Flavorful Honey Mustard Chicken Pizza

I never thought honey mustard and pizza would make sense together until I saw it at a local spot downtown. Growing up, pizza meant red sauce, cheese, and maybe some pepperoni if we were feeling fancy. My kids thought I’d lost it when I mentioned trying this combination at home.

But here’s the thing – honey mustard and chicken are already best friends, so why not put them on a pizza? Think about it: that tangy-sweet sauce, chunks of chicken, and melty cheese all hanging out on a crispy crust. It’s one of those combinations that just works, even if it sounds a bit weird at first.

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For this pizza recipe, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are your best bet since they’re easy to work with and cook evenly. You can buy pre-cut chicken cutlets to save time, or pound regular chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch – this helps them cook quickly and consistently. Fresh chicken is great, but if you’re using frozen chicken breasts, just make sure they’re completely thawed in the refrigerator before cooking. For the most tender results, try to let your chicken come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before you start cooking, and pat it dry with paper towels to help the breading stick better.

Options for Substitutions

This fun pizza recipe can be adjusted with several easy swaps if you need to:

• Carolina Gold sauce: If you can’t find Carolina Gold sauce, mix equal parts honey mustard and BBQ sauce. Or make your own by combining 1/4 cup yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and a splash of apple cider vinegar.
• Pennsylvania Dutch pretzel kit: Don’t worry if you can’t find this specific kit – you can use regular pizza dough or even a pre-made pizza crust. If using regular dough, brush the edges with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt for that pretzel-like finish.
• Pretzel crumbs: Regular breadcrumbs work fine here, or crush up some regular salted pretzels. You can even use crushed corn flakes for extra crunch.
• Panko bread crumbs: Regular breadcrumbs can replace panko, though the coating won’t be quite as crispy. You could also use crushed cornflakes or more crushed pretzels.
• Mozzarella cheese: Feel free to swap in provolone, white cheddar, or a mix of cheeses. Just avoid very soft cheeses as they might make the pizza too wet.
• Red onion: Yellow or white onions work just as well, or try some pickled onions for extra tang. You can even skip the onions if they’re not your thing.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making honey mustard chicken pizza comes from the chicken itself – if you pound the chicken breasts to an uneven thickness, they’ll cook unevenly and some parts might end up dry while others remain undercooked. A simple fix is to use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness before breading. The second common mistake is overloading your pizza with toppings, which can make the crust soggy and prevent it from cooking properly – remember that less is more, especially with the honey mustard sauce. When working with the pretzel dough, avoid the temptation to skip the boiling step (dipping in hot water with baking soda) as this crucial process gives the crust that distinctive pretzel flavor and chewy texture. For the crispiest chicken topping, make sure to pre-cook it completely before adding it to your pizza, and consider placing it on top of the cheese rather than under it to maintain its crunchy coating.

What to Serve With Honey Mustard Chicken Pizza?

This fun twist on pizza calls for some simple sides that won’t compete with its sweet and tangy flavors. A crisp garden salad with mixed greens and a light vinaigrette dressing makes the perfect fresh companion to the rich, cheesy pizza. Since this pizza already has pretzel elements, you might want to skip the usual breadsticks and instead go for some roasted vegetables – I particularly like serving it with honey-glazed carrots or simple roasted broccoli. For a casual game day spread, add some pickle spears on the side – their tanginess plays really well with the honey mustard flavors of the pizza.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover honey mustard chicken pizza? Place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and pop it in the fridge. It’ll stay good for up to 3 days, though the pretzel crust might soften a bit over time.

Freeze: If you want to save some for later, you can freeze individual slices by wrapping them well in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just remember that the texture of the toppings might change slightly after freezing.

Warm Up: To get your pizza tasting fresh again, warm it in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese starts to bubble. I’d skip the microwave if possible – it tends to make the pretzel crust chewy. For frozen slices, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Preparation Time	30-45 minutes
Cooking Time	25-30 minutes
Total Time	55-75 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1800-2000
• Protein: 120-130 g
• Fat: 90-100 g
• Carbohydrates: 160-180 g

Ingredients

• 12 oz chicken breast
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup pretzel crumbs
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/2 cup carolina gold sauce
• 1/2 cup red onion, sliced into thin strips
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 pennsylvania dutch pretzel kit
• Parsley for decoration

Step 1: Prepare Chicken and Breading Station

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Thinly slice the chicken breast and set up a breading station.

Use three shallow bowls: one with flour, another with beaten egg, and the last one with a mix of breadcrumbs and pretzel breadcrumbs.

Coat the chicken slices in flour, then egg, and finally the breadcrumb mixture.

Step 2: Sear and Cook the Chicken

Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat and add a bit of oil.

Sear the breaded chicken slices for 2 minutes on each side to seal the breading.

Transfer the chicken slices to a baking sheet and finish cooking them in the oven until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Once done, set the chicken aside to cool.

Step 3: Prepare the Pretzel Dough

Follow the instructions on the pretzel dough box to make the dough.

Once the dough has risen, divide it into three equal parts.

Shape each portion into balls and start forming them into pizza crusts.

Meanwhile, prepare a baking soda and water bath in a shallow saucepot or rondo.

Step 4: Blanch and Dry the Pizza Crusts

Bring the baking soda mixture to a boil and carefully drop each pizza crust in the boiling bath.

Blanch each crust for 30 seconds, turning halfway through.

Remove the crust from the bath and place on a rack to dry.

Increase your oven temperature to 425°F (220°C).

Step 5: Assemble the Pizza

Once the dough is dry, spread Jackpot sauce over each crust, leaving a ¾” border around the edge.

Add cheese generously on top.

Cut the cooked chicken into strips and distribute evenly over the pizza.

Add julienned onion and sprinkle pretzel salt on the outer crust.

Step 6: Bake and Serve the Pizza

Place each pizza on a parchment-lined tray and bake in the oven for 12-18 minutes at 425°F, rotating halfway through baking.

Once the crust is lightly browned and the cheese is bubbly, remove from the oven.

Drizzle with additional Jackpot sauce and garnish with chopped parsley.

Slice the pizza and enjoy your delicious creation!