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This flavor-packed BBQ Chicken Pizza is an easy way to enjoy a restaurant favorite at home. Start with my no-knead homemade gluten free pizza dough or any crust you love, then cover it with barbecue sauce, shredded chicken, three kinds of cheese, and more. You won’t be able to stop at one slice!
Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Pizza
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free option
- Skill Level: Moderate
We have Ed LaDou to thank for bringing BBQ chicken pizza into our lives. As a pizza chef at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant in Los Angeles, he put together all kinds of interesting combinations featuring many ingredients that you might not think to put on pizza. And people fell in love with them! He then went on to create the menu for California Pizza Kitchen, which included the original BBQ Chicken Pizza.
It remains on the menu to this day and has been reinvited countless times over in other restaurants all over the country. But here’s why you’ll love to make it at home:
- Customizable. Not only can you use your favorite barbecue sauce and cheese, this recipe is just the starting point to add any toppings you love.
- Use up leftovers. Make it when you need to use up leftover chicken. The family will be thrilled!
- Make it gluten free. I have a simple and perfect gluten free crust reicpe you can use, but you can also buy a pre-made pizza shell. By handling it in your kitchen, you have complete control over the ingredients and cross-contamination.
Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza Ingredients
Every pizza needs to start with a good crust. I always use my favorite Gluten Free Pizza Crust. However, you can use any regular or gluten free crust recipe you prefer. You can even use a mix or a pre-made crust from the grocery store.
BBQ Pizza Toppings
These are the basics that are essential to making a good barbecue chicken pizza. You’ll find the full quantities and detailed instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite.
- Chicken: Use already cooked chicken that you’ve shredded.
- Cheese: I like to use three kinds of cheese. Mozzarella for that classic stretch pizza goodness, cheddar for the sharp flavor that goes so well with barbecue, and Monterey Jack because it gets nice and melty. But you can use any combination you like. Try Smoked Gouda for extra smoky flavor!
- Red onion: Thinly sliced.
- Bacon: Some versions leave this off, and you are free to omit it, but it adds a perfect salty, smoky flavor. Use your favorite of these 6 ways to cook bacon to make it nice and crispy.
- Cilantro: Finely minced for an optional garnish to sprinkle on the finished pizza.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza
Here is a quick overview of how to prepare this pizza.
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 450°F, arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven, and line a baking sheet with baking paper. Whether you are using the gluten free pizza crust I include here or are using your own recipe or a pre-made crust, be sure to follow the directions if par-baking is necessary.
- Add the Toppings: Shred or chop your chicken and toss it with some of the barbecue sauce. Spread BBQ sauce over the crust, then top with the chicken. Scatter the cheese on top and add the red onion and bacon.
- Finish Baking: Put the pizza back in the oven at 450°F for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown. Sprinkle on a garnish of minced cilantro, if you like. Then cut your pizza into slices and enjoy!
BBQ Pizza Variations
You can also start with this base BBQ chicken pizza recipe and then customize it as you like by substituting or adding toppings. Try some of these ideas.
- Pineapple: Some are against pineapple on pizza, but the sweet and savory pairing is fabulous.
- Jalapenos: If you like some spice.
- Ham: Another smoky alternative to the bacon, especially if you have leftover roast ham.
- Green onions: Can be an alternative to the red onion
- Other veggies: Peppers, tomatoes, corn, and more.
- Ranch dressing: Some people like to finish off their pizza with a little ranch dressing. For a little zip, try Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dressing.
Tips for the Best BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Craft the perfect flavor. Using different barbecue sauces gives you the freedom to make it more sweet, smoky, or spicy. Maybe you even want to try making your own, like Bourbon Barbecue Sauce or Honey BBQ Sauce.
- Use up leftovers. This is a perfect recipe to use up leftover grilled chicken, a Costco rotisserie chicken or one you make in your air fryer, or for extra flavor Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts.
- Adjust as needed. You can split your dough into two smaller pizzas, or use a smaller or larger crust. You will then have to adjust the amount of toppings.
- Line your pan. This saves a lot of stress because it makes it easier to slide the pizza on and off the pan. he same holds even if you use a pizza stone, which is a great choice for a nice, crispy crust.
- Be sure to par-bake. Since you are used a lot of saucy, heavy toppings, par-baking will ensure that your crust cooks all the way through so that it is not soggy in the middle.
- Make it dairy-free. You can use vegan cheese and a dairy-free crust if needed.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Pizza
Refrigerator: To refrigerate any leftovers, place your leftover pizza slices in a single layer in an airtight container or in a plastic zip-top bag. It will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer: You can also freeze it for up to two months if it is tightly sealed.
Reheating: If you froze the pizza, be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator. Reheat it at 350°F in a toaster oven, regular oven, or air fryer until it is hot and the cheese is melted again.
What Do You Eat With BBQ Pizza?
Barbecue chicken pizza will pair perfectly with your favorite BBQ side dishes like these.
- Classic Coleslaw is always perfect with anything barbecue. You can even pile it on top of the pizza.
- For a light and healthy side, try Apple Broccoli Salad made with Greek yogurt.
- Sauteed Summer Vegetables are a fresh taste of the season.
- Or go with something a little more hearty, like Avocado Corn Salad.
Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 teaspoon instant dry yeast
- 2 cups gluten-free 1:1 baking flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
For the Pizza
- 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce + 2 Tablespoons
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/4 of a small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Minced cilantro for garnish, if desired
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat oven to 450°F, arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven, and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- In a small bowl or jug, combine the warm water and instant dry yeast. Let sit for about 5 minutes to allow the yeast to dissolve and become foamy.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.
- Using a wooden spoon, create a well in the middle of the combined dry ingredients.
- Pour in the yeast mixture and oil and mix together.
- Stir the dough until it is smooth and well combined, about 5 minutes.
- Once dough is ready, place on the prepared baking sheet and press into a thin, even 10-inch circle (or 2 5-inch circles).
- Par-bake for 8 – 10 minutes, or until the top of the base is dry and starting to brown.
For the Pizza
- Prepare and par-bake the crust as directed above or following the directions of your favorite homemade or storebough crust.
- In a small bowl, toss the chicken with the 2 Tablespoons of BBQ sauce.
- Spread the 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce in an even layer of sauce over the crust, then spread the coated chicken over the crust. Cover with the mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese.
- Scatter the onion and bacon over the top of the pizza.
- Return to the oven and bake for a further 10 – 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with cilantro, if desired, then slice and serve.
Notes
Did you make this?
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More Gluten Free Pizza Recipes
- Hawaiian Pizza
- Supreme Pizza
- How to Make Frozen Pizza Better – use gluten free frozen pizza to make four different varieties
- Watermelon Pizza
If you use baking flour, it’s not gluten free
As the recipe specifies, I use gluten free baking flour, so it is not traditional wheat flour.