Cheesy Broccoli and Chicken Pizza

If you follow me on twitter or know me personally, you are aware that this is a very busy time for me at my "day job."  Between preparing for the school year to begin and squeeze in some fun things this week I haven't had a chance to catch my breath.  

Last night I was in need of making something to fit three criteria: 1. EASY 2. HEALTHY 3. SATISFYING.  Not only did I want to make something for Mr. Schwartz and I for dinner I remembered this contest that called for the "Ultimate Weeknight Dinner."  Flash back to my school days, I'm a total procrastinator...the deadline for the contest is today.  Old habits die hard.  : ) 

First we make the cheese sauce.  This is the only part of the recipe we really have to "make."  Start by melting a bit of butter (this looks like I lot, I modified the recipe below) in a sauce pan on medium heat.

Once the butter is melted, add some flour.

Stirring constantly, cook the flour taste out of the flour.

Add some milk and stir.  Reduce the heat to low.

Grate some cheese

And shred some chicken.  I used a rotisserie chicken but you could use any type of chicken you prefer.

Another time saver--ready to bake pizza crust.  I'm a bigger fan of Trader Joe's ready  made pizza dough but, TJ's is not close to my house :(.  This did just fine.

Prepare the pizza peel with a bit of cornmeal.  If you aren't using a pizza stone, flip a jelly roll pan upside down and add the cornmeal to that.

Roll out the dough the best you can into a "pizza like shape."

This is the "pizza like shape" I came up with.  Let's just call it "rustic."

Add the cheese to the sauce

Along with some cayenne pepper.  Add as much or as little as you would like.  We like things spicy and for now we don't have any kiddos at our house.  If you do, just scale back on the cayenne.

Cook up some broccoli, I just popped it in the microwave for about a minute--I despise soggy broccoli.

Then assemble the pizza...spread the cheese sauce on the dough

Top with a generous amount of chicken

Then the broccoli and additional shredded cheddar cheese.  I guess in my rush to eat this I forgot to take a picture.  Pop this in a preheated oven at 450 degrees for about 11 minutes.

This cheesy wonder will be the result. Do you see that roasted goodness on that piece of broccoli--I die.

This is the perfect weeknight dinner...it includes everything protein, veggies, dairy and starch.

If anything can get kiddos to eat veggies just call it pizza and put cheese on it.

You can thank me later.

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Pizza

For the cheese sauce:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 generous shakes of cayenne pepper (optional)

Start by melting the butter/margarine in a medium sauce pan on medium heat.  Once it is melted, add the flour.  Stir constantly for about 3 minutes or until the gummy flour taste is cooked out of the flour.  Whisking constantly to avoid lumps, add the milk.  Once this is incorporated, turn the burner down to low and add the cheese and cayenne.  That's it, cheese sauce is finished!

For the pizza: 

Cheese sauce 

1 Roll refrigerated pizza dough

2 tablespoons cornmeal

2 chicken breasts (I used rotisserie chicken)

1 1/2 cups broccoli

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. 

Place the broccoli in a microwave safe bowl and cook on high for about a minute.  Shred the chicken into large bite sized pieces.  

Roll out the pizza dough into your desired shape.  Place on a pizza peel or inverted jelly roll pan that has been generously dusted with the cornmeal.  Spread the cheese sauce over the dough.  Top with the chicken, broccoli and cheese.  

Place in the oven on a pizza stone or directly in the oven if using a jelly roll pan.  Bake for about 10 minutes then check on the pizza.  It should be turning golden brown and the cheese should be melted.  If it needs a few more minutes add a minute at a time.  Mine took about 11 minutes.  

Remove from the oven, slice and enjoy! 

**Note, you can switch things up very easily with this recipe.  Adding ham and using swiss cheese would be great!  Get your kids involved and let them make individual pizzas to their liking.  Flip one side of the pizza over on top of it's self, pinch the edges together and make it into a calzone.  The possibilities are endless!!**

Recipe by: Mrs. Schwartz