Smoky Chicken BBQ Pizza (Printer-friendly)

Savory pizza featuring grilled chicken, tangy barbecue sauce, red onions, and melted cheese.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dough

01 - 1 prepared pizza dough (about 9–10.5 oz)

→ Sauce

02 - 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, plus extra for drizzling

→ Chicken

03 - 1 large chicken breast, grilled and sliced (about 7 oz)

→ Vegetables

04 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Cheese

05 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 5 oz)
06 - 1/2 cup shredded smoked gouda or cheddar cheese (about 1.75 oz)

→ Garnish

07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 450°F. If using a pizza stone, position it inside to heat.
02 - Roll or stretch pizza dough into a 12-inch round on a floured surface and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza peel.
03 - Evenly coat the dough with barbecue sauce, leaving a small border for the crust.
04 - Arrange grilled, sliced chicken breast evenly over the barbecue sauce.
05 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and smoked gouda or cheddar cheeses over the chicken.
06 - Distribute thinly sliced red onion evenly atop the cheese.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly with slight browning.
08 - Remove pizza from oven, drizzle with additional barbecue sauce, sprinkle chopped cilantro if desired, slice, and serve hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's faster than ordering delivery and tastes infinitely better than what arrives in a box.
  • The smoky-sweet-savory balance feels like you've been cooking all day, even though it takes barely half an hour.
  • You can make it your own by adjusting the heat, toppings, or cheese blend without worrying about messing it up.
02 -
  • Don't use ice-cold chicken straight from the fridge—room temperature chicken distributes more evenly and heats through without drying out.
  • The difference between a good pizza and a great one is knowing when to pull it out: bubbly cheese with light browning beats waiting for deep brown every time.
03 -
  • Rotisserie chicken is your secret weapon when you're short on time—it's already seasoned, tender, and tastes like you spent way more effort than you actually did.
  • If your pizza stone isn't preheated long enough, your crust won't crisp; give it a solid 15–20 minutes in the oven before baking to make the difference.
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