Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls

Turn a favorite pasta recipe into a gameday appetizer with these Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls. Plus, you get to eat the bowl!

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We get a lot of inspiration for our home cooking recipes from restaurants. I suspect many of you do, too. We’ll go out to eat and enjoy a delicious appetizer or meal. The conversation will inevitably lead to, “Hey, I bet we could make this at home.” And many times the homemade version is actually better than the restaurant version! (There have been some fails…but that comes with the territory when you like to cook and bake, right?)

These Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls were a restaurant inspiration. Olive Garden used to offer pizza bowls as a lunchtime special. Key phrase: used to. Olive Garden discontinued their pizza bowls back in 2019. Why!? We need to bring pizza bowls back!

What is a Pizza Bowl?

A pizza bowl is basically a bowl of pizza crust filled with your favorite toppings. Olive Garden offered 2 types of pizza bowls: (1) Meatball Pizza Bowl filled with meatballs, tomato sauce, and cheese and (2) Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowl filled with grilled chicken, alfredo sauce and cheese. Pizza bowls are basically a mash-up of pot pie and pizza. How can you go wrong there!?

For some reason, Olive Garden quit offering pizza bowls a while back…so that means we just have to make ’em at home now!

What is a Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowl?

For this Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowl, you take pizza dough and press it into a muffin tin. The result is individual-sized “bowls” that make great finger food appetizers. Similar to bread bowls for soup, you get to eat the bowl here…and that’s always fun!

That bowl of pizza dough is filled with sliced (or diced) chicken that gets tossed in a simple alfredo sauce. Add some mozzarella cheese to hold it all together, and you’re all set. This recipe is simple to make, but it does involve a couple of steps – (1) cooking the chicken, (2) prepping the pizza bowls and (3) making the alfredo sauce.

Instead of pizza sauce, these Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls use alfredo sauce. I will note that the alfredo sauce recipe here is not authentic. I “cheated” and used a bit of cream cheese as opposed to heavy cream. The taste is fantastic, and it’s much easier to make than the authentic version. If you’re an alfredo purist, then certainly go with an authentic sauce recipe. But if you want a quick shortcut, then this version is easy and the flavor is fantastic!

Variations

There are dozens of ways to mix up this recipe:

• Traditional Pizza – If you want a more traditional pizza approach, make the bowls as written below but fill ’em with pizza sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. A pepperoni version or a mushroom + veggie version would be tasty! (You could also make ½ one way and ½ another.)
• Add Bacon – Bacon makes everything better! Add cooked, crumbled bacon to the chicken + alfredo sauce mixture.
• Add a Spicy Twist – Make these bowls spicier by sprinkling a few red pepper flakes on top of each one before baking.

How to Store Leftover Pizza Bowls

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat the bowls in a 300°F oven for about 6-8 minutes until the cheese gets melty and the bowls are heated through. The microwave works, too, but you won’t get the nice crispy edges on the dough that way. I do not recommend freezing these pizza bowls once they are assembled.

If you’re looking to save time, you can cook the chicken and toss it in the alfredo sauce the day before you make these bowls. Just reheat it before baking the pizza dough bowls. Another option would be to use shredded rotisserie chicken in place of the chicken breasts.

If you’re looking for a fantastic gameday appetizer, then these Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls are a great option! They’re unique and flavorful, and they make great finger food for parties. Cheers!

Did you make this Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!

Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls

Turn a favorite pasta recipe into a gameday appetizer with these Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bowls. Plus, you get to eat the bowl!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 bowls

Calories: 274kcal

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Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasonings
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

For the Pizza Bowls

• 16 oz. pizza dough homemade or store-bought
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil

For the Alfredo Sauce

• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
• ½ tsp minced garlic
• 2 oz. cream cheese softened
• ½ cup milk
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

For the Chicken

• Using a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasonings, salt and pepper. Sprinkle mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
• Using a large skillet (with lid), add olive oil and place over medium-high heat.
• Once hot, add chicken breasts and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Flip chicken breasts over, reduce heat to low, add ~2 tablespoons of water to skillet and cover. Let cook for 12-15 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Let chicken breasts rest on cutting board for ~5 minutes before slicing into bite sized strips.

For the Pizza Bowls

• Meanwhile, divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 5” round circle.
• Using a small bowl, combine the olive oil, Italian seasonings, salt and garlic powder. Brush this mixture evenly on top of the pieces of dough.
• Press one piece of dough (olive oil side down) into each cup of a standard 12-cup muffin tin.
• Sprinkle half of shredded mozzarella evenly into cups; set pan aside.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.

For the Alfredo Sauce

• Using a small saucepan, add butter and place over medium heat.
• Once butter has melted, add garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring often.
• Add cream cheese; whisk until cream cheese has melted and mixture is smooth.
• Gradually add milk, stirring until smooth.
• Add Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; stir until smooth.
• Remove from heat and add cooked chicken strips (from above); toss until well combined.
• Divide chicken alfredo mixture evenly into muffin cups.
• Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese evenly on top.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until pizza bowls begin to turn golden brown.
• Let cool for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with freshly chopped basil before serving.

Looking for more Super Bowl appetizer recipes? Check out these other favorites, too: