Bbq Chicken Pizza Recipe

Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat. If using a baking sheet, lightly oil it and set aside. Stretch or roll the pizza dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a piece of parchment paper or the prepared baking sheet. Brush the outer 1/2-inch of the crust lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil to promote browning.

Combine chicken with BBQ sauce

In a medium bowl, combine the 1.5 cups cooked chicken with 3 tablespoons Cookies’ Sweet Hickory BBQ Sauce, 1/2 cup thinly sliced yellow onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (if using). Toss until chicken and onions are evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning: add a touch more BBQ sauce for saucier topping or another pinch of salt if needed.

Optional: warm the mixture

For better melding of flavors and to remove excess moisture from the onion, you can briefly warm the sauced chicken in a skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before assembling.

Spread a thin, even layer of 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons Cookies’ Sweet Hickory BBQ Sauce over the dough, leaving the oiled rim exposed. Distribute the BBQ-coated chicken and onion mixture evenly across the sauced surface, breaking up larger pieces so the toppings are uniform. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella, provolone, and cheddar evenly over the chicken, covering to the edge of the sauced area. Add the cooked, chopped bacon evenly across the cheese. If using, scatter the optional thin red onion slices sparingly so they don't overwhelm the pizza.

Bake

Slide the pizza (on parchment, baking sheet, or pizza peel) onto the preheated pizza stone or place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake at 500°F (260°C) for 8–12 minutes, rotating halfway through, until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Baking time will vary with oven and stone; watch closely after 8 minutes.

Rest & Garnish

Remove pizza from oven and let rest 2–3 minutes. Sprinkle chopped bacon (if you prefer it crisper, you can add half before baking and half right after), and garnish with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Optionally drizzle an additional 1 teaspoon of BBQ sauce in a thin swirl across the top for presentation.

Slice & Serve

Transfer to a cutting board, slice into 6–8 slices, and serve immediately while hot.