Apple-Jack Chicken Pizza with Caramelized Onions

2008 Pillsbury Bake-Off/Niki Plourde of Gardner, Mass., $5,000 Category Award
Published: Monday, April 28, 2008 9:28 a.m. MDT

Main Dishes > Pizza > Apple-Jack Chicken Pizza with Caramelized Onions

Ingredients

Prep time: 40 minutes
Total time: 1 hour

3 tablespoons butter
2 large sweet onions (such as Maui or Walla Walla), very thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 13.8-ounce can refrigerated pizza crust
1 unpeeled large Red Delicious apple, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
1/3 cup cooked real bacon bits (from 3-ounce package)
2 medium green onions, sliced (2 tablespoons)
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded pepper jack cheese
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese


Directions

1. In 12-inch skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add sweet onions and thyme; cook about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden. Stir in salt and pepper. Remove onions from skillet; set aside.

2. Heat oven to 425 F. Spray large cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Unroll pizza crust dough on cookie sheet; press dough into 14-by-10-inch rectangle. Bake 7-11 minutes or until light golden brown. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F.

3. Meanwhile, in same skillet, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add apple and sugar; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sugar is melted and apple is slightly soft.

4. Spread onion mixture over partially baked crust. Top evenly with chicken, apple mixture, bacon, green onions and cheeses.

5. Bake 10-20 minutes longer or until cheeses are melted and crust is golden brown. Serves 8.