. Add flour bit by bit to build up the gluten properly. Let it rise fully for amazing texture and taste.
Step 2 - Whip Up the Garlic Oil:: Chop the garlic super tiny. Mix with oil right away to get the flavors going. Squish garlic into the oil to pull out all the taste.
Step 3 - Fix Up the Chicken:: Cut it all the same size so it cooks evenly. Don't be shy with seasoning - it'll calm down in the oven. Cook just until done so it won't dry out later.
Step 4 - Put Your Pizza Together:: Make the dough nice and thin for a crispy bottom. Don't go crazy with the garlic oil - a small amount works wonders. Spread toppings out evenly for the best pizza experience.

Easy Spicy Chicken and Pickled Jalapeno Pizza | iamcooker.com

I've discovered this pizza works great when having friends over since you can get most of it ready ahead of time. Everyone always talks about how different and tasty it is.

What Makes This Approach Successful

You can use this dough to try all sorts of different toppings during the week, which makes planning meals so much easier.

When I'm prepping for the week, I often cook extra spicy chicken that I can throw into tacos or bowls for quick meals later on.

This has become what I always make when I want to show friends that pizza doesn't need tomato sauce. Even the biggest doubters end up loving it.

After making the garlic oil base, I got ideas for tons of other cool pizza combos I'd never thought of before.

Yummy Spicy Chicken and Pickled Jalapeno Pizza | iamcooker.com

After making this pizza so many times, I've learned that sometimes going against tradition leads to the tastiest meals. It shows how switching just a few ingredients can turn an everyday dish into something totally exciting and new.

Common Questions

→ Why use a thin base?: It highlights the toppings while keeping the flavor balanced.
→ Do extra dough batches last?: Yes, keep them wrapped up in plastic and foil, then refrigerate 4-5 days.
→ What’s the point of pre-baking?: It ensures the crust cooks through without being soggy.
→ How do I tweak the heat?: Just adjust the jalapenos or chili spice to your preferred spiciness.
→ Should I undercook the chicken?: Yes, so it doesn’t overcook once it’s baked on the pizza.

Popper Chicken Jalapenos

Crispy crust loaded with chicken seasoned in chili spice, tangy jalapenos, gooey cheese, and a light garlic-infused base.

Preparation

90 Mins

Cooking Duration

15 Mins

Complete Duration

105 Mins

By: sofia

Type: Fan Favorites

Complexity: Moderate

Origin: Fusion of Mexican and Italian

Output: 8 Portions (2 thin 10-inch pizzas)

Diet Types: ~

What You'll Need

→ Pizza Crust

01 2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour

02 3/4 cup of warm water

03 1 teaspoon of dry active yeast

04 1 teaspoon of salt

→ Spiced Chicken

05 1 chicken breast

06 1 tablespoon of crushed chile from New Mexico (or chile mix)

07 Optional: 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder

08 1/4 teaspoon salt

09 Pepper, freshly cracked, to your taste

10 1 tablespoon of olive oil

→ Sauce and Add-Ons

11 1 cup of pickled jalapeños

12 1 cup of mozzarella cheese cubes

13 2 tablespoons of olive oil for garlic mixture

14 2 minced garlic cloves

15 A tiny pinch of salt for garlic mixture

Preparation Steps

01 Step

Stir yeast into the warm water in a bowl. Add salt and flour, mix everything with a spoon first, then knead by hand on your counter until smooth. If it sticks a lot, use a little extra flour. Cover and allow it to sit and rise for at least 30 minutes, but up to 2 hours.

02 Step

In a small container, smash garlic into olive oil with a pinch of salt, so it absorbs all the flavor. Use the back of a spoon to crush the garlic into the oil.

03 Step

Cube the chicken into small chunks, then toss it with the salt, pepper, chile powders, and olive oil. Cook it in a pan over medium-high heat until just done, but not fully, to avoid it drying out while baking.

04 Step

Cut the dough into 4 pieces (each for a 10-inch pizza). Flatten one portion at a time using a rolling pin, making it super thin. Let it sit for a second after rolling to loosen its stretchiness.

05 Step

Bake the plain dough at 400°F for 1-2 minutes. Take it out, brush a light layer of garlic oil onto it, then add toppings: chicken, cheese cubes, and jalapeños. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges turn golden and crispy.

Additional Tips

This dough creates four thin 10-inch bases, but the other ingredients are for just two pizzas.

Extra dough keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days if tightly wrapped.

The thinner the crust, the better it will showcase all the toppings.

Don’t use too much garlic-oil mix. Around half a tablespoon per pizza is plenty to avoid a soggy base.

Required Equipment

Bowl for mixing

Pin to roll dough

Paper for lining (parchment)

Sheet pan or stone for baking

Frying pan for chicken prep

Allergen Notice

Review ingredients for possible allergens and seek professional medical advice if uncertain.

Has gluten (due to flour)
Contains dairy (mozzarella cheese)

Additional Suggestions