By Becky Hardin
Updated Aug 25, 2025
I love to make this BBQ Chicken Pizza on pizza night as I only need a few ingredients and 30 minutes. It’s so simple yet incredibly delicious! I top pizza dough with barbecue sauce, shredded chicken, red onions, and plenty of cheese for a sweet, smoky, and tangy mix.
Pin this recipe for later!
Easy BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
I love making this BBQ Chicken Pizza when I want something a little different for pizza night. I pile soft, fluffy pizza dough with tangy BBQ sauce, creamy cheese, chicken, onions, and cilantro—my perfect combo! I also love how easy it is to adapt depending on what I have in the fridge or how much time I have. On busy nights, I use store-bought dough and barbecue sauce for a super-easy meal, but when I have the time, I enjoy making everything from scratch.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 lb. pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- ▢ ¾ cup barbecue sauce divided
- ▢ 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- ▢ 2 cups shredded smoked gouda cheese or mozzarella cheese
- ▢ ¼ cup sliced red onion
- ▢ ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro optional, for topping
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Once heated, place the pizza stone or pan in the oven.
- Combine ½ cup barbecue sauce with the chicken.
- Shape the dough into a circle and place it on parchment paper. 1 lb. pizza dough
- Spread ¼ cup of barbecue sauce over the pizza crust. ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- Layer the chicken over the crust.
- Top with the cheese and red onion. 2 cups shredded smoked gouda cheese, ¼ cup sliced red onion
- Remove the pizza pan or stone from the oven and slide the pizza onto the pan.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is crispy on the outside and cooked through.
- Finish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and more BBQ sauce. ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Equipment
- Pizza Pan or pizza stone
Becky’s Tips
- If your red onions are really strong , you can soak them in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow them out.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza Step by Step
Preheat oven to 425°F. Once heated, place the pizza stone or pan in the oven.
Combine chicken with BBQ sauce: In a bowl, combine ½ cup barbecue sauce and 2 cups chicken.
Shape the dough: Shape 1 lb. pizza dough into a circle and place it on parchment paper.
Add the BBQ sauce: Spread ¼ cup of barbecue sauce over the pizza crust.
Prepare the pizza: Layer the chicken over the crust.
Top pizza and bake: Top with 2 cups cheese and ¼ cup red onion.
Remove the pizza pan or stone from the oven and slide the pizza onto the pan.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is crispy on the outside and cooked through.
Garnish and serve: Finish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and more BBQ sauce.
Variations on Barbecue Chicken Pizza
This barbecue chicken pizza is so versatile. You can use any kind of barbecue sauce, from classic to Carolina gold to Alabama white. You can swap out the chicken for pulled pork or crumbled bacon , or throw on some grilled pineapple for a sweet twist–I love pineapple on my pizza!
How to Store
Store leftover BBQ chicken pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through.
Freeze individual slices of BBQ chicken pizza in Ziplock bags or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this barbecue chicken pizza with classic BBQ sides, like creamy coleslaw and corn on the cob , for a unique pizza night. Or go the classic route with garlic knots . This pizza also pairs well with honey BBQ wings !
more easy pizza recipes we love
Meat Lovers Breakfast Pizza (Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza)
Mexican Pizza Recipe
New York Style Pizza
Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
Equipment
- Pizza Pan or pizza stone
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce divided
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 2 cups shredded smoked gouda cheese or mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup sliced red onion
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro optional, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Once heated, place the pizza stone or pan in the oven.
- Combine ½ cup barbecue sauce with the chicken.
- Shape the dough into a circle and place it on parchment paper. 1 lb. pizza dough
- Spread ¼ cup of barbecue sauce over the pizza crust. ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- Layer the chicken over the crust.
- Top with the cheese and red onion. 2 cups shredded smoked gouda cheese, ¼ cup sliced red onion
- Remove the pizza pan or stone from the oven and slide the pizza onto the pan.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is crispy on the outside and cooked through.
- Finish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and more BBQ sauce. ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
- If your red onions are really strong , you can soak them in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow them out.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
