Description
This BBQ Chicken Pizza combines tender grilled chicken tossed in tangy barbecue sauce with melted mozzarella cheese and fresh red onions on a crispy homemade or store-bought pizza crust. Garnished with fresh cilantro, it delivers a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and savory flavors in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (sweet and tangy)
Pizza Base and Toppings
- 1 lb pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 small red onion (thinly sliced)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it heats to ensure an evenly cooked, crispy crust.
- Grill Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat for about 6-7 minutes per side until fully cooked through. Once done, let the chicken rest briefly to retain juices, then shred it into bite-sized pieces.
- Coat Chicken with Barbecue Sauce: In a bowl, combine half of the barbecue sauce with the shredded chicken, mixing thoroughly so every piece is coated with the sweet and tangy flavor.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your preferred thickness for the crust.
- Assemble Pizza: Spread the remaining barbecue sauce evenly over the rolled-out dough. Layer the sauced chicken mixture on top, followed by an even sprinkling of shredded mozzarella cheese and thin slices of red onion.
- Bake Pizza: Bake the assembled pizza in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Using a pizza stone helps achieve a crisper crust but is optional.
- For extra smoky flavor, consider using smoked barbecue sauce or adding diced smoked gouda cheese along with mozzarella.
- Leftover pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best results.
- To save time, you can use pre-grilled or rotisserie chicken instead of grilling fresh chicken breasts.
