🍕🌶️ Spicy Chicken Tikka Pizza – A Fusion Feast
Bring the bold flavors of Chicken Tikka Masala to your pizza night! Tender, yogurt-marinated chicken tikka, bright vegetables, and a zesty spiced sauce top a crisp, cheesy crust for a delicious East-meets-West twist. Ready in under an hour and perfect for sharing—or savoring all to yourself.
⏱️ Time
Prep: 20 minutes
Marinate: 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours)
Cook: 12–15 minutes
Total: ~1 hour
Yields: 1 large (12″) pizza or 2 smaller (8″) pizzas
🧾 Ingredients
For the Chicken Tikka
- 8 oz (225 g) boneless chicken breast or thighs, cut into ½” pieces
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp chili powder (or to taste)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt, to taste
For the Pizza
- 1 ready-to-use pizza dough (12″ ball) or pre-baked crust
- 2–3 tbsp tomato sauce (pizza sauce or passata)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup crumbled paneer or extra mozzarella (optional)
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 small green chili or jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional, for extra heat)
- Handful fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp butter, melted (for brushing crust)
For the Finishing Drizzle (Optional)
- 2 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tsp chopped mint
- Pinch chaat masala or sumac
🔥 Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken
In a bowl, whisk Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garam masala, cumin, paprika, turmeric, chili powder, garlic, and salt. Add chicken pieces, toss to coat, cover, and marinate 30 minutes to 4 hours in the fridge. - Cook the Chicken
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook marinated chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until just opaque (it will finish cooking on the pizza). Set aside. - Shape the Dough
On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll pizza dough to desired thickness. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or preheated pizza stone. - Build the Pizza
Brush crust edges with melted butter.
Spread tomato sauce in a ¼–½” layer, leaving a small border.
Sprinkle half the mozzarella.
Evenly distribute cooked chicken, red onion, bell pepper, and green chili.
Top with remaining mozzarella and crumbled paneer (if using).
Bake
Slide into the oven (or onto your pizza stone) and bake 12–15 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
Garnish & Serve
Remove from oven. Scatter chopped cilantro. If desired, whisk yogurt with mint and drizzle, then dust with chaat masala or sumac. Slice and enjoy hot!
💡 Tips & Variations
- Extra Crispy Crust: Pre-bake the crust for 5 minutes before saucing.
- Creamy Drizzle: Swap plain yogurt drizzle for a quick raita—cucumber and mint.
Vegan Twist: Use tofu “tikka” marinated the same way, and vegan cheese.
Spice Level: Increase chili powder in marinade or top with hot sauce.
❓ FAQs
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes—toss shredded cooked chicken in the tikka marinade spices, then scatter on pizza.
What’s the best cheese?
Mozzarella for melt, paneer for authenticity. You can also mix in fontina or provolone.
🔢 Nutrition (per slice, 8 slices total; approximate)
Calories: 240
Protein: 16 g
Carbs: 20 g
Fat: 10 g
Fiber: 2 g
Elevate your pizza night with this Spicy Chicken Tikka Pizza—it’s a showstopper that satisfies every craving for spice, cheese, and the fun of homemade pie! Enjoy!