BBQ Chicken Pizza
This homemade BBQ chicken pizza is quick, easy and a family-favorite! With leftover rotisserie chicken, BBQ sauce, red onion and mozzarella!
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.
Notes
- 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.
- Local pizzerias will sell dough. If using store-bought, opt for a pound of pizza dough at your favorite local pizza joint, usually ranging from $2-5 per ball. It will make all the difference here.
- 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.
- Use rotisserie chicken. To save on prep time even more, opt for rotisserie chicken or any leftover shredded chicken.
- Freshly grated cheese is ideal. Although pre-shredded cheese can save a few minutes in the kitchen, pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents to prevent clumping – this can hinder its ability to melt properly. Freshly grated cheese will not only have a better flavor profile but it will also melt more smoothly and evenly, yielding a far more superior pizza.
- Freeze before baking. This will preserve the texture of the pizza and prevent sogginess.
- High heat is key. Ensure that the oven is preheated to 450°F for a crispy, golden brown crust, preventing the dough from becoming soggy.