Friday, December 13, 2013

Chicken Spaghetti Pizza

Shredded, cooked chicken and chunky spaghetti sauce topped with fresh mozzarella

Chicken Spaghetti Pizza | Farm Fresh Feasts

I've been reading about comfort foods recently.   Jen's round up at Savory Simple  and Julie's round up at Texan New Yorker have me drooling and plotting what to make with and without my Strategic Winter Squash Reserve.  The weather is cold, it's icy out (the wiener dogs are ALL BUSINESS on walks, whereas Simon the Lab mix is prone to frolicking) and it just feels good to cocoon at home.  Who am I kidding?  I always like to cocoon at home!

It's funny, when I reflect back on the foods I liked growing up, how many of what were 'frugal' meals (we called them 'cheap night' dinners), are the ones I remember fondly.  In fact, a dish of sautéed beet greens is my version of mom's Swiss chard side dish.  We probably ate it because we grew Swiss chard in the garden and therefore it was less expensive (and more delicious, and nutritious) than buying vegetables in the store--but to me it's pure comfort food.

One of those memorable meals is Chicken Spaghetti.  I haven't made it in years--but Mom emailed me the recipe . . . um, twice (I'm a bit distracted) . . . and I will.  Before I do, though, I can share this pizza.  I was looking through the fridge for something to top our Friday Night Pizza Night when I realized we had both leftover chicken and leftover spaghetti sauce.
My friend Miho once said I had a fridge like Aunt Dorothy--you could find such a variety of leftovers.  Although I'd never met Aunt Dorothy, I do have an astonishing variety of leftovers almost all the time.  I even sent a full--leftover--Thanksgiving meal to folks who unexpectedly ended up in the hospital during a vacation in our city.  In April.  No, the leftovers were not 6 months old, nor was I blogging and shooting photos ahead of time.  I'd fixed a Thanksgiving meal for the spouse after a deployment.
Back to pizza.  Why not a Chicken Spaghetti Pizza?  It's a comfort food that tastes wonderful and uses up leftovers as well.

Chicken Spaghetti Pizza | Farm Fresh Feasts
There's a stray noodle in the leftover sauce . . .
Chicken Spaghetti Pizza
1 ½ cups spaghetti sauce
1 pound pizza dough (here's how I make one of mine)
1 to 1 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken
½ pound fresh mozzarella, sliced

For general pizza making at home instructions, please refer to my Pizza Primer post.

Preheat oven, and a pizza stone if you've got one, to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.  If your pizza sauce is a bit runny (mine usually is) put it in a small saucepan over medium heat and let it evaporate and thicken for 10 minutes or so.  Set aside. 
On an oiled piece of parchment paper stretch dough into a rough circle or square.  Or a rhombus.  Just seeing if you're paying attention.  Shown is a sourdough pizza dough but any kind works here, please see my Visual Pizza Recipe Index for ideas.
Spread sauce across the dough, and top with shredded chicken and sliced cheese.  That's it!  Plain, simple, comfort food.  If you want to spice yours up, go ahead with crushed red pepper or hot sauce.
Bake on a stone if you can, otherwise on a cookie sheet, for 5-8 minutes and then shimmy the parchment out from under the pizza and bake another 3 to 5 minutes until the mozzarella is browning and bubbly.  Cool on a rack for a few minutes, then slice (Amazon link to my favorite slicer) and serve.
This pizza is shared with the From The Farm Blog HopClever Chicks Blog HopTasty TuesdaysWhat's Cookin' Wednesday

Chicken Spaghetti Pizza | Farm Fresh Feasts

14 comments:

  1. I love simple pizzas like this (and oh, that melted mozzarella looks so appealing right now!). If only I would take your advice and keep pizza dough in my freezer....

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    Replies
    1. Lydia,
      If you keep pizza dough in the freezer, do me a favor and label it (unless it's vibrant pink because it's made with beets). I sometimes don't 'oh, I'll know what this is' and it's been interesting at times.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  2. YUM!! This looks wonderfully comforting on a very cold night. I love chicken pizzas, so much. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Julie,
      I experimented with a pepperoni & orange pizza last week, but I think chicken and orange will win out. Must try that one soon, since I have so much citrus.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  3. Looks quite comforting to me as well!

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    1. Tammy,
      Like a blanket of mozzarella pulled up to my chin.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  4. This looks like total, awesome comfort food to me, too. Wish I could have a slice right now! It's almost lunchtime here, I'm hungry, and this look FANTASTIC!

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    Replies
    1. Amy,
      It's very hard to catch up on food blog reading over mealtimes. At least for me.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  5. We love making pizza! Always nice to try something different!
    Your pizza looks great.

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    Replies
    1. Sandra,
      My family sometimes gets sick of me trying different pizzas so often--so I've resorted to tweaking the crusts and keeping toppings familiar, or using a basic crust and changing up the toppings. Keeps it interesting for me, keeps them happy.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  6. A stray noodle in the sauce. Well that does it.
    It does feel good to cocoon at home; I like to hibernate this time of year, preferably next to the fireplace with a plate of cheese and a glass of wine. I wouldn't turn down a plate of pizza or a bowl of pasta either.

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    Replies
    1. Meghan,
      Would you believe we've never used our fireplace? It's original to the house, and gas, and quite scary to me. I'd never turn down a bowl of anything someone brought to me!

      Delete
  7. Pretty, pretty pizza! The dark red sauce next to the white pools of mozzarella make me want to eat this right now. We have a crockpot meal we make with chicken cooked in tomato sauce. I love your pizza version. We have been on a pizza hiatus for a week or two after having it way too often. Might be time to pull out the pans and make it again!
    Sarah

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    Replies
    1. Sarah,
      Pizza hiatus? My spouse knows not what words you say. He's always wanting pizza!
      My crock pot lives down in the basement, but this time of year it rarely makes it back downstairs. I keep setting it by the basement door, then using it before I manage to take it down.
      Thanks!

      Delete