BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
This homemade BBQ chicken pizza is better than any restaurant and ready in just 30 minutes. I use a smoky Gouda blend, leftover chicken, and store-bought BBQ sauce to create a delectable dinner in no time!
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 805kcal
Equipment
- Pizza Stone, Pizza Pan, or Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough or pre-made pizza crust
- ½ cup BBQ sauce divided*
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken **
- 2 cups shredded cheese smoked gouda, mozzarella, or a combo of both; divided
- ¼ cup sliced red onion
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro or green onions optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F. Once heated, place a pizza stone or pan in the oven. This will help your pizza cook more quickly and evenly.
- Place the pizza dough (or pre-made pizza crust) on a large piece of parchment paper. If the crust is still in dough form, roll out the dough.1 pound pizza dough or pre-made pizza crust
- Spread a thin layer of about 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce on the pizza crust.½ cup BBQ sauce
- In a bowl, combine the remaining 6 tablespoons BBQ sauce and the shredded chicken.2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- Add on the toppings in this order: 1½ cups shredded cheese, sliced red onion, BBQ chicken, remaining ½ cup shredded cheese.2 cups shredded cheese, ¼ cup sliced red onion
- Remove the pizza pan or stone from the oven. Slide the pizza onto the pan and bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly, the crust is crispy on the outside and cooked through. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped fresh cilantro.½ cup chopped fresh cilantro or green onions
Video
Notes
*Use any kind of barbecue sauce you like. I prefer a sweeter sauce for this pizza, because it balances the bite of red onion.
**Grab a rotisserie chicken from the store, or make Instant Pot shredded chicken for a quick and easy option. You can also grill chicken breast for this recipe if you prefer!
Tips:
- If your oven allows it, bump the heat up to 450°F or 475°F. A higher, faster heat creates a better crumb and better browning on the cheese. Just keep a closer eye on it--it may cook in 8-10 minutes instead of 15.
- If you happen to have a particularly thin BBQ sauce, you can thicken it with a slurry. Combine 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water, then stir this mixture into the sauce over low heat until it thickens.
- You can also create a barrier to prevent the sauce from soaking into the crust by brushing the dough with a tiny bit of olive oil.
- Optionally, pop the rolled-out dough into the oven on its own for 3-5 minutes (less time if you bumped up the oven temp) before adding any sauce or toppings to ensure it bakes fully through.
- Don't add too much sauce, or your pizza will turn out soggy.
- To mellow out the onions, toss them in a bit of BBQ sauce before adding them to the pizza so they caramelize.
- Other great toppings include crispy bacon bits, pickled jalapeños, or even grilled pineapple!
- Take extra care when transferring the pizza to the hot pan. Be sure to wear oven mitts!
- Because BBQ sauce contains sugar, it can caramelize quickly. If you notice your crust needs more time but the sauce is getting too dark, loosely tent the pizza with foil for the last 3 minutes of baking.
Nutrition
Serving: 2slices | Calories: 805kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 1757mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 800IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 803mg | Iron: 4mg