How Many Calories Are in 1 Medium Chicken Pizza?

December 27, 2025 •

4 min read

According to nutrition tracking site Fatsecret, a single generic medium (33 cm) chicken pizza can contain up to 1,680 calories. This significant number is just an average, as the final calorie count is heavily influenced by a multitude of factors, from the thickness of the crust to the type of chicken topping.

Quick Summary

The calorie count for a medium chicken pizza varies widely based on ingredients, crust, and preparation method. Factors like thick crust and heavy cheese can push the total well above 1,000 calories.

Key Points

Variable Calories: A medium chicken pizza's calorie count is highly variable, often exceeding 1,000 calories depending on ingredients.
Crust Matters: The crust type significantly impacts total calories; thin crust is a lower-calorie option than thick, pan, or stuffed crust.
Cheese and Toppings: Extra cheese and fatty meat additions, like bacon, increase the calorie count, while extra vegetables add minimal calories.
Sauce Choices: Creamy sauces and sweet BBQ sauces are more calorie-dense than traditional tomato-based sauces.
Reduce Calories: To make a healthier choice, opt for a thin crust, less cheese, and grilled chicken, while maximizing vegetable toppings.
Homemade Advantage: Making a chicken pizza at home gives you complete control over ingredients, allowing for a lower-calorie meal.

The Surprising Truth Behind Pizza Calories

Many people underestimate the total caloric load of a medium pizza, especially when it involves lean protein like chicken. While chicken is often seen as a healthier topping choice than pepperoni or sausage, the overall construction of the pizza can easily make it a high-calorie meal. The average calorie count cited for a generic medium chicken pizza (1680 kcal) is a full meal's worth of calories and then some, often based on a pizza cut into eight slices.

Why Calorie Counts Vary So Much

Not all medium pizzas are created equal. The nutritional information from a chain restaurant can differ wildly from a homemade pizza or one from a small, local shop. The main drivers of this variability include:

Crust Type: A hand-tossed or thin crust will have significantly fewer calories than a deep-dish or stuffed crust pizza. The extra dough and oil in thicker crusts add substantial carbohydrates and fats.
Cheese Quantity: Extra cheese is a common request but one that adds a major calorie boost. The cheese alone can contribute hundreds of calories per pizza, depending on the amount.
Chicken Preparation: The chicken itself matters. Grilled, skinless chicken breast will be much leaner than fried or breaded chicken chunks. Some recipes, like BBQ or Buffalo chicken, use rich, calorie-dense sauces.
Sauce: While basic tomato sauce is relatively low in calories, creamy Alfredo sauces or sweet BBQ sauces can increase the total fat and sugar content.
Additional Toppings: Adding more vegetables like onions, peppers, or mushrooms adds minimal calories, but extra meat, bacon, or a drizzle of oil will push the total higher.

Calorie Comparison: A Look at Different Pizza Styles

To illustrate the impact of these variables, here is a comparison of estimated calorie counts for different types of medium chicken pizzas. These are approximate values, and actual nutritional facts will depend on specific recipes.


Pizza Type	Estimated Total Calories (Medium Pizza)	Key Calorie Drivers
Thin Crust Chicken & Veggie	1,000–1,200	Lighter crust, less cheese, more veggies.
Standard Hand-Tossed Chicken	1,400–1,600	Regular crust, moderate cheese, standard toppings.
Deep-Dish BBQ Chicken	1,800–2,100+	Thick crust, high cheese, sweet/rich BBQ sauce.
Stuffed-Crust Buffalo Chicken	2,000–2,500+	Stuffed crust, creamy sauce, fried chicken, blue cheese.

How to Enjoy Chicken Pizza with Fewer Calories

Making a few simple adjustments can help you enjoy pizza without consuming an entire day's worth of calories. Consider these tips for a healthier option:

Choose a Thin Crust: Opting for a thin-crust pizza can immediately cut down on the total carbohydrate and fat content.
Reduce the Cheese: Ask for half the cheese or use a reduced-fat mozzarella. You'll still get that classic cheesy flavor without the added calories.
Load Up on Veggies: Increase your fiber and nutrient intake by adding plenty of vegetable toppings like peppers, onions, spinach, and mushrooms.
Use Lean Chicken: Ensure the chicken is grilled, not fried or breaded, and is prepared with minimal oil. Making it at home gives you complete control over the leanest meat.
Opt for Tomato-Based Sauces: Creamy sauces like Alfredo or ranch are very high in fat. Stick to a simple, low-sugar tomato sauce for the base.
Blot the Oil: If you receive a pizza that is visibly greasy, gently patting the surface with a napkin can remove some of the excess oil and fat.

Homemade vs. Chain Restaurant Pizza

One of the biggest factors in calorie control is whether the pizza is made at home or purchased from a restaurant. When you make a homemade pizza, you have full control over each ingredient. You can use a whole-wheat crust, a low-fat cheese blend, and lean, skinless chicken breast. Many chain restaurants use more processed ingredients, higher-fat cheese, and thicker crusts to enhance flavor and appearance, resulting in higher calorie totals.

For a truly controlled experience, consider a recipe like the lightened-up BBQ chicken pizza, which uses a flatbread for a significantly lower-calorie base.

Conclusion: A Calorie-Conscious Approach to Pizza

While a medium chicken pizza can be a calorie-dense meal, its nutritional impact is not set in stone. By understanding the factors that drive calorie counts—namely crust thickness, cheese amount, and sauce choice—you can make informed decisions. Choosing thinner crusts, loading up on vegetables, and opting for grilled chicken can help transform a high-calorie dish into a more moderate and healthier indulgence. For the most precise nutritional information, always consult the specific pizza provider’s official nutritional data, as calorie counts can differ by brand and recipe. A balanced diet is about mindful choices, not complete elimination, and these strategies allow you to enjoy your favorite foods responsibly.

Additional Resource

For more tips on ordering a healthier pizza, you can check out guidance from consumer health publications like Consumer Reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

A single slice can range from 180 calories for a generic thin-crust to over 300 calories for a thicker crust or one with extra toppings. This is typically based on a pizza cut into 8 slices.

Generally, yes, if the chicken is lean grilled breast. Meat toppings like pepperoni are higher in saturated fat. However, the overall pizza composition (crust, cheese quantity) is a bigger factor than the meat choice alone.

A thin crust is typically the lowest calorie option. Whole-wheat or cauliflower crusts are also healthier alternatives that can reduce the total calorie count significantly.

You can reduce calories by ordering a thin crust, asking for less cheese, choosing grilled chicken over breaded, and adding extra vegetable toppings. Blotting excess oil with a napkin can also help.

Often, yes. BBQ chicken pizza recipes frequently use a sweeter, more calorie-dense BBQ sauce and can include extra toppings like bacon, pushing the total calorie count higher than a standard chicken and tomato sauce pizza.

The calories for a homemade chicken pizza are entirely dependent on your ingredients. A lightened-up version could be under 1,000 calories for the whole pizza, while one with a thicker crust and full-fat cheese could be much higher.

Burning off a pizza with over 1,600 calories would require a significant amount of exercise. For example, a 70 kg person would need to do moderate cycling for over two hours or run at 8 mph for almost an hour to burn a similar amount of calories.