This grilled BBQ chicken pizza recipe comes fully loaded with all of the classic ingredients, including juicy chicken, tangy barbecue sauce, creamy cheeses, and crisp red onions.
Not sure what to have for dinner tonight? Let’s solve that problem! The latest spin on my household’s favorite grilled pizza is a cheesy, smoky BBQ chicken pizza with all the fixings. I’m talking juicy chicken tossed in tangy barbecue sauce, melty cheeses, and crisp red onions. We’re using store-bought pizza dough (because, weeknights), but there’s always the option for a homemade crust.
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Pizza Recipe
Bold BBQ flavors. This pizza has sweet-savory BBQ chicken, tender-crisp onions, and melty cheese layered over a cream cheese and barbecue sauce base. BBQ sauce is sweet, savory, and a little spicy. We all know how delicious it is with grilled chicken, so it’s not too surprising that it makes a delicious base for a grilled chicken pizza.
Easy. This pizza is quick to put together, especially if you have leftover chicken. Toss the chicken with tangy BBQ sauce, and it’s ready to go.
Grilled. Cooking pizza on the grill gets the outside charred and crispy while the dough stays soft and chewy inside. Seriously delish! With grilling season around the corner, you’ll want this pizza recipe on standby.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick round-up of the ingredients that go on a BBQ chicken pizza. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list of what you’ll need, along with recipe details.
- Pizza Crust – I like to use my yeast-free pizza dough when time allows. You can use your favorite homemade pizza dough, or pick up refrigerated dough from the store to make things super easy.
- Olive Oil – To get the outside of the crust extra crispy.
- Cream Cheese – For an extra layer of flavor over the crust. You can skip the cream cheese or substitute sour cream if you’d like.
- BBQ Sauce – You’ll use BBQ sauce for the pizza base, and also as a dressing for the chicken. Choose your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce. I also love making this pizza when I have a batch of my homemade honey barbecue sauce left over in the fridge.
- Chicken – Cooked and cubed chicken breast, or you can use shredded chicken. To save time, buy a rotisserie chicken and chop it up.
- Red Onion – Technically any onion works here, but I love the mild sweetness of red onions. You can use yellow onion, or shallot, or skip the onions altogether if you prefer.
- Mozzarella Cheese – I use shredded part-skim mozzarella. In a pinch, substitute mozzarella with shredded cheddar or provolone.
- Fresh Parsley – For garnish. This homemade parsley pesto is also delicious on this pizza! I also like to sprinkle over some grated parmesan cheese.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza on the Grill
Get those grills good and hot because we’re about to make a homemade chicken pizza like no other.
- Prep the pizza crust. First, you’ll want to make a batch of homemade dough or get out your store-bought pizza dough. Roll the dough out into a thin circle.
- Grill the crust. When ready, brush the dough with olive oil and cook the dough on the grill for about 3 minutes, or until it’s toasty brown.
- Prep the ingredients. In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with barbecue sauce, slice up your onions, and gather the other toppings.
- Assemble the pizza. Remove the pizza dough from the grill. Spread the crust with cream cheese, followed by barbecue sauce. Layer all of your prepared ingredients on top.
- Cook. Transfer the pizza back onto the grill for about 3-4 minutes, or until everything is heated through. Afterward, garnish with parsley and parmesan, slice, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Grill without burning the bottom. Cook your pizza crust on the grates over direct heat, but make sure to check the bottom of the pizza every couple of minutes to make sure that it isn’t burning. Lift the crust with a spatula to check.
- Don’t go overboard with toppings. Piling on too many toppings can make the pizza crust soggy. If you have lots of toppings on hand, you can always spread the love over two pizzas.
- Can you cook a pizza on a charcoal grill? Yes. You can grill this BBQ chicken pizza on a charcoal grill, just make sure to preheat it well (charcoal takes longer to preheat than gas), and keep an eye on it as the cooking time might vary.
Can I Bake This In the Oven Instead?
Of course, if you’re miles away from grilling season, don’t let that stand in the way of a delicious, melty, cheesy BBQ chicken pizza. I recommend baking it on a greased baking sheet. To bake this pizza, preheat the oven to 425ºF and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Can I Use a Pizza Stone?
Whether you cook this pizza on the grill or in the oven, a pizza stone is handy for an authentic, crispier crust like the kind you get with Neapolitan-style pizza. You can preheat the pizza stone at the same time as the oven or grill. This chicken pizza still bakes up delicious without it, but the texture of the crust is different.
Serving Suggestions
This BBQ chicken pizza is great for lazy summertime dinners. Washed down with a glass of white wine sangria, it’s the best! Serve your slices with a side of fresh watermelon salad and you’re good to go. Grilled pizza is also one of my favorite things to make for game day. I’ll pair it with easy appetizers like baked shrimp dip and Cajun fries, or homemade jalapeño poppers.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Store any leftover pizza slices covered in the fridge or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. If you’re stacking the slices, use a sheet of parchment paper in between layers. This pizza should be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
- Reheat. I find the best way to reheat pizza is in the oven, as it crisps up the crust. That being said, I’ll never say no to a cold pizza slice as a quick lunch or snack!
More Homemade Pizza Recipes
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Preheat the outdoor grill to 450ºF and lightly brush the grates with oil.
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Prepare the pizza dough by stretching or rolling it out into a thin circle. Brush the dough with olive oil.
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Slide the pizza dough oil-side-down onto the grill grates over direct heat.
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Close the grill lid and bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the dough is browned underneath. If it’s not browned, give it another minute.
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In the meantime, combine the chicken pieces and ¼ cup BBQ sauce in a mixing bowl. Mix until well combined. Set aside.
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Remove the pizza crust from the grill and let it stand for 2 minutes.
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Turn the pizza crust over, browned-side up. Spread cream cheese over the entire pizza crust.
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Spread the remaining BBQ sauce over the cream cheese.
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Top with the chicken pieces, sliced red onions, and shredded cheese.
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Slide the pizza back on the grill. Lower the heat to medium-high, and close the lid. Grill for about 3 to 4 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
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Pull the pizza off the grill onto a cutting board and let it rest for 2 minutes.
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Top with grated parmesan cheese and parsley. Cut and Serve.
Calories: 350 kcal | Carbohydrates: 43 g | Protein: 24 g | Fat: 8 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 64 mg | Sodium: 892 mg | Potassium: 381 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 13 g | Vitamin A: 250 IU | Vitamin C: 2.4 mg | Calcium: 98 mg | Iron: 2.3 mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
