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Put a delicious spin on pizza night with this easy Homemade BBQ Pizza recipe. Loaded with sweet and smoky BBQ sauce, juicy chicken or pork, melty cheese, and sharp red onions, this pizza tastes even better than the classic from California Pizza Kitchen.
One of my favorite meals to batch prep is Crockpot Pulled Chicken or Crockpot Pulled Pork. One night we enjoy sandwiches topped with creamy homemade coleslaw with a side of oven baked fries and the next, this BBQ Pizza. It is seriously the best way to repurpose leftovers!
BBQ Pizza Recipe at a Glance
- Makes 1 large 12-inch pizza (4-6 servings)
- Ready in about 25 minutes when using store-bought dough
- Sweet, smoky, tangy flavor with gooey cheese and crisp-chewy crust
- Kid-friendly and easy to customize
- Great use for leftover rotisserie chicken or pulled pork
Recipe Highlights
Kristen's Keys for BBQ Pizza
A few small details make the difference between a really good pizza and a soggy center pizza. Don't skip these tips!
- Let store-bought refrigerated pizza dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before stretching. It will make it infinitely easier! I typically let it rest while the oven preheats.
- Don't go heavy on the sauce. BBQ sauce is thicker and sweeter than pizza sauce, so a thin layer works best. Too much makes the crust heavy.
- Bake the pizza at a high temperature. A hot oven gives you crisp crust and fully melted cheese before the toppings dry out.
- Shred your own cheese if possible. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting as smoothly.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Notes on Ingredients
- Pizza Dough: Use 1 pound of store-bought dough for convenience or make a batch of Homemade Pizza Dough to keep ingredients simple and costs low.
- Cooked Chicken or Pork: This is an ideal recipe for leftover cooked chicken or pulled pork (think Crockpot pulled chicken, crockpot pulled pork, Instant Pot pulled pork, Instant Pot BBQ chicken, etc.) Use any leftover cooked shredded or diced pork or chicken you have on hand.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite thick, sweet and smoky BBQ sauce here. Keep in mind that a thicker sauce works best so the crust stays crisp. My homemade BBQ sauce works well here, but bottled keeps dinner simple.
- Cheese: A mix of mozzarella and sharp cheddar gives you the best combination of melt and flavor. Monterey Jack or smoked gouda are also delicious additions.
- Optional Additions: Thinly sliced red onion adds sharpness that balances the sweetness of the BBQ sauce and softens while baking. If your family is onion-skeptical, omit.
How to Make BBQ Pizza at Home
This BBQ Pizza recipe is incredibly easy to make. In fact, assembling the pizza is one of my favorite ways to get the whole family involved in dinner and make cooking part of the fun.
Step One: Roll Out Dough
Roll or stretch the dough out onto a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan. Alternatively, you can opt to roll the dough out on a floured surface then transfer to the prepared pan, but my method keeps prep and clean-up simple.
Step Two: Season Meat
If you are starting with plain pulled pork or plain shredded chicken (such as rotisserie chicken), you will want to toss it with a bit of BBQ sauce to ensure the meat stays moist and every bite is flavorful. I also like to add a pinch of garlic powder, but that is optional.
Step Three: Add Toppings
Spread a thin layer of BBQ sauce over the dough, leaving about a ½-inch border around the edges.
Top evenly with the seasoned chicken or pork, sliced red onions, and shredded cheese.
Step Four: Bake
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let the pizza sit for a 3-5 minutes prior to slicing to keep the cheese from sliding off.
Variations & Modifications
- Add a Finishing Touch: Top the pizza with freshly chopped cilantro and, if desired, a drizzle of Homemade Ranch Dressing or hot honey.
- Add Bacon: Add crumbled baked bacon (or bacon bits) to make this pizza reminiscent of Mellow Mushroom Funky Q Chicken pizza.
- Optional Toppings: Diced pineapple, corn kernels, black beans, or pickled jalapeños all pair well with the BBQ flavor of this pizza.
- Take a Short-Cut: Swap out the pizza dough for pita bread or French bread pizza nd make a BBQ version of my pita bread pizza or air fryer French bread pizza in less than 20 minutes.
- Grill the Pizza: Grill the dough first for 2-3 minutes per side, then add toppings and continue cooking over indirect heat until the cheese melts. This really enhances the BBQ flavor the pizza has going on.
Storage Tips
- Refrigerate: Place individual slices of cooled pizza into an airtight container, stacking between pieces of parchment paper if needed. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: To reheat the pizza so it stays crispy and gooey, it is best reheat slices in an air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 375℉ or in the oven for 10-12 minutes at 325℉.
More Favorite Pizza Recipes
If you loved this BBQ Pizza, try these fun pizza-inspired recipes next:
Did you make this recipe?
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BBQ Pizza
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough
- ½ cup barbecue sauce, divided
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken, or pork
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, ~1 cup
- 4 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese, ~1 cup
- minced cilantro, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉ (215℃) and lightly grease a 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Place the pizza dough onto the greased pizza pan and using floured hands, stretch and flatten the dough to fit the pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the shredded chicken or pork, 2 tablespoons of the prepared BBQ sauce, and garlic powder. Mix until the meat is evenly coated in the BBQ sauce.
- Spread a thin layer of the BBQ sauce over the pizza crust, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust. Evenly spread the seasoned meat and sliced onion over the dough then top with the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
- Sprinkle with fresh cilantro if desired, slice, and serve.
Equipment
- 12-inch pizza pan or pizza stone
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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