Broccoli chicken pizza

Experience a new take on pizza night with broccoli chicken pizza

Broccoli chicken pizza offers a fresh take on pizza night, combining tender shredded chicken, vibrant green broccoli, and bubbling cheese on a crisp base. It may not be the first topping combination that comes to mind, but one slice quickly proves why it works.

Pizza nights often revolve around the classics: a simple margherita, a spicy diavola, a capricciosa, or a bubbling quattro formaggi. But this version is one that will surprise many, and after only one bite it will have them reaching for more.

In the oven, the chicken stays juicy and savoury, while the green broccoli florets soften slightly and develop a gentle roasted flavour. When combined with bubbling cheese and a crisp base, the whole experience becomes much more scrumptious and elevated.

Sporting a thin crust baked to crispy perfection

Many say a great pizza begins and ends with the dough, and this homemade dough does not disappoint. Made with both wholemeal flour and Italian wheat flour, it develops a subtle nuttiness and sturdy structure that bakes into a thin, crisp crust in the oven. Gloriously golden, firm at the edges and delicately crisp underneath, it supports the chicken, broccoli, and melted cheese with ease, offering that anticipated crunch as you take a bite.

Topped with mature Cheddar cheese and basil pesto

A pizza would never feel complete without its toppings, and cheese is always at the heart of it. Castello® Mature Cheddar melts into a soft, golden layer of rich flavour that spreads across the pizza, with notes of caramel and hazelnut that become more noticeable throughout the bake.

Once the pizzas are perfectly golden, they are topped with a few dollops of basil pesto, introducing a fresh, herbal, and slightly sweet final note, where pine nuts contribute a delicate, buttery crunch, and oregano adds to the Italian character while cutting through the rich cheese.

Share the moment slice by slice

Pizza rarely needs an introduction, and it never struggles to find willing hands ready for a slice. This broccoli chicken pizza fits just as well on a relaxed weeknight as it does when friends gather around the table, and the moment it comes out of the oven, it does not stay untouched for long.

Simply cut it into generous slices and place it in the centre of the table; the juicy chicken, roasted broccoli, and melted cheese will provide immediate temptation, and once everyone starts helping themselves, it will disappear in a heartbeat.

If you enjoy recipes that rethink Italian classics, try white pizza with blue cheese, prawn and lemon pasta, Cheddar crostini, or pinsa topped with mascarpone, tomatoes, brie, and olives.

Customise the pizza with creative ideas

This pizza is flexible enough to accommodate a few tasty additions, and vibrant vegetables is one of them. Add thin courgette slices before baking to introduce a hint of mild sweetness to your pizza. Red onion, thinly sliced, becomes lightly caramelised in the heat, adding a delicate sweetness, while in contrast, mushrooms offer a more robust earthiness that complements the juicy chicken perfectly.

After baking, scatter a handful of fresh rocket over the top to add a peppery contrast to the hot, melted topping beneath. Lastly, a small squeeze of lemon cuts through the richness and brightens the flavours.

You can also swap the basil pesto for parsley pesto to deliver a brighter finish, as it is more light and grassy than basil pesto. A red pesto, especially pesto alla trapanese prepared with tomatoes and almonds, offers a mellow sweetness and a softer texture, combining light fruitiness with nutty depth. Pick walnut pesto for a deeper nutty flavour and a slight bitterness – a pairing that works well with the roasted broccoli and wholemeal crust.