A BBQ chicken pizza recipe uses barbecue sauce as the base, with cooked chicken, melted cheese, and red onion on top. It bakes at 400°F for about 20 minutes, so it works as a quick home dinner.
What Goes Into a BBQ Chicken Pizza
A BBQ chicken pizza layers barbecue sauce, cooked chicken, mozzarella, and red onion over pizza dough. The chicken and the sauce carry most of the flavor, so both need a little care.
The Food Network version of this BBQ chicken pizza recipe sautés chicken tenders until golden, then dices them and tosses them with 2 tablespoons of the barbecue sauce. The rest of the sauce goes directly on the dough, so the sauce flavors both the crust and the chicken.
Because the chicken is cooked before it goes on the pizza, the bake only has to melt the cheese and brown the crust. That is why this BBQ chicken pizza recipe uses a short bake instead of a long roast.
BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe Ingredients
A BBQ chicken pizza recipe for four to six people uses 1/2 pound of chicken tenders, 2/3 cup of barbecue sauce, one 13.8-ounce package of pizza dough, and 2.5 cups of shredded cheese.
- 1/2 pound chicken tenders, cooked in 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2/3 cup barbecue sauce, split between the chicken and the dough
- One 13.8-ounce package pizza dough, plus flour for dusting
- 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, added after baking
- Three shredded cheeses, compared in the table below
This BBQ chicken pizza recipe uses three cheeses, and each one plays a different role on the pizza.
| Cheese | Amount | Role on the pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Mozzarella | 1 cup, shredded | Main melting cheese that covers the base |
| Gouda | 3/4 cup, shredded | Second melting cheese for extra richness |
| Parmesan | 3/4 cup, shredded | Sharper finish on top of the toppings |
Pat the chicken tenders dry before they go in the skillet, so they brown rather than steam. Browned chicken adds more flavor to the finished pizza.
This BBQ chicken pizza recipe serves four to six and takes 47 minutes in total, with 15 minutes of prep and 32 minutes of cooking. Smaller batches scale down easily, but keep the same oven temperature and bake check.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza Step by Step
Making a BBQ chicken pizza takes five steps: heat the oven to 400°F, cook and sauce the chicken, shape the dough, add the toppings, and bake for about 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken tenders and sauté until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, dice the chicken and toss it with 2 tablespoons of the barbecue sauce.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough and shape it on a greased sheet pan to about 15 by 10 inches. Spread the remaining barbecue sauce evenly over the dough.
- Sprinkle the Gouda, mozzarella, Parmesan, red onion, and chicken over the sauce.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese bubbles. Sprinkle with the cilantro, then cut and serve.
The Heck Food recipe, a UK version, bakes at 200°C (400°F) for 15 to 20 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Start checking at 15 minutes so the crust does not overbake.
The Food Network page does not include a rise or rest time for the dough, so these steps follow the recipe as written. If you make dough from scratch, follow your own dough recipe, such as bread flour dough recipe, for rising time before you shape it. For the basics of dough, toppings and oven setup, see home pizza basics.
Chicken Safety and Oven Temperature
Cook the chicken to 165°F before it goes on the pizza, and check it with a food thermometer. This is the safe internal temperature for chicken, and it applies whatever oven you use.
The FDA’s safe food handling chart lists 165°F as the safe internal temperature for poultry parts, so use a food thermometer to check the chicken. That number refers to the chicken itself, not to how long the pizza bakes.
Both versions of this BBQ chicken pizza recipe bake at 400°F, so that is a dependable starting point for a home oven. Let the oven heat fully before the pizza goes in.
In the Food Network method, the chicken is sautéed first, so the thermometer check happens before the chicken goes on the pizza, not after baking.
Making BBQ Chicken Pizza in a Pizza Oven
A pizza oven can bake this BBQ chicken pizza recipe, but its heat and bake time depend on the model. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance instead of the 400°F setting used in these recipes, and see how heat varies by oven for how heat varies by oven.
The chicken rules stay the same. Cook it to 165°F before it goes on the pizza, because the safe internal temperature for chicken does not change with the oven.
Keep the layers in the same order: sauce first, then the cheeses, red onion, and chicken. Watch the crust and the cheese rather than the clock, because the 15 to 20 minute range comes from home oven recipes and may not match a hotter oven.
Whichever oven you use, the core of the BBQ chicken pizza recipe stays the same: a sauced base, cooked chicken, cheese, and red onion. Start with the same chicken step, then judge doneness by the crust color and the bubbling cheese.
Common Mistakes With BBQ Chicken Pizza
The most common mistake is skipping the chicken cooking step, because this BBQ chicken pizza recipe assumes the chicken is already cooked before it goes on the pizza.
- Putting all of the barbecue sauce on the dough, which leaves none to coat the chicken and can make the base wet.
- Piling on too many toppings, which can slow the cheese from melting evenly.
- Skipping the thermometer check and guessing that the chicken is done.
Another easy slip is cutting the pizza straight out of the oven. Let it sit for a minute so the cheese firms slightly before you slice it.
Keep the 2 tablespoons of sauce set aside for the chicken, as the Food Network method does. That keeps the chicken coated and the dough from getting too wet.
Ways to Vary Your BBQ Chicken Pizza
Simple variations on this BBQ chicken pizza recipe add corn or red pepper, as one UK version does, and keep the same bake time and temperature.
The Heck Food recipe adds corn and red pepper alongside the red onion.
Whichever variation you choose for your BBQ chicken pizza recipe, cook the chicken first and check it with a thermometer before it goes on the pizza. A new topping does not change the safe temperature.
The Food Network version adds Parmesan and cilantro, so small swaps change the flavor without changing the method. If you want a spicier chicken pie, the buffalo chicken pizza recipe uses a different sauce and toppings. Marinating the chicken and making dough from scratch are useful next steps, but they are topics for separate guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a BBQ chicken pizza take to bake?
Bake it for about 20 minutes at 400°F, or until the cheese bubbles and the crust turns golden. The Heck Food recipe gives a 15 to 20 minute range, so start checking at 15 minutes. Ovens differ, so trust the color of the crust and the bubbling cheese over the clock.
Should I cook the chicken before it goes on the pizza?
Yes. The Food Network recipe sautés chicken tenders first, then dices them and tosses them with some barbecue sauce. The FDA lists 165°F as the safe internal temperature for poultry, so use a food thermometer to check the chicken before it goes on the pizza.
Can I use store-bought pizza dough?
Yes. The Food Network version of this BBQ chicken pizza recipe uses one 13.8-ounce package of pizza dough, rolled out on a floured surface and shaped on a greased sheet pan to about 15 by 10 inches. Store-bought dough keeps the method short, and the rest of the steps stay the same.
What cheese works best on BBQ chicken pizza?
Mozzarella is the main melting cheese in the Food Network recipe. Gouda adds a second melting layer, and Parmesan adds a sharper finish. This BBQ chicken pizza recipe uses all three together, which gives a richer topping than mozzarella alone.
Can I make BBQ chicken pizza in a pizza oven?
Yes, but heat and bake times vary by oven, so follow the manufacturer’s guidance for your model. Pre-cook the chicken the same way you would for a home oven, check it with a thermometer, and watch the crust and cheese as the pizza bakes.
Choose the oven you already have and cook the chicken before it goes on the pizza. If you use a pizza oven, check the manufacturer’s guidance for heat and time, and confirm the chicken reaches 165°F. Start with this BBQ chicken pizza recipe at 400°F for about 20 minutes, then adjust the sauce and cheese to your taste.