Carlos Solis
BBQ chicken pizza is a speedy dinner for anyone who values their time — you can make it in the microwave in just one minute.
You can skip roasting chicken, making sauce from scratch, and kneading pizza dough. Use items you probably already have at home: wheat flatbreads, rotisserie chicken, cheese, red onion, and store-bought smoky barbecue sauce. If you prefer homemade barbecue sauce, the recipe is included below.
Ingredients for chicken pizza (makes two mini pizzas)
- wheat flatbreads — 2
- shredded chicken — 1/2 cup
- mozzarella cheese — 1/2 cup
- barbecue sauce — 60 ml
- red onion — 1/4 of an onion
Barbecue sauce ingredients
- tomato paste or ketchup — 200 g
- water — 100 ml
- onion — 1
- garlic — 2 cloves
- brown sugar or honey — 3 tbsp
- apple cider vinegar — 2 tbsp
- soy sauce — 1 tbsp
- smoked paprika or “liquid smoke” — 1 tsp
- oil — for frying
How to make chicken pizza with barbecue sauce, step by step
- If making the barbecue sauce at home, sauté the chopped onion and garlic in hot oil until translucent. Add the tomato paste or ketchup, brown sugar or honey, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, water, and smoked paprika or liquid smoke. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes until the sauce thickens. Strain the mixture through a sieve or blend until smooth.
- Reheat cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works well) in the microwave, then chop it into pieces.
- Spread barbecue sauce over the wheat flatbreads, then top with the shredded chicken, red onion, and mozzarella.
- Microwave the pizzas for one minute to melt the cheese.
- Serve the pizzas hot, cutting each into four slices.
Read more tips on temperatures and crust choices in our other pizza guides.
Pro tip
Add chopped prunes, chili, or spicy mustard to the barbecue sauce for an extra kick.
Q&A
How do you make chicken pizza in the oven?
Roll out yeast dough thinly and brush it with barbecue sauce or a tomato base. Top with cooked chicken, red onion, and mozzarella. Bake at 220–250°C (428–482°F) for 10–15 minutes until the crust is golden. Add fresh herbs before serving if desired.
Can you make barbecue pizza without an oven?
Yes. Use wheat flatbreads or lavash and cook the pizza in the microwave (1–2 minutes) or on a skillet with a lid until the cheese melts.
Which cheese works best for chicken pizza?
Mozzarella is best for homemade chicken pizza because it melts well and gives a soft texture. You can also add a hard cheese like cheddar or Gouda for a richer flavor.
What else can you add to chicken pizza?
Add bacon, turkey or ground meat, sausage, any hard cheese, tomatoes, corn, bell pepper, mushrooms, or pitted olives to diversify the flavor and make the pizza more filling.
What crust is best for a quick pizza?
For a fast pizza, choose ready-made wheat flatbreads, lavash, or even tortillas. They cut prep time dramatically and eliminate the need to make dough.
