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Ingredients
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Dough & base
Sauce & cheese
Fried chicken topping
Finishing & garnish
Method
Fried chicken topping
- 1
Prepare chicken
Slice chicken into 1/2-inch strips or bite-size pieces. Place in a bowl and pour the buttermilk and hot sauce over the chicken. Mix, cover, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to tenderize and flavor.
- 2
Make dredge
In a shallow bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until evenly combined.
- 3
Dredge chicken
Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Dredge pieces in the seasoned flour-cornstarch mixture, pressing gently so the coating adheres. Place coated pieces on a plate while you heat the oil.
- 4
Fry chicken
In a heavy skillet, add ~1 cup vegetable oil and heat over medium-high to 350°F (175°C). Working in batches (do not overcrowd), fry the coated chicken pieces 2–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C). Transfer to a wire rack or paper towels to drain and cool slightly. Once cool, roughly chop or shred into bite-size pieces suitable for topping pizza.
Dough & base
- 5
Preheat and prepare
Place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 500°F (260°C) for at least 30 minutes. If using a lower-temp oven, preheat to the maximum (450–500°F). Lightly dust a work surface and your hands with 2 tbs flour.
- 6
Shape dough
On the floured surface, stretch or roll the dough into a roughly 12-inch round, leaving a slightly thicker rim for the crust. Transfer the shaped dough to a piece of parchment paper or a floured pizza peel. Brush the edge lightly with 1 tbs olive oil to promote browning.
Sauce, cheese & assembly
- 7
Add sauce
Spread 3 tbs BBQ sauce evenly over the dough, leaving the outer 1/2-inch rim free of sauce to help crisp the crust.
- 8
Cheese layer
Sprinkle 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauced dough, then scatter 1/2 cup smoked cheddar or gouda if using. The secondary cheese adds a smoky note that complements the BBQ chicken.
- 9
Add chicken and onions
Evenly distribute the chopped fried chicken pieces over the cheese. Scatter the thinly sliced red onion across the top so it roasts slightly in the oven.
Bake & finish
- 10
Bake pizza
Using the parchment or a floured peel, slide the assembled pizza onto the preheated stone or inverted sheet. Bake at 500°F (260°C) for 7–10 minutes, until the crust is golden and charred in spots and the cheese is bubbling. Oven times vary—watch closely after 6 minutes.
- 11