BBQ Chicken Pizza
Updated Nov 08, 2024
This BBQ Chicken Pizza is savory, slightly sweet and tangy and herby! It's easy to throw together with store-bought pizza dough, chicken and barbecue sauce!
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This BBQ chicken pizza is honestly one of my favorite go-to recipes for pizza night. It’s super easy to make (I take a shortcut and use store-bought pizza dough and barbeque sauce!), especially if you’ve got some leftover chicken hanging out in the fridge, and the flavors are so good together.
Table of contents
This BBQ chicken pizza has got everything I love – a slightly smoky barbecue sauce, juicy chicken, melty mozzarella, and a little punch from the Gouda. And then there’s the red onion and fresh cilantro on top that just bring it all together – soo good
Recipe At a Glance
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Oven
Dietary Info: High protein, gluten (if using traditional pizza dough)
Key Flavor: Sweet, smoky, and savory
Skill Level: Easy
Why This is So Good
- Something different. Don’t get me wrong; I love a good traditional tomato sauce pizza as much as the next person. But sometimes, you just need something different to break up the monotony. This barbecue chicken pizza does just that!
- It’s easy to make. We all know that making pizza from scratch can be a bit of an undertaking (but totally worth it if you have the time!). This recipe uses pre-made pizza dough and store-bought barbecue sauce to make things a little easier.
- You can use leftovers. Don’t have any chicken on hand? No problem! You could easily substitute ground beef or even turkey. And if you happen to have some grilled chicken leftover from dinner the night before, this is a great way to use it up!
Ingredients to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Pizza dough: For this recipe, you want to find good-quality pizza dough. I like to use the pre-made dough that I get from a local pizza shop, but you can find it in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. Feel free to make your own if you prefer!
- Barbecue sauce: You can use any brand of barbecue sauce that you like. Just make sure it’s a flavor that you enjoy, as it will be the dominant flavor in this pizza.
- Chicken: I like to use grilled chicken breast for this recipe, but you could also use rotisserie chicken or even canned chicken.
- Smoked gouda: This cheese is so good it should be illegal. Its rich and smokey flavor pairs perfectly with the barbecue sauce and grilled chicken.
- Mozzarella cheese: This is a classic pizza cheese and helps to balance out the strong flavors of the barbecue sauce and smoked gouda.
- Onion: I like to use red onion for this recipe, but you could also use white or yellow onion. The sweetness of the onions pairs nicely with the barbecue sauce.
- Cilantro: This is totally optional, but I love the freshness that it adds to the pizza.
- Flour: You’ll only need a little flour for dusting your work surface.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Add pineapple. When I first shared this recipe a few years ago, the original recipe photos showed the pizza with chunks of pineapple on it. Since then, my family prefers it without pineapple, but it still makes for a great addition if you’re team pineapple on pizza!
- Make it with tortillas or flatbread. If you don’t have pizza dough, you can use store-bought tortillas or flatbreads as a substitute. Just be aware that the baking time will be shorter since they’re thinner than pizza dough.
- Try other cheeses. If you’re not a fan of smoked gouda, you could try substituting cheddar cheese or even pepper jack.
- Add other toppings. If you want to add some more veggies to this pizza, try adding mushrooms, bell peppers, or even jalapeños!
How to Make Homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza
Tips for Making the Best Barbeque Chicken Pizza
- Get your pizza dough from a pizzeria. Small, locally owned pizzerias will often sell pizza dough balls by the pound, and this dough is usually much better than what you can buy in a grocery store! A good pizza is all about good pizza crust, so try to find the best dough that you can.
- Choose your favorite BBQ sauce. Nothing magical is going to transform your sauce when the pizzas are baking, so make sure you choose a sauce that you love the taste of straight out of the bottle!
- Add flour to the pan to ensure no sticking. The flour helps to create a barrier between the dough and pan so that it’s easy to remove the chicken pizza when it’s done cooking.
- Rotate your baking sheets for the most even cooking. Most ovens don’t heat evenly, so to get the most even bake on your pizzas, rotate the baking sheets between the top and bottom racks and turn them 180°F after they’ve been baking for 10 minutes.
What to Serve with Pizza
Frequently Asked Questions
Leftover pizza can be kept in the fridge. Just store it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. You can expect your bbq pizza to last in the fridge for about three days. After that, the crust will start to get soggy, and the flavor won’t be as fresh.
This chicken pizza is best served hot, so I recommend reheating it in a 350°F oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. You could also reheat it in the microwave, but be aware that the crust will not be as crispy.
If your pizza dough is not cooked through, the dough may be too thick. Try rolling it out thinner next time. If that doesn’t work, try cooking the pizza dough for a few minutes before adding the toppings.
Sure! Just roll out the dough thinner than usual and bake it for a little less time.
Any kind! Just choose your favorite. Keep in mind that if you go with a sweeter sauce, the pizza will be sweeter as well.
This Barbecue chicken pizza recipe is perfect for summertime. It’s easy to make, and you can customize it with your favorite toppings. The best part is that it reheats well, so you can enjoy it all week long! Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you liked it. I hope you enjoy it!
More Pizza Recipes:
- Grilled Pizza
- Cast Iron Pizza
- Pizza Quinoa Bites
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- Broccoli Pizza Crust
- Homemade Flatbread
- Yogurt Pizza/Flatbread
- Upside Down Pizza
- Sheet Pan Pizza
- Eggplant Pizza
If you try this feel good BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
This BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe was originally published on April 12, 2017. The recipe has been slightly modified to remove the pineapple and reference to the recipe as Hawaiian since my family enjoyed this better without the pineapples. Feel free to still add the pineapples if you prefer!
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough
- All-purpose flour for dusting
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup chicken breast chopped
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Set the pizza dough out for 30 minutes to come to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and dust two baking sheets with flour.
- Dust a work surface with flour. Divide the pizza dough into two smaller dough balls. Stretch or roll each dough ball into a 9-inch circle and transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Spread each dough circle with ¼ cup barbecue sauce, leaving a ½-inch rim around the edge. Top each with the chopped chicken, then the mozzarella cheese, and Gouda cheese. Scatter the sliced red onion across the top of each.
- Bake the pizzas until they are browned and crispy around the edges and the cheese is bubbling in the center, about 15-20 minutes.
- Remove the pizzas from the oven and sprinkle each chopped cilantro.
- Slice each pizza into 6 pieces and serve.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Comments
who at the store did you get the pizza dough from.
Hi Richard, it’s usually by the canned biscuits, or it might be in the refrigerated section of the bakery. You can ask the service desk at your local grocery store and they should be able to point you in the right direction. Hope you enjoy it!