BBQ Chicken Pizza
Warm, smoky, and cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza is a weeknight favorite that transforms leftover chicken into a delicious meal, balancing tangy BBQ sauce with melty cheese and fresh cilantro.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 piece Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
Protein
- 2 cups Cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
Sauce
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce Plus 2 tbsp reserved for tossing chicken
Cheese
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Veggies & Herbs
- 1 small Red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro, chopped
Oil & Extras
- 1 tbsp Olive oil for brushing crust
- to taste Salt and pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 475°F and roll out pizza dough on a floured surface to desired thickness; transfer to a greased pizza pan or baking sheet and brush edges with olive oil.
- Shred or chop the cooked chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and toss with 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce until well coated.
Assembly
- Spread remaining BBQ sauce evenly over the pizza dough, leaving a 1-inch border for the crust.
- Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
- Distribute the BBQ chicken pieces and sliced red onions evenly over the cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Baking
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly; remove from oven and immediately sprinkle fresh cilantro over the hot pizza before serving.
Notes
Use room-temperature dough for easier stretching and a lighter crust. Don’t overload the sauce or toppings to avoid a soggy center; less is more. Bake on a preheated pizza pan or baking sheet for a crisper bottom. Cool slightly before slicing to keep the toppings from sliding off. If you want a spicy experiment, try swapping some BBQ sauce for a buffalo-style kick.