Is it a pizza slice a day or an apple a day? Both in my opinion have their benefits, but this Honey Habanero Chicken Pizza is a tasty mood booster especially after a long day or an even longer week.
The honey habanero sauce is made using chopped habaneros also known as scotch bonnet peppers which are blended with garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt. If this is your first time using habaneros or you’re not a spicy food lover, I would recommend starting with 2 or 3 instead of the 5 mentioned below. Habaneros are rated 100,000–350,000 on the Scoville scale and if you’ve eaten food made with habaneros or watched Hot Ones it simply means these peppers are very hot.
Because they are a hot pepper when cooked habaneros release an odor that causes coughing and/or sneezing. So have a window open or a fan nearby. However, an easier method is using a store-bought Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce (without seeds) that can be mixed with the honey and then boiled for 10 minutes.
I had a really fun time making and eating this pizza. It has a little bit of everything, the dough is soft with a crunchy crust, the sauce is sweet & spicy, the chicken & caramelized onions provide a nice savory flavor, and of course, I can't forget the cheese that ties it all together. As always, go ahead and make this recipe yours by adding any of your preferred toppings like pineapple, mango, spinach, or whatever you like.
So let’s get to cooking, have fun and enjoy.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 Pizza Crust
1 tsp Thyme
2 tbsp Butter (Melted)
1lb Chicken Strips
1tsp Seasoned Salt
½ tsp Black Pepper
1 Red Onion
2tsp Granulated Sugar
2 cups Pizza Cheese Blend (1cup Mozzarella + 1 cup Parmesan)
¼ cup Habanero Cheddar (optional)
Oil
Honey Habanero Sauce
5 Habaneros
2 Garlic Cloves
½ cup Vinegar
1 tbsp Sugar
¼ tsp Salt
1 cup Honey
Steps
Make Sauce
1. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Remove the stems and chop habaneros. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the habaneros, cover, and cook for 8 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally.
2. Next, add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the vinegar, sugar, and salt. Stir, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. After 10 mins, remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool for about 5 minutes.
4. Once cooled, blend the mixture until smooth. Strain into a large bowl to remove the seeds and pulp. Add the honey and mix until combined.
5. To the same pan used to cook the habaneros, add the honey-habanero mix and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes, then pour into a heat-proof container. Allow to cool. (The sauce will thicken as it cools).
Cook Onions & Chicken
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash and pat dry chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Halve, peel and thinly slice the red onion. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and softened, 8-10 minutes.
4. Add 2 tsp sugar and a splash of water, continue cooking until caramelized, about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the pan.
5. Add more oil to the same pan used for the onions. Once hot, add the chicken and fry on both sides for 10 minutes until browned. Remove from the pan and chop chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Assemble & Bake
1. On a greased baking tray, roll out pizza dough, brush melted butter and sprinkle thyme on top.
2. Spoon the honey habanero sauce evenly over the dough, then top with shredded mozzarella parmesan blend, chicken, and habanero cheddar cheese.
3. Bake for 15 minutes. Slice, serve warm, and enjoy!
