Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza

5 from 2 votes
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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!

sliced bbq chicken pizza with a spatula pulling one piece away

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Pizza

  • 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.
whole uncut bbq chicken pizza topped with barbecue sauce, chicken, cheese, red onions, bacon, and cilantro

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.
pizza crust plus bowls of barbecue sauce, chicken, three kinds of cheese, crumbled bacon, and sliced red onions, plus a bunch of cilantro on a marble tabletop

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.
par-baked pizza crust on a parchment lined baking sheet
  • 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!
cutting into the finished pizza with a pizza slicer

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.
hand using a spatula to get a slice of pizza

Tips for the Best BBQ Chicken Pizza

Here are a few things to remember to make a mouthwatering 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.

barbecue chicken pizza on a parchment-lined cutting board with a jar of bbq sauce behind it

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.

A hand using a spatula to pick up a slice of bbq chicken pizza off of a cutting board.

What Do You Eat With BBQ Pizza?

Barbecue chicken pizza will pair perfectly with your favorite BBQ side dishes like these.

hand using a spatula to get a slice of pizza
5 from 2 votes

Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza

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!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 8 slices

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

Nutrition facts are based on this crust recipe.
The toppings are based on covering a 10-inch crust. You can adjust the quantities if you are using a bigger or smaller crust.
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 223 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 593mg25%
Potassium 121mg3%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 143IU3%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 115mg12%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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