Homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza (Printable View)

Smoky BBQ sauce, tender chicken, and melted cheese on golden crust

# What You'll Need:

→ Pizza Crust

01 - 1 pound fresh pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Cornmeal or flour for dusting

→ BBQ Chicken

04 - 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
05 - 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce

→ Pizza Sauce

06 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, plus extra for drizzling

→ Cheese Blend

07 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/2 cup shredded smoked Gouda or cheddar cheese

→ Fresh Vegetables

09 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
11 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 475°F. Place pizza stone in oven if using to heat thoroughly.
02 - On lightly floured surface, roll or stretch dough into 12-inch round. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza peel dusted with cornmeal.
03 - Brush dough lightly with olive oil. Spread 1/2 cup BBQ sauce evenly over surface, leaving small border for crust edge.
04 - Toss cooked chicken with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce in bowl until thoroughly coated.
05 - Sprinkle half the mozzarella over BBQ sauce base. Distribute BBQ chicken, red onion slices, and bell pepper evenly across pizza.
06 - Top with remaining mozzarella and smoked Gouda or cheddar cheese.
07 - Transfer to hot oven or preheated pizza stone. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until crust turns golden brown and cheese bubbles.
08 - Remove from oven and let rest 2 minutes. Drizzle with additional BBQ sauce and sprinkle fresh cilantro. Slice and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors hits every craving at once
  • Store-bought dough and rotisserie chicken make it surprisingly achievable on busy weeknights
  • The bubbling cheese and caramelized vegetables create restaurant-quality results without the effort
02 -
  • Never skip letting the dough come to room temperature first, or it will fight back every time you try to stretch it
  • Using a pizza stone makes a noticeable difference in crust texture, creating that restaurant-style crispy bottom
  • Do not overload with sauce or the middle will become soggy no matter how hot your oven gets
03 -
  • Grill the pizza instead of baking for an even smokier flavor and impressively charred crust
  • Double the chicken and sauce mixture while you are at it, because leftover BBQ chicken makes incredible tacos the next day

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