Chili Lime Chicken Pizza

The Yellow One had gone up to the Twin Cities for the weekend.  The Sleepy One and The Lollygagging One had gone back home.  And The Wandering One was, well, wandering.  What were The Olive One and I supposed to do?  Pizza, beer, and movie night.  Obviously.

We are such walking cliches.

So there we were.  Standing hungry and cold in our local grocery store, trying to figure out what the hell to make.  When we came across the sauce aisle.  Oh the sauce aisle!  Inspiration galore!  After a brief discussion on toppings, a fight over the pros and cons of various cheeses, and an awkward glare from a mother of four, we collected our ingredients and headed home.

The first thing we had to make was the pizza dough.  And by we, I mean me.  This recipe is for a thick, 14 inch wide pizza crust.  If you prefer a thinner, smaller crust halve the recipe.


To make the dough you will need:

1 package of active dry yeast (2 ½ tsp.)

1 c. lukewarm water (approx. 110 F)

2 c bread flour (all-purpose will due in a pinch)

2 Tb olive oil

1 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

1 Tb oregano (optional)

1 Tb red pepper flakes (optional)

In a cup or small bowl mix the yeast and water.  It is important that the water be between 105-115 F for the yeast to activate.  Lower in temperature and there is little or no effect; higher and you kill the yeast.  Let mixture sit for 10 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, and optional spices if desired.  Stir in water and oil until well combined.  The dough will be slightly sticky.  Let sit for 30 minutes; cover the bowl with a dish towel.

While the dough is resting, prepare your pizza toppings.  For pizza toppings you will need:

Good Housekeeping's Chili Lime Marinade or something like it

1 large chicken breast

1/2 green pepper

1/4 large yellow or red onion

2 roma tomatoes

1 clove garlic

lime juice

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Cut up chicken breast into small, bite-sized pieces.  Place in small, greased baking pan and pour enough marinade to cover the pieces.  Let marinate for at least 20 minutes; an hour is ideal.  Once marinated, place in a pre-heated 350 F oven for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Try not to eat it all before putting it on the pizza.

Take the pepper, onion, and tomatoes and cut into small pieces.  Mince the garlic.  Sprinkle veggies with a little bit of lime juice.

Now to make our crust.  Remove dough from bowl and knead lightly.  On a large floured baking pan or stone, roll out the crust until its about 1/2 inch thick.  Place in pre-heated 350 F oven and bake for 7-9 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.

Once slightly cooled, spread a very thin layer of marinade over the crust.  Sprinkle cheese over the crust and marinade.  Mozzarella works well, but try an Italian or pizza blend of cheeses.  Equally spread chicken, veggies, and garlic over the cheese.  At this point, it should look something like this:

Om nom nom nom....

Place back in the 350 F oven for 12-15 minutes or until desired brownness is achieved.  Serve with Parmesan cheese or with extra marinade on the side.  Wash down with a cold beer.  Enjoy with a good movie.

Suggested dessert:

Because everybody loves Alec Baldwin's Schweddy Balls.

 - The Pink One