This mouthwatering BBQ Chicken Pizza combines classic Italian comfort with bold American flavors, ready in just 25 minutes! Perfect for busy weeknights, this crowd-pleasing recipe delivers a delicious blend of tender chicken, tangy barbecue sauce, and melted cheese.
At only 307 calories per serving, it’s a lighter take on traditional pizza without sacrificing taste. The protein-packed creation (24g per serving) makes an ideal choice for family dinners or casual entertaining.
Ingredients for BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Pizza Dough: Enough for one large pizza base
- Chicken: 1 1/2 cups shredded (use rotisserie for convenience or 2 chicken breasts)
- Mozzarella Cheese: 2 cups freshly shredded for best melting
- BBQ Sauce: 1/2 cup, plus extra for coating chicken
- Red Onion: 1/4 large onion, sliced paper-thin for even distribution
- Fresh Cilantro: To taste, adds fresh herbal notes
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Oven: Heat to 450°F (232°C) for optimal crust crispiness
- Pre-bake Crust: Give your dough a 6-minute head start for a perfectly crispy base
- Sauce Layer: Apply a thin, even layer of BBQ sauce across pre-baked crust
- First Cheese Layer: Add initial mozzarella layer and arrange onion slices
- Prepare Chicken: Toss shredded chicken with BBQ sauce in a bowl until well coated
- Add Toppings: Distribute seasoned chicken and final cheese layer evenly
- Garnish: Sprinkle fresh cilantro to taste
- Final Bake: Cook for 10-15 minutes until crust turns golden and cheese bubbles
Cooking Techniques
Pre-baking your pizza dough gives you that perfect crispy crust! The 6-minute head start lets the crust develop a sturdy base before adding toppings. When you’re layering ingredients, keep each layer thin and even – this helps everything cook at the same rate and creates that wonderful mix of flavors in every bite.
Variations and Substitutions
Want to switch things up? Try pepper jack cheese instead of mozzarella for a spicy kick! No rotisserie chicken? Grilled chicken breast works great too. Not a fan of red onions? Sweet Vidalia onions or caramelized onions add amazing flavor.
You can also try different BBQ sauces – sweet, spicy, or smoky – to match your taste. For a different herb accent, fresh parsley works nicely in place of cilantro.
Serving Suggestions
This BBQ chicken pizza goes perfectly with a crisp green salad dressed in ranch or honey mustard. Want to make it a fun pizza night? Cut it into small squares for easy sharing. A drizzle of ranch dressing or extra BBQ sauce on top after baking adds an extra pop of flavor.
For a complete meal, serve with some sweet coleslaw on the side – it pairs wonderfully with the BBQ flavors!
Storage Tips
If you have leftovers, let the pizza cool completely before storing. Place pieces in an airtight container with wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. It’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop it in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes – this keeps the crust crispy much better than microwaving!
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 Dough for one large pizza
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken shredded rotisserie or about 2 chicken breasts
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 large red onion very thinly sliced
- fresh cilantro to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F and prebake your pizza dough for 6 minutes.
- Spread a thin layer of bbq sauce on top of the pre-baked pizza crust.
- Then top with a thin layer of mozzarella cheese and sliced red onion.
- Add shredded rotisserie chicken to a bowl and cover it with a few tablespoons of bbq sauce. Toss to combine.
- Spread chicken pieces over the pizza.
- Sprinkle another thin layer of cheese on top of the pizza, and add chopped cilantro, to taste.
- Bake at 450 F for 10-15 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
