Easy Chicken Sausage Pizza is the ultimate Friday night dinner! It's made with your choice of classic pizza dough or cauliflower crust, then topped with mozzarella cheese, chicken sausage and spinach for a healthier pizza recipe.
Who doesn't love pizza night?! If you're someone who enjoys pizza on the weekends, this Chicken Sausage Pizza is a must-try.
As with most pizza recipes, it's easy to customize to your liking. I personally opted to make it with my cauliflower crust to keep it gluten free, but regular store-bought pizza dough would be delicious as well.
Ingredient notes:
Pizza crust - You have two options: you can opt for a traditional crust by using store-bought pizza dough, or if you want to keep the pizza gluten free, try my cauliflower pizza crust recipe.
Marinara sauce - Use your favorite kind! I almost always opt for arrabbiata sauce, but roasted garlic would be delicious as well.
Spices - A pinch of dried basil, oregano and red pepper flakes goes a long way in adding flavor!
Cheese - A combination of shredded mozzarella and parmesan is the way to go.
Chicken sausage - I used chicken sausage in the casing, and sliced it into rounds. You can use ground chicken sausage if you prefer; if you go this route, make sure to cook the sausage first, then add it on top of the pizza.
Vegetables - I used diced tomatoes, spinach and basil, but feel free to get creative!
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: If you're using pizza dough: Flour a flat surface, then use your hands to stretch the dough (or use a rolling pin to roll it) into a large circle or rectangle; transfer it to a large baking sheet.
Step 1: If you're making cauliflower crust: Honestly, just follow the instructions in this post. It's very easy to make, though the pizza itself will be a little bit smaller in size, just FYI!
Step 2: Add the toppings. Next, spread the sauce on top of the crust with the back of a spoon, then sprinkle the spices on top, then add the cheese. Slice the chicken sausage into rounds, then place it, along with the tomatoes and spinach on top of the cheese. Last, drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil overtop.
Step 3: Bake. Place the pizza in the oven and bake it at 425° for 18-20 minutes until the cheese melts and the crust is golden brown on the edges. NOTE: The cook time is different if you're using a cauliflower crust; for that, bake the crust by itself for 15 minutes then add the toppings and bake it for 12 more minutes.
Step 4: Slice and enjoy! Remove the pizza from the oven and transfer it to a cutting board. Sprinkle it with fresh basil, then use a pizza cutter to cut it into 6-8 slices and eat up!
Tips and tricks
- Most store-bought chicken sausage is already cooked (I used Bilinski brand); it will brown a bit in the oven, but it's safe to eat even if it's not golden brown on top.
- The amount of sauce you need will largely depend on the size of your pizza. Free free to use more/less than the recipe calls for.
- Instead of using dried basil and oregano, you can use a large pinch of Italian seasoning.
- Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have the best pizza dough, in my opinion.
What kind of chicken sausage should I use?
Honestly? Whatever kind you'd like! I used Bilinski brand Italian chicken sausage (second favorite is Applegate brand), then sliced it into rounds. Alternatively, you can buy chicken sausage from the meat counter, remove it from the casing and cook it in a skillet over medium heat before adding it to the pizza.
Are there other cheese options?
Always! You could use fresh mozzarella instead of shredded, like in my kale pesto pizza. Freshly grated gruyere would work well, and you could even had a handful of feta or goat cheese crumbles as well. Want to keep it dairy free? Use shredded dairy free cheese!
Can I make this on the grill instead?
Yes! But, just know that the cauliflower crust CANNOT be grilled, so if you want to grill this pizza, use plain or whole wheat pizza dough. To grill pizza, follow the recipe steps, but transfer the pizza onto your grill and grill it over medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes until the bottom of the crust is browned.
How should leftovers be stored?
Wrap leftovers individually in foil or plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can see more about how to store pizza here.
More easy pizza recipes
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Chicken Sausage Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 ball pizza dough or try my cauliflower crust (see notes)
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon basil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more to taste
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 link chicken sausage sliced into thin rounds
- â…“ cup tomatoes diced
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°. Roll the pizza dough out into a circle (or use your hands to stretch it), then place it on a baking sheet.
- Pour the sauce on top, then use the back of a spoon to spread it out. Sprinkle the basil, oregano and red pepper flakes on top, then add the cheese. Next, add the chicken sausage, tomatoes and spinach, and drizzle the olive oil overtop.
- Place the pizza in the oven and bake it for 18-20 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the crust is slightly golden brown on the edges.
- Transfer the pizza to a cutting board. Slice and enjoy!
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