Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound store-bought pizza dough (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup marinara or pizza sauce
- 1.5 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or finely diced
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls or a large ball of fresh mozzarella sliced into ghost shapes
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (for the ghost eyes)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Optional: Fresh basil for a “swampy” garnish
Instructions
- Step 1: Preparation and Dough Setup Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it heats. On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out your pizza dough into one large circle or four individual mini-pizzas. Place the dough on a piece of parchment paper or a greased baking sheet. Lightly brush the edges of the dough with olive oil to ensure a golden, crispy crust.
- Step 2: Layering the Flavors Spread a thin, even layer of marinara sauce over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust. Evenly distribute the shredded chicken over the sauce. This “hidden” chicken layer ensures every bite is hearty. Sprinkle the dried oregano over the chicken for an extra burst of Italian flavor. If you are using a large ball of mozzarella, use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter or a paring knife to cut out several small ghost shapes from the slices. If using mozzarella pearls, you can group them together to form blob-like spirits.
- Step 3: Baking and Ghostly Decorations Place the pizzas in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the chicken is heated through. Remove the pizza briefly and carefully place your mozzarella “ghosts” on top. Return to the oven for just 2 to 3 minutes—just long enough for the cheese to melt slightly but still retain its ghost shape. Once removed, immediately place two small pieces of sliced black olives on each cheese ghost to serve as the eyes.
- Step 4: Plating and Serving Let the pizza rest for 2 or 3 minutes before slicing. This prevents the cheese ghosts from sliding off their spots. Slice the pizza carefully around the ghosts to keep their shapes intact. Serve warm on a festive Halloween platter and watch the kids dive into their spooky dinner!
- Cook Time: 30 minutes