Thai Chicken Pizza
on Jul 30, 2014, Updated Mar 09, 2024
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Thai Chicken Pizza is a flavor explosion that combines the sweet, salty, spicy, and slightly bitter notes of Thai cuisine with the comforting goodness of pizza.
This flavorful homemade pizza features a crispy crust topped with a creamy peanut sauce, tender chicken, melty mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
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Perfect for peanut butter lovers, this mouthwatering homemade pizza recipe is also just the ticket for taking your pizza night to a whole new level.
Table of Contents
About this Thai Chicken Pizza
This Thai chicken pizza is inspired by the California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) version. The first time I had it I knew I had to make it myself and today I’m going to show you how easy this is to make at home!
Our family spends a lot of time at our little lake cottage, especially in the summer. It’s the perfect location to chill out and where the kids can be kids and I can make a mess in the kitchen and not feel bad about it.
One of my favorite things to make there is homemade pizza. I think it’s the perfect food and it’s definitely one of our favorite meals that is good for any day that ends in Y. I’m talking pizza from scratch, like garlic and oregano pizza, mushroom and balsamic pizza, and even pumpkin pizza (which sounds crazy but is out-of-this-word delicious!)
I love making my own homemade pizza crust but I’ve also learned to appreciate fresh dough from the grocery store. It’s so inexpensive and really very good!
And so on a rainy day at the lake, I thought we would try something different for pizza night. I had been itching to try a Thai Chicken Pizza recipe I’d stumbled upon, and with leftover chicken from the previous night’s chicken BBQ, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Short Answers to Your Questions
Absolutely! This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. You can find pre-made dough at most grocery stores.
Not at all! Shredded leftover rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver, or you can try leftover grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a vegetarian option.
Ingredients for Thai Chicken Pizza
This Thai Chicken Pizza reimagines pizza night. Instead a traditional pizza with tomato sauce and cheese – a creamy, Asian-inspired sauce takes center stage, topped with tender shreds of chicken and a burst of fresh herbs for a unique and flavorful experience.
Chicken: Tender shredded chicken is the protein star of this pizza. This is a great way to use leftover chicken or even pre-cut diced chicken.
Peanut Butter: The base of our delicious Thai peanut sauce. Use creamy peanut butter for a smoother sauce or crunchy for added texture. I always like to use the crunchy variety for a little added texture, but it’s completely up to you.
Soy Sauce: Adds a salty depth of flavor. I find that low-sodium soy sauce works great!
Coconut Milk: Creates a creamy and rich base for the sauce.
Brown Sugar: Balances the salty and spicy flavors with a touch of sweetness.
Green Onions and Garlic: These add a bright, savory kick that complements the creamy peanut sauce and chicken in Thai chicken pizza
Chili Pepper: This is optional but adds a warm kick of spice. Feel free to adjust the amount to your preference.
Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a bright, herbaceous note that complements the other flavors perfectly. You’ll often find this in a hot plate of pad thai and other Thai recipes.
Fresh Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice cuts through the richness and adds a tangy brightness. You’ll see this is in a lot of Thai food and I find it enhances the aroma of this easy Thai chicken pizza.
Red Pepper Flakes: Another optional ingredient for those who like a little extra heat.
Fish Sauce (Optional): A common ingredient in Thai cooking, fish sauce adds a savory umami flavor.
White Cheddar Cheese: I used what I had on hand, but you can use Mozarella, too! Either will give you a classic pizza topping that adds melty goodness.
Recipe Tip
Always try to use blocks of cheese and shredded it yourself with a box grater. Pre-shredded cheese has potato startch and other additives that help preserve and stabalize the cheese. Although this is convenient, you’ll find the taste isn’t the same and just as important, it doesn’t melt completely and isn’t as visually appealing.
Store-Bought Pizza Crust vs. Homemade Crust
You can use a store-bought crust for this Thai pizza recipe, or you can make your own.
I love my homemade pizza dough recipe, I’ve been making it for years! I started making it in a bread maker (remember those?), but eventually, I adapted it to just making it by hand.
I love playing with the ingredients for pizza dough, like adding some honey for a bit of sweetness or topping it with olive oil and garlic powder. It’s a great way to be creative in the kitchen and have some extra fun during our weekly pizza night!
You can can also pick up some flat bread at your the grocery store if you dont’ feel like making your own pizza dough.
How to Make Thai Chicken Pizza
This recipe comes together quickly and easily. Here’s a general guide. See the recipe card for more information.
1. Preheat your oven to high heat (500° or above) if using a pizza stone or 400°F for a baking sheet. If using a pizza stone, heat it in the oven.
5. Spread the sauce over your pizza dough (homemade or store-bought.) Then top with shredded chicken, cheese, and optional red pepper flakes.
6. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh cilantro and allow to rest for five minutes before slicing into!
Substitutions and Variations
- Spice it up: For a spicy Thai chicken pizza, add sriracha or sweet chili sauce to the peanut sauce for an extra kick. Pepper jack cheese will also add some spicy flavor! (We use it for this same purpose in our white chicken chili.)
- Veggie lovers rejoice: Load your pizza with colorful veggies like red peppers, bean sprouts, or chopped red onion.
- Nut butter alternatives: No peanut butter? Almond butter or cashew butter can work in a pinch.
- Crust options: Feeling adventurous? Make your own dough or try a healthier cauliflower crust. This is always great if you’re following a low carb diet. Store-bought crust is always a convenient option.
- Protein swap: Skip the chicken and use leftover grilled shrimp, tofu for a vegetarian option, or even rotisserie chicken for a time-saving shortcut.
Expert Pizza-Making Tips
Pro Tip: Achieving perfectly cooked pizza is all about balance! If you find your crust getting too brown before the toppings are cooked through, here’s what to avoid:
- Pre-baking the crust: This can lead to a dry and overcooked crust by the time your toppings are done.
Instead, try this:
- Reduce the oven temperature slightly: Lowering the heat by 25-50°F can help the toppings cook through without burning the crust.
- Watch closely and adjust baking time: Keep an eye on your pizza and remove it from the oven when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Use a pizza stone (optional): A preheated pizza stone helps distribute heat evenly, promoting even cooking of both the crust and toppings.
Our recipe for Thai chicken pizza is a tasty alternative to the usual BBQ chicken pizza or the usual take-out pizza. The next time pizza night rolls around, surprise your taste buds with a flavor celebtraton of sweet, salty, spicy, and slightly bitter Thai flavors.
This simple but delicious creamy, homemade peanut sauce takes center stage, studded with tender chicken and finished with melty cheese and fresh cilantro. Try it for yourself and find out what the rave reviews are all about!
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Thai Chicken Pizza
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Equipment
Ingredients
- Pizza Dough
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
- 1-2 cloves garlic, diced
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce, optional
- 1 hot chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, chopped (and more for garnish)
- juice from 1 lime or 1/2 lemon
- 1 1/2 cups shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken works great!
- 1/2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon crushed red peppers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to highest setting (if using pizza stone) or 400 degrees F. if using medal baking sheet.
- Using large saute pan, warm olive oil over medium heat and add green onions and garlic, sauteing until tender and translucent.
- Add peanut butter and coconut milk, stirring until melted and thoroughly incorporated.
- Add soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, fish sauce, chopped chili pepper, cilantro leaves and lime or lemon juice.
- Stir mixture over low heat until completely blended.
- Place dough on stone or baking sheet and top with sauce.
- Evenly distribute chicken over sauce.
- Top with cheese and red peppers
- Place in oven for 18-25 minutes, until crust is golden brown.
- Garnish with additional cilantro leaves.
Notes
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature ingredients ensures a smooth and creamy peanut sauce, the star of this pizza! Cold peanut butter can make the sauce clumpy and hard to spread.
- Don’t Overcook: Keep an eye on your pizza to prevent a burnt crust. The ideal outcome is a golden brown crust that complements the cooked chicken and melted cheese.
- Pre-heat your oven (and consider a pizza stone): A preheated oven ensures even cooking, while a pizza stone (optional) helps achieve a crispy crust. If you don’t have a stone, a baking sheet works too!
- Adjust amounts of peanut butter and coconut milk in small increments to achieve the desired consistency for peanut sauce.
- In lieu of crunchy peanut butter, use creamy type and crush some peanuts for added texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I used to get a Thai Chicken Pizza at the California Pizza Kitchen. It was my favorite! I love all the flavors that you got here as well! It’s hot here this week, and I’ve been thinking of doing some grilling. This is the answer! Thanks!
We LOVE Thai food and pizza…so this is a winner for sure. Homemade pizza is the best. I will be glad when grilling season is back. Cooking the pizza on the BBQ is awesome.
Oh my goodness, that list of ingredients including peanut butter!! My family would go wild for this pizza, so original bravo:-)
You had me at pizza! Pizza is the one food that I refuse to live without…i could give up just about anything else. Love the flavour combo and can’t wait to try.
I love Thai food and I love pizza but I have never thought about combining these two. What an awesome idea!
Sounds like a great get-away and pizza party! Chicken pizzas had never appealed to me because most of what I have seen is is for BBQ chicken pizza. This, on the other hand, sound incredibly delicious and appetizing!
ooo we order a Thai shrimp pizza at a local pizza place, and it’s the bomb. Love thai spices on pizza!
Thanks, Sarah. Hope you try this soon!
Wow! This is like no other pizza I’ve ever had, I need to try it 🙂
If I could eat pizza with red wine everyday of my life I still don’t think I would get enough. This one looks delicious!!
Oh, yum! Thai Chicken Pizza has been on my ‘to do’ list ever since I tried it in a restaurant. This looks fantastic! I love the flavors! 🙂
Thanks, Pat. This is one of my favs!