Keto Chicken Pesto Pizza

Annie Lampella @ Ketofocus

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published November 17, 2019 • Updated February 2, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

Easy fathead pizza topped with leftover chicken, creamy pesto, cherry tomatoes, roasted bell pepper and mozzarella cheese.

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Keto Chicken Pesto Pizza

4.8 (5) Prep 15m Cook 12m Total 27m 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, plus ½ cup for topping
  • 1 ½ cups almond flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon keto garlic sauce
  • 2 tablespoons pesto
  • 6 oz cooked chicken, diced or shredded
  • 5 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sliced roasted bell pepper
  • 4 oz sliced fresh mozzarella cheese

Step by Step Instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1
Preheat oven

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

oven heated to 400 degrees
2
Melt the cheese

Place 3.5 cups of mozzarella in a microwave-safe glass bowl. Microwave for about two minutes until cheese is melted. Stir to combine and make sure all of the cheese is melted. Remove from microwave and let the mixture cool while combining the remaining ingredients.

bowl of melted mozzarella cheese
3
Mix dry ingredients

In a large separate bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt. Set aside.

ingredients for fat head dough in a bowl
4
Combine egg and cheese

Add in your egg to the melted mozzarella cheese. Mix until combined using an electric mixer.

egg mixed with mozzarella cheese
5
Mix dough

Slowly add the almond flour mixture to the cheese mixture. Using an electric mixer or food processor, stir until the dough is combined and uniform. Don’t be surprised if dough goes flying if you are using the mixer! The easiest, mess free way is to use a food processor to combine the ingredients. If you don’t have an electric mixer or food processor, I recommend kneading the dough by hand until it comes together. This is a messy and time-consuming process, but the end result is the same – fat head pizza.

fathead dough in a bowl
6
Knead pizza dough

Once combined, form dough into a ball. Knead the dough a couple of times on a lightly almond floured surface to ensure the dough is uniform in appearance and all ingredients are fully combined.

kneading fat head dough
7
Place in between parchment

Place the dough in between two pieces of parchment paper.

rolling out fathead dough
8
Roll out crust

Roll out dough to desired thickness – about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Remove top parchment layer and place on top of a baking sheet.

keto pizza dough ready for toppings
9
Spread pesto and garlic

Spread the keto garlic sauce and 1 tablespoon of pesto all over the pizza crust.

spreading garlic sauce and pesto on keto pizza crust
10
Add toppings

Add remaining toppings to the pizza and dab an additional 1 tablespoon of pesto around the pizza.

Mozzarella cheese, not yet melted, sitting on a keto chicken pesto pizza
11
Bake

Bake at 400 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes or until crust is starting to brown and cheese is bubbly.

A keto-friendly chicken pesto pizza ready to eat
Nutrition Per Serving
387 Calories
28.9g Fat
27.2g Protein
5.1g Net Carbs
7.6g Total Carbs
8 Servings
Nutrition disclaimer

The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

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Keto Chicken Pesto Pizza

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of cheese instead of mozzarella?

Yes! Mozzarella adds a nice stretchiness, but provolone or cheddar both work. The flavor and texture will be a little different, but still delicious.

What can I use instead of almond flour for a nut-free option?

Coconut flour works, but you'll need to adjust the quantity since it's more absorbent. Start with about 1/2 cup and add more as needed until the dough comes together.

How should I store leftovers of the Keto Chicken Pesto Pizza?

Let the pizza cool completely, then put it in an airtight container in the fridge. It keeps for 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.

Can I make this pizza ahead of time?

Yes! Wrap the dough tightly and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze it for longer storage. When you're ready to bake, let it come to room temperature before adding your toppings.

Is this pizza suitable for a keto diet?

Yes! With about 5g net carbs per slice, this pizza fits right into a keto meal plan.

Similar Recipes

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Low Carb Chicken Pesto Pizza

slice of keto chicken pesto pizza This is an easy low carb pizza recipe that uses either rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken. It is a great way to use up leftover proteins and a good dinner option if you like to meal prep a bunch of chicken. Chicken pesto pizza starts with my garlic sauce on fathead pizza dough mixed with a little bit of pesto sauce. If you don’t have any fresh garlic sauce premade, you can use 2 tablespoons of pesto sauce instead. Next, layers of mozzarella cheese, chicken, tomatoes, and roasted red peppers are placed on top of the dough. I like to dab a little extra pesto around the pizza and top with freshly sliced mozzarella cheese. This chicken pesto pizza is an easy dinner recipe that you can make on a busy weeknight. It especially comes together quickly if you have premade fathead dough in your freezer.

Chicken Options for This Pizza

chicken thighs covered in pesto sauce Like I mentioned above, you can use a rotisserie chicken or any leftover chicken you have for this recipe. When I menu plan for the week, I will often plan my Pesto Chicken on one day. Then use the leftover chicken to make this pesto chicken pizza. Both are easy dinner recipes that use chicken and don’t require me to buy a ton of different ingredients and have the rest live in my fridge forever until they go bad.

Is Pesto Low Carb?

pesto in a jar Yes, pesto works great on a keto diet. Pesto is primarily made up of basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, salt and olive oil. I buy store bought pesto when I make this pizza. It is important to read the ingredients on the label as some pesto manufacturers add sugar to their pesto for flavor. Look for a brand that contains no sugar and very little carbs. My favorite brand of pesto is by Mezzetta. It contains no added sugar and is zero net carbs per serving. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Fathead Pizza Crust

fathead pizza crust I’m a big fan of pizza in my house. My favorite low carb pizza crust is fat head dough. Fat head dough recipes contain mozzarella cheese, almond flour and egg. My recipe for fathead pizza dough also contains baking powder and xanthan gum to help the dough rise and provide structure. The crust puffs up like regular pizza dough and creates a chewy texture in the middle and a crispy outer crust. I recommend doubling or tripling the recipe when you make fathead dough. It freezes beautifully and you will have some on hand when you are wanting to make pizza but don’t have a lot of time. To freeze your dough, form the freshly made fathead dough into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap. Store in a ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 6 months. You can store fathead dough in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Option to Grill Your Pizza

I usually bake my pizza in the oven; however, this one is also excellent grilled on the BBQ. It’s a perfect summer recipe for grilling outside. You can learn how to grill pizza on this post.

More Pizza Topping Ideas

toppings on a pizza Here are some other toppings that work great on chicken pesto pizza:
  • jalapeno
  • fresh bell pepper
  • bacon
  • roasted garlic
  • arugula
  • ricotta cheese
  • fontina cheese
  • mushrooms
About the Author
Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis, she has over 14 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism.

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4.8 Stars (5 Reviews)
  1. A
    Ashley Feb 17, 2026

    Made this for Sunday dinner and my kids were so into it. My son has been weirdly suspicious of anything pesto, but he ate two slices and asked for more. The almond flour crust held up better than I expected. Definitely going into the regular rotation.

    1. Annie Lampella
      Annie Lampella Feb 17, 2026

      Ha, a pesto skeptic eating two slices is a win. The almond flour crust surprises people every time (my kids included). Glad it made the rotation.

  2. K
    Kibibi Mar 4, 2022

    This recipe is amazing! My dough came out perfectly and my pizza is super delicious

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