BBQ Chicken Pizza
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This BBQ chicken pizza recipe is fast, flavorful, and perfect for busy nights. With smoky BBQ sauce, tender rotisserie chicken, red onion, and gooey cheese, it’s everything you want in a homemade pizza. Whether you’re feeding the family or prepping for game day, this recipe is a must-try for any pizza lover.
With football season in full throttle, we’ve been making a ton of pizzas at the DD house. And it’s been an absolute God-send to keep our freezer overstocked with this homemade pizza dough!
WHY THIS IS THE BEST BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA RECIPE
- Crowd-pleaser. BBQ chicken pizza is an absolute crowd-pleaser for both kids and grown-ups. It’s perfect for entertaining, game day, or anytime you have friends and family coming over.
- Lightening fast dinner. With some quick shortcuts like repurposing leftover rotisserie chicken and freezer pizza dough, you’ll have homemade pizza on your dinner table in less than 40 min – that’s faster than delivery and takeout!
- Perfect family activity. Whipping up a homemade pizza is a great, budget-friendly activity for the entire family (especially the little toddlers) to enjoy on the weekends.
- Make-ahead and freezer options. Make-ahead frozen pizzas for the win! Skip the store-bought frozen pizzas. You can fill the freezer with all the homemade frozen pizzas now, perfect for the speediest weeknight meals or lazy weekends, new parents, or kids going back to school.
CREATIVE TOPPING IDEAS FOR BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA
Pineapple tidbits in pineapple juice
For a little bit of sweetness.
Pickled jalapeno peppers
For a kick of heat!
Crispy bacon
Because, why not?
Smoked gouda
Swap out the mozzarella for smoked gouda, or use a blend of both!
TIPS FOR PERFECT BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA EVERY TIME
- Homemade pizza dough goes a long way. Some of the best pizzas are made with good homemade dough, yielding a chewy, flavorful crust. The best part? Homemade pizza dough can be frozen up to 2 months.
- Use rotisserie chicken. To save on prep time even more, opt for rotisserie chicken or any leftover shredded chicken.
- For a crispier crust, use a hot pizza stone. While a baking sheet can certainly do the trick, a pizza stone will allow for even cooking, mimicking a traditional wood-fired pizza oven and resulting in a far more superior crust due to its high heat retention.
- Freeze before baking. This will preserve the texture of the pizza and prevent sogginess.
HOW TO FREEZE AND STORE BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA
Storage
Leftover pizza can be cut into slices, wrapped tightly (to prevent drying out) in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheating
Reheat in the oven at 375°F, covered in aluminum foil until warmed through, about 7-12 minutes, baking longer for a crispier crust.
Freeze before baking
Par-bake the crust at 450°F for 3-5 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack; add toppings. Place pizza on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper, uncovered, freezing for 1-2 hours until solid. Double wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent from drying out. Label, date and freeze up to 3 months.
Bake from frozen as directed, adding a few more minutes of cook time as needed.
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BEST TOOLS FOR MAKING BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA
Use a pizza stone for a crispier crust, or a baking sheet for convenience. Both work perfectly for homemade BBQ chicken pizza.
Pizza stone or baking sheet
BBQ Chicken Pizza: Frequently Asked Questions
While a pizza stone is ideal for a crispier crust, a baking sheet can also be used, especially if you preheat it. Just make sure to sprinkle some cornmeal or line it with parchment paper so the
Absolutely! We swear by our homemade pizza dough recipe — it’s easy, freezer-friendly, and perfect for weeknight pizza nights. You can find it here and keep a few batches in the freezer for those last-minute dinner wins.
We love Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce for its perfect balance of smoky and sweet, but any BBQ sauce you love will work. Go spicy, tangy, or honey-sweet—totally your call. Just make sure it’s a brand you’d dip your fries in!
Leftover pizza slices can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
- 10 tablespoons BBQ sauce, such as Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup diced red onion
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly coat a pizza stone with olive oil.
- Working on a surface that has been sprinkled with cornmeal, roll out the pizza into a 12-inch-diameter round. Transfer to prepared pizza stone.
- Using a small ladle, spread bbq sauce over the surface of the dough in an even layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
- Top with chicken, cheeses and onion; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place into oven and bake for 20-24 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheeses have melted.
- Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro, if desired.
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