Have you ever made BBQ Chicken Pizza at home? Take this as a hint to change up your Friday night pizza routine with this Barbecue Chicken Pizza. The homemade crust of this chicken pizza is slathered in BBQ sauce and topped with sliced chicken, red onion, cilantro, and 2 types of cheese.
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Making This BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
It’s been quite a while since I’ve madehomemade pizzafor dinner. I was making it a lot in the summer andgrilling it outsideso the kitchen wouldn’t get so hot.
Really, I should have been making pizza all winter because having the oven set to 550 degrees F sure warms the house nicely!
My husband and Ilovedthis pizza. I had to make it twice to get the pictures since it still isn’t quite light enough in the evenings to photograph food. (We liked it so much, it didn’t even phase us eating it two nights in a row. And the house smelledamazing!)
Who wants to make pizza in the afternoon, photograph it, and then reheat it for dinner?
Not me. I want it fresh, hot out of the oven.
Tools Used to Make this Easy Recipe for BBQ Pizza
Here are a few of my favorite kitchen tools to use when making this barbecue chicken pizza recipe:
- Pizza Stone– I love to bake pizza crust on a pizza stone when I make this recipe. Homemade crust turns out so good when you cook it on a hot pizza stone instead of a pizza pan.
- Rolling Pin– Rolling pins are helpful to A rolling pin works well for shaping the pizza dough.
- Cutting Board and Knives– A good sized cutting board and a set of sharp knives are always helpful in the kitchen!
- Pizza Peel– Pizza peels make transferring the bbq chicken pizza to the hot oven after assembling it.
- Pizza Cutter– You can always use a chef’s knife to cut your pizza, but a pizza cutter is handy, too.
Ingredients in this BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious bbq pizza with homemade pizza crust:
Pizza Dough Recipe for BBQ Chicken Pizza
I like to make my own homemade pizza dough to use for the crust. New to making homemade pizza dough? Then, check out my 5 Tips for Baking with Yeast to get you started. Here is what you’ll need to get started with the recipe:
- Warm Water
- Instant Yeast
- Olive Oil
- Bread Flour
- Salt
- Dried Oregano
BBQ Chicken Pizza Toppings
Now that you know what you need to make the pizza dough, here’s what you’ll need the following toppings for this homemade pizza recipe:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
- Fresh Cilantro
- Barbecue Sauce
- Gouda Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Small Red Onion
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
What is the Best BBQ Sauce for Barbecue Chicken Pizza?
I say use whatever your favorite bbq sauce is! Smoky bbq sauces, spicy barbecue sauce, sweet bbq sauce, or even homemade bbq sauce would all be good choices. Personally, this is the bbq sauce I like best for this recipe.
I wouldn’t recommend Alabama white barbecue sauce, Carolina mustard bbq sauce, or anything else that has too unique of a flavor. You definitely want something that has a classic BBQ flavor for your pizza sauce in this recipe.
How to Make Homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza
To Make the Pizza Dough for Barbecue Chicken Pizza
- First, add the yeast to warm water and let it sit until it blooms. Then, add the remaining water and oil. After that, stir in half of the flour, salt, and oregano.
- Then, add more flour while kneading (or using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment) until the dough forms in a cohesive mass and is smooth and elastic, but not sticky. TIP: you may not use all the flour!
- Next, form the dough into a ball and let it rise until doubled in bulk in a large bowl covered with a wet towel or plastic wrap.
- After the dough has risen, press the dough to deflate. Then, on a flour dusted pizza peel, roll dough out.
To Make BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Preheat the oven to 550 degrees F (or as hot as your oven goes) and place a pizza stone on the upper middle rack.
- Then, assemble the pizza on the dough rolled out on the dusted pizza peel. After that, add the bbq sauce on the surface of the dough leaving 1/2-1 inch border for the crust.
- Next, top with thinly sliced red onions, cilantro, the cooked chicken pieces and the cheese.
- Then, bake until the crust is light golden and crispy and cheese is melted (about 8-12 minutes). Lastly, serve garnished with a sprinkle of cilantro.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe Tips
Definitely make sure you check out my tips forTotally Awesome Pizza at Home– it has all the tips for making the best crust for this bbq pizza recipe.
What is the Best Way to Cook Chicken for BBQ Chicken Pizza?
If you’re using raw chicken, I think the best way is to slice it up thin and cook it in a hot cast iron skillet before adding it to the pizza. I like to season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
Got leftovers? This bbq pizza is a great recipe to use up leftover chicken, like roasted chicken, leftover smoked chicken (smoked chicken is SO good on this recipe!), or even or leftover rotisserie chicken.
You can also use this crockpot chicken recipe. This recipe is great for making in batches and storing in the freezer!
Recipe Substitutions
Typically I don’t recommend making a bunch of substitutions when preparing a new recipe. When making substitutes, you won’t know if you don’t like the recipe or if the recipe didn’t turn out due to a preparation mistake, an ill effect from the substitute, or something else.
However, if you do choose to make substitutions in a recipe, I recommend only making one substitute at a time so you don’t have a building effect of multiple poor substitutions.
What Can I Substitute for Gouda?
If you don’t like (or don’t have) gouda, you can substitute all mozzarella cheese or Monterrey jack, but we like the combination of using 2 types of cheese (gouda and mozzarella) best.
What Can I Substitute for Chicken?
If I was substituting the chicken, I would probably add some sautéed mushrooms or black beans in place to add another topping and texture to the pizza.
Can I Make a Vegetarian BBQ Chicken Pizza?
I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not! There are so many meat alternatives on the market now, you can look for a suitable plant-based chicken substitute, use tofu, or simply leave the chicken off all together.
Time Saving Tips for Preparing this Recipe
In a rush, but still want to enjoy a slice of homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza? Here are my favorite time saving tips for making this pizza recipe at home:
- Instead of cooking your own chicken, buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken at the grocery store and chop up the breast meat.
- Shred the cheese ahead of time and store it in an airtight container or storage bag in the fridge or the freezer (yes, you can freeze cheese!).
- Purchase a pre-made ball of dough from the grocery store instead of making the dough recipe.
- You can also use pre-made crust if you don’t have enough time to make your own and don’t want to deal with rolling out dough at all.
What Should I Serve with this Barbecue Chicken Pizza?
If you’re looking for side suggestions to go with this recipe, I recommend abig green salad.
It doesn’t have to be fancy at all. We often use mixed greens, lettuce, cucumber, shredded carrot, and tomato for a basic side salad. Check out these3 Simple Salad Dressing Recipesto go along with your salad.
If salad isn’t your thing, try this easy recipe forRoasted Broccolifor a vegetable side dish.
What to do with Leftover BBQ Chicken Pizza
If you have leftovers after serving this barbecue chicken pizza recipe, it is best stored cut in slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure it cools completely to cut down on the condensation, and store it in a single layer, if possible.
If you have to place multiple layers of the chicken pizza slices in your container, layering a sheet of parchment paper between slices will prevent them from sticking together.
How to Reheat Leftover BBQ Chicken Pizza
I prefer to reheat my leftover chicken pizza on a small stone toaster oven pan in our toaster oven. The pizza quickly warms up and gets re-crisped so it isn’t soggy.
Another option is to reheat the leftover pizza in the oven at 275°F. Place cut slices on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven until warmed to desired temperature.
Try this Easy BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe!
Next time you’re looking for a delicious pizza recipe, give this Barbecue Chicken Pizza a try! Did you think it was one of the best pizza recipes you’ve had? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of it.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with@goodlifeeatsand#goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this bbq chicken pizza!
More Homemade Pizza Recipes:
Are you looking for some more ideas for your next Friday Night Pizza NightHere are a few favorite recipes, or you can browse therecipe indexfor even more tasty ideas!
Caramelized Onion, Spinach and Bacon Pizzais perfect if you love bacon!
Three of my favorite things: Black Beans, Mexican, and Pizza all in one recipe. I knew from the start thatBlack Bean Mexican Pizzawas going to be a quick favorite around here.
If you can’t decide between Pizza Night and Taco Night, how aboutTaco Pizza?
Supreme Veggie Pizza with Mozzarella and Fetais another popular recipe.This Vegetarian Pizza is loaded with bell peppers, olives, onions, and even more fresh veggies! The mixture of salty feta and creamy mozzarella really make this veggie pizza.
A simple tomato, mozzarella, and basil pizza is taken up a notch in thisPizza Caprese with Garlic Focaccia Crust.
ThisArtichoke Spinach Pizzais a great meatless pizza recipe.
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BBQ Chicken Pizza
Yield: 1 pizza
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Time (preheat and dough rising): 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Have you ever madeBBQ Chicken Pizzaat home? Take this as a hint to change up your Friday night pizza routine with this Barbecue Chicken Pizza. The homemade crust of this chicken pizza is slathered in BBQ sauce and topped with sliced chicken, red onion, cilantro, and 2 types of cheese.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1/4 c Warm Water, about 110 degrees
- 1 1/8 teaspoon Instant Yeast
- 2/3 cup Water, at room temp
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 c Bread Flour
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
BBQ Chicken Pizza Toppings
- 2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
- 1 bunch Cilantro (leaves only), chopped
- about 1/3 cup Barbecue Sauce
- 5 ounces Gouda cheese, grated
- 5 ounces Mozzarella Cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup Red Onion, very thinly sliced
Instructions
For the Pizza Dough
- Measure warm water into a medium sized bowl or measuring cup (with at least a 1 c capacity).
- Sprinkle the yeast over water and let stand 5 minutes. Add the room temperature water and oil and stir to combine.
- Place the flour, salt, and oregano in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle. Briefly combine the dry ingredients at low speed.
- Slowly add the liquids and continue to mix on low until a cohesive mass forms.
- Stop the mixer and replace the paddle with the dough hook. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 3-5 minutes.
- Form dough into a ball and put in a deep oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap.
- Let rise for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, or until dough is doubled in bulk. Press the dough to deflate. On a flour dusted surface, roll dough out.
To Make the Barbecue Chicken Pizza
- Place a pizza stone on the upper middle rack of your oven.
- Preheat oven to 550 degrees F for at least 45 minutes before you intend to bake the pizza, this helps the stone get nice and hot.
- If you have a pizza peel, flour that heavily, and assemble the pizza on that so you can transfer it to the pizza stone. If not, have everything ready to go, then remove the stone (carefully) and assemble the pizza directly on it before putting it back in the oven.
- Slice the chicken into 2 inch strips. Season however you like. I like to season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Saute in olive oil over medium high heat until cooked through and lightly browned. Set aside.
- Spread a thin layer of barbecue sauce on top of the unbaked pizza crust, leaving about an inch border from the edge.
- Sprinkle the onions and cilantro over the sauce, followed by the chicken and cheese.
- Bake at 550 degrees F for 8-12 minutes, depending on how crispy you would like your crust.
Notes
For best results make sure you use aHOT oven. I crank mine up to 550 degrees F (as hot as it goes). Preheat the oven with the pizza stone for at least 30 minutes before cooking the pizza.
For more tips, check out my Tips for Totally Awesome Pizza at Home.
Recipe adapted from This Week for Dinner and Cook's Illustrated.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 349Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 26g
