There’s something wonderfully satisfying about making pizza at home. The aroma that fills the kitchen, the bubbling cheese, the perfectly crisp crust – it’s a culinary experience that brings everyone together. While a classic Margherita has its place, our kitchen often craves something with a bit more punch. That’s where this BBQ Chicken Pizza comes in. It’s a delightful fusion of smoky, sweet, and savoury notes that transforms a simple dinner into something truly memorable. I stumbled upon this combination by accident one evening when I was out of passata but had a bottle of good BBQ sauce, and it’s been a hit ever since.

This isn’t just any chicken pizza. We’re talking about tender, seasoned chicken pieces nestled on a rich, tangy BBQ sauce base, jewelled with sweetcorn and sharp red onion, all blanketed under a generous layer of gloriously melty mozzarella and Red Leicester cheese. The final flourish of fresh coriander cuts through the richness, adding a bright, fresh note that ties everything together. It’s a sophisticated yet straightforward meal that works beautifully for a relaxed weekend dinner or when you have friends over.

Recipe Overview

This homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe delivers a perfect balance of flavours, from the smoky depth of the sauce to the tender chicken and the sharp bite of red onion. The crust achieves that ideal texture: crisp on the bottom but with a satisfying chew. I’ve tested this with several different BBQ sauces, and I find that one with a good smoky profile, rather than one that’s overly sweet, yields the best results. It’s a truly satisfying dinner that the whole family gets excited about.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Servings: 4 people
• Difficulty: Easy

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Pizza

• Sublime Flavour Combination: The tangy, smoky BBQ sauce is the perfect partner for the juicy chicken. The sweetness from the corn and the sharp, fresh taste of red onion and coriander create a wonderfully balanced and interesting pizza.
• Ready in Under 40 Minutes: From gathering your ingredients to pulling a piping hot pizza from the oven, this entire meal comes together in about 35 minutes, making it ideal for a weekday dinner.
• Wonderfully Flexible: Don’t have Red Leicester? Use all mozzarella or add some smoked cheddar. Want a bit of heat? A few sliced jalapeños will do the trick. This recipe is a fantastic starting point for your own creations.
• Great for Casual Gatherings: This pizza is brilliant for a family film night or having a few friends over. You can even set up a ‘pizza station’ and let everyone build their own.
• Family Tested and Approved: This is one of those recipes that always gets compliments in my house. My husband, who’s usually picky, asked for seconds the first time I made it!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

⏱️ 20 min prep  •  🍳 25 min cook  •  👥 4 servings

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Ingredients You’ll Need

For the best results, I recommend using good-quality ingredients, especially the BBQ sauce, as it forms the flavour foundation. I often use Sweet Baby Ray’s for its consistent smoky flavour, but feel free to use your favourite brand. Making sure your chicken is cooked properly is also key; you can find helpful guidance on cooking chicken safely from the Food Standards Agency.

• 1 large pre-made pizza dough ball (approx. 400g), or one large pre-baked base
• 200g skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 2cm cubes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 150ml your favourite BBQ sauce
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 75g tinned sweetcorn, drained
• 150g mozzarella cheese, grated
• 50g Red Leicester cheese, grated
• A small handful of fresh coriander, roughly chopped
• A little flour or polenta, for dusting

Sophia’s Tip: For the best melt, I always buy a block of mozzarella and grate it myself. Pre-grated cheeses often contain anti-caking agents which can affect how smoothly they melt. The extra minute of grating is well worth the effort for that perfect cheese pull.

How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza

The process for creating this delicious homemade pizza is very straightforward. We’ll start by cooking the chicken, then assemble our pizza with that irresistible BBQ sauce base and all the toppings before baking it to perfection.

1. Preheat the Oven: Place a pizza stone or a large, heavy baking tray on the middle rack of your oven and preheat it to 220°C (200°C fan). A hot surface is crucial for a crispy base.
2. Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside.
3. Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the BBQ sauce with the smoked paprika and garlic powder. This is a little step I never skip; it adds a lovely layer of smoky depth to the pizza’s base flavour.
4. Shape the Dough: Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour or polenta. Stretch or roll out your pizza dough into a circle approximately 30cm (12 inches) in diameter. Carefully transfer the dough to a piece of baking parchment.
5. Assemble the Pizza: Spread the BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the pizza base, leaving a 1-2cm border around the edge. Scatter the cooked chicken pieces, sliced red onion, and sweetcorn over the sauce.
6. Add the Cheese: Sprinkle the grated Red Leicester and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the toppings, making sure to go right to the edges.
7. Bake to Perfection: Carefully slide the pizza (still on its baking parchment) onto the preheated pizza stone or baking tray in the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, bubbling, and just starting to brown in spots.
8. Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven. Let it rest for a minute before scattering over the fresh coriander. Slice and serve immediately while it’s hot and the cheese is wonderfully stretchy.

Tips From My Kitchen

• Get That Oven Hot: The key to a great homemade pizza is a very hot oven and a preheated surface. Don’t be tempted to put the pizza in while the oven is still warming up. This ensures the base cooks quickly and becomes crisp rather than soggy.
• The Secret to a Golden Crust: I learned that brushing the exposed crust edge with a little olive oil before baking gives it a beautiful golden sheen and extra flavour. It’s a small detail that makes the pizza look like it came from a proper pizzeria.
• Make-Ahead Method: To save time, you can cook the chicken and slice the vegetables up to a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, all you need to do is assemble and bake.
• Storing Leftovers: If you have any slices left, wrap them tightly in foil or place them in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a hot oven or in a dry frying pan to bring back the crispness of the base.

Equipment You’ll Need

• Pizza stone or a heavy-duty baking tray
• Frying pan
• Pizza cutter or sharp knife
• Cheese grater
• Small bowl and spoon for the sauce

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• The Soggy Bottom: This is often caused by using too much sauce or overloading the pizza with toppings that release a lot of water. Use a thin, even layer of our smoky BBQ sauce and don’t go overboard with the toppings.
• A Pale, Soft Crust: This is almost always due to the oven or the baking surface not being hot enough. Ensure you preheat your oven and your pizza stone/tray for at least 15-20 minutes before the pizza goes in.
• Using Cold Dough: Let your pizza dough come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before you try to stretch it. Cold dough is less pliable and more likely to tear.

Delicious Variations to Try

One of the best things about homemade pizza is how easily you can adapt it. If you fancy a change, here are a few ideas that work wonderfully with the smoky BBQ base.

• Add Some Spice: For those who like a bit of heat, add thinly sliced fresh jalapeños or a sprinkle of dried chilli flakes along with the other toppings.
• Smoky Bacon & Chicken: Add a few rashers of cooked, crispy streaky bacon, crumbled over the pizza before baking. The salty crunch is a fantastic addition. If you love bacon, you might also enjoy these Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders.
• A Different Cheese: Swap the Red Leicester for smoked Gouda or a sharp provolone. The extra smokiness from the Gouda, in particular, complements the barbecue sauce beautifully.

What to Serve With BBQ Chicken Pizza

This pizza is a hearty meal on its own, but a few simple sides can round it out perfectly. Here are a few of my go-to pairings:

• A Crisp Green Salad: A simple salad of rocket, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber with a lemon vinaigrette provides a fresh, sharp contrast to the rich pizza.
• Garlic Dough Balls: Use some extra pizza dough to make some simple garlic dough balls for dipping into any leftover BBQ sauce.
• A Cool Drink: A cold, crisp lager or a pale ale cuts through the sweetness of the sauce brilliantly. For a non-alcoholic option, a sharp, cloudy lemonade is very refreshing.

Frequently Asked Questions

BBQ Chicken Pizza

A delicious homemade pizza featuring tender chicken, a smoky BBQ sauce base, sweet red onions, and a gooey blend of mozzarella and Red Leicester cheeses.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 640

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 large pre-made pizza dough ball approx. 400g, or one large pre-baked base
• 200 g skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into 2cm cubes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 150 ml your favourite BBQ sauce
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 small red onion thinly sliced
• 75 g tinned sweetcorn drained
• 150 g mozzarella cheese grated
• 50 g Red Leicester cheese grated
• A small handful of fresh coriander roughly chopped
• A little flour or polenta for dusting

Method

 

1. Preheat the Oven: Place a pizza stone or a large, heavy baking tray on the middle rack of your oven and preheat it to 220°C (200°C fan). A hot surface is crucial for a crispy base.
2. Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside.
3. Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the BBQ sauce with the smoked paprika and garlic powder. This is a little step I never skip; it adds a lovely layer of smoky depth to the pizza’s base flavour.
4. Shape the Dough: Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour or polenta. Stretch or roll out your pizza dough into a circle approximately 30cm (12 inches) in diameter. Carefully transfer the dough to a piece of baking parchment.
5. Assemble the Pizza: Spread the BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the pizza base, leaving a 1-2cm border around the edge. Scatter the cooked chicken pieces, sliced red onion, and sweetcorn over the sauce.
6. Add the Cheese: Sprinkle the grated Red Leicester and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the toppings, making sure to go right to the edges.
7. Bake to Perfection: Carefully slide the pizza (still on its baking parchment) onto the preheated pizza stone or baking tray in the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, bubbling, and just starting to brown in spots.
8. Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven. Let it rest for a minute before scattering over the fresh coriander. Slice and serve immediately while it's hot and the cheese is wonderfully stretchy.

Notes

Store any leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or an air fryer for the best texture.

I really hope this BBQ Chicken Pizza becomes a new favourite in your home, just as it has in mine. It’s a reliable, delicious, and satisfying meal that always feels like a treat. If you do give it a try, I’d love for you to leave a comment below to let me know how you got on. Happy cooking!

– Sophia

P.S. If you’re looking for a sweet treat to follow up this savoury dinner, my Peach Crumb Cheesecake is always a winner!