Chicken & Basil Pesto 6 Ingredient Pizza
If you are looking for easy camping meals, you’ve gotta try this one! This Chicken & Basil Pesto Pizza is lightning fast because it uses a pre-baked pizza crust and pre-cooked chicken.
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Camping Pizza Made With Four Methods
I love creating camping food that can be prepared with various methods.
Choose your cooking preference
- Easy Campfire Recipes: Lightly wrap the pizza just as you would your other campfire meals in foil EXCEPT you will be creating a loose tent around the pizza rather than a tight packet. Then, place on campfire grill grate above hot coals.
- Dutch Oven Camping Recipes: Make sure you have a large enough oven to accommodate the size of your pizza crust.
- Camp Stove Recipes: Prepare your Dutch oven dome and heat diffuser for convection type heating with your propane camp stove.
- Camp or RV Oven: Fully pre-heat the oven to avoid uneven heating and burning.
You are actually just heating this meal because all of the ingredients in this recipe are already cooked.
Recipe Steps
Step 1. Preheat your heat source. Choose your cooking method and prepare it for cooking at approximately 450 F degrees.
Hand Test For Cooking Temperatures
You don’t need a thermometer to determine the temperature of your heat source for cooking. Here are steps for the “hand test”.
- Hold the palm of your hand about 5 inches above the heat source (campfire coals, charcoal briquettes, propane grill etc.) you’re using for cooking. (Make sure nothing is flammable, like clothing or jewelry.)
- Pull your hand away from the heat before it hurts and note how many seconds have passed. Example: 6-7 seconds = medium heat.
| Heat Level | Temperature Range | Time |
| High Heat | 450-550°F (230-290C) | 2-4 seconds |
| Medium-High | 375-450°F (190-230C) | 5 seconds |
| Medium Heat | 350-375°F (175-190C) | 6-7 seconds |
| Low-Medium | 325-350°F (160-175C) | 8 seconds |
| Low Heat | 250-325°F (120-160C) | 9-10 seconds |
Step 2. Prepare your pizza crust. Spread the pesto mixture over the crust, add chicken mixture and cheese.
Camp Cooking Tip: I usually have cooked shredded chicken in my home freezer so I can make quick meals like this but if you don’t have that on hand you can use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and just shred the amount you need.
This camping recipe calls for prepared pesto. You can just pick up a jar at your grocery store or you can make my fresh Basil Pesto: Fresh and Freezable Camp Recipe.
Step 3. Bake your pizza. You’ll be heating your pizza at 450 degrees for about 8-10 minutes. But, if your oven won’t get that hot, you can reduce the temperature to around 350 degrees and expect the time to take a little longer. You are just baking your pizza until it is heated through and the cheese is melted.
Check out our Dutch Oven Temperature Chart for information on the number of coals you need for your situation.
Step 4. Top and serve. Now it’s time to add some fresh basil and enjoy!
Meal Planning
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Prepare Ahead
If you’d like to plan this as one of your make ahead camping meals, just assemble the pizza at home, wrap in aluminum foil and keep refrigerated until you’re ready to heat it at the campsite. Let the wrapped pizza get to room temperature before placing on a grate over campfire coals at a medium heat. You’re just warming the ingredients before you serve. It will be ready in about 10-15 minutes.
Recipe
Tried this recipe?
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Chicken Pesto Pizza Easy Camping Recipe
Equipment
- Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil or pizza pan
Ingredients
- 1 pre-baked pizza crust
- 1 cup prepared basil pesto divided
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Optional For Topping
- 2 large fresh basil leaves torn in small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat your heat source for cooking at 450 F degrees: campfire, charcoal briquettes, propane stove, camp oven or RV oven. See note #1 below.
- Spread half of the pesto mixture over the top of the pizza crust.
- Toss the other half of the pesto mixture with the shredded chicken and spread on the crust.
- Top with the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Bake the pizza until heated through and the cheese is melted. This will take about 8-10 minutes. If your oven won’t get that hot, just bake it at 350 degrees and expect the time to take a little longer.
- Top with torn basil and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe is so versatile because it can be cooked so many ways.
- Campfire: Lightly wrap the pizza in foil and place on campfire grill grate above hot coals.
- Dutch Oven With Charcoal: Make sure you have a large enough oven to accommodate the size of your pizza crust.
- Dutch Oven With Propane Camp Stove: Prepare your Dutch oven dome and heat diffuser for convection type heating and make sure you have a large enough oven to accommodate the size of your pizza crust.
- Camp or RV Oven: Fully pre-heat the oven to avoid uneven heating and burning.
I’m always looking for quick camp meals that have good flavor too. I’m going to try this on our next camp trip, thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for your comment Michelle! I hope you enjoy your next camp trip and the pizza too!