Barbecue Chicken Pizza, Southern-Style
Loaded with lots of melted cheese, cooked chicken, fresh herbs, and our delicious homemade barbecue pizza sauce, this Southern barbecue chicken pizza beats takeout any day!
If you’re having one of those days when you want a healthier version of your favorite takeout (and, ya know, want to save money in the process), this Southern barbecue chicken pizza recipe is for you.
It’s so easy to make, especially if you use a store-bought pizza crust. All you have to do is make our homemade barbecue pizza sauce, which is super simple but super delicious. It’s made with ketchup, honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic powder, so it’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
Spread the barbecue sauce on your pizza crust and then go wild with the toppings! I’m keeping it simple with shredded chicken (this recipe is a great way to use up any leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken), two different types of cheese (the more melted cheese the better I say), red onion, and fresh herbs. But I’ve included some other suggestions below. Let it bake for 15 minutes and then you have yourself a homemade barbecue chicken pizza. Told ya it was easy!
This barbecue chicken pizza recipe is so similar to the takeout versions you find at Dominos. California Pizza Kitchen, and Pizza Hut but without the price tag. Alright, did someone say pizza night? Let’s get cooking!
Recipe Ingredients
- Favorite pizza crust (12-inch). Here’s my homemade stuffed pizza crust recipe.
- Olive oil
- Cooked chicken
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- A different cheese, like smoked gouda
- Red onion
- Chopped fresh herbs for topping like cilantro (optional)
Homemade barbecue pizza sauce
- Honey
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- Garlic powder
How to Make Barbecue Chicken Pizza, Southern-Style
Preheat the oven to 475°F.
If making a homemade pizza crust, cover the room temperature dough (not too snug) with plastic wrap and let it sit while you preheat the oven. Or if you are using a frozen pizza crust, take it out of the freezer and let sit for 20-30 minutes while preparing the sauce.
Prepare the homemade pizza BBQ sauce
In a medium bowl, stir together the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and garlic powder up real good.
For the microwave: Heat for 1 minute then stir. Repeat but for only about 30-second intervals, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and mixed up well.
If using a saucepot: Heat over medium heat. Stir often, until no lumps are present.
Brush the shaped pizza dough a little bit with oil to keep the crust from getting soggy. If using homemade dough, with fingers or a spoon, push dents into the surface of the dough to prevent bubbling.
Spread the sauce (about a 1/3 cup) over the pizza dough.
Mix the cooked chicken with the rest of the BBQ sauce…
Then spread it around the pizza.
Add the different kinds of cheese, onion, and whatever other fixin’s you like.
Bake pizza for 12-15 minutes (it may be a bit longer depending on your oven so keep a good eye on it).
Remove from the oven and top with fresh herbs, if you like.
Let the pizza cool a bit and then slice.
Enjoy your Southern barbecue chicken pizza!
Storage
- Cover leftover pizza tightly and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat as you prefer (I recommend reheating in the air fryer or oven so it becomes crispy again).
- You can also freeze pizza for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating as above.
Recipe Notes
- Here are some fun ways to make this barbecue chicken pizza recipe your own:
- Use any type of cheese you like, like mozzarella, cheddar cheese, feta cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, blue cheese, provolone, Colby Jack cheese, or gouda. I personally love the smoky flavor the gouda adds to this pizza.
- Add different toppings, like thinly sliced bell pepper, diced jalapenos, or pineapple pieces.
- Add more meat, such as crispy bacon pieces or sliced pepperoni.
- Enjoy a different garnish on top, such as chopped green onion.
- Add a drizzle of ranch dressing before serving.
- If you want to make this pizza recipe even simpler, you can use a store-bought barbecue sauce.
Recipe FAQs
What is on the BBQ chicken pizza at Dominos and Pizza Hut?
The Memphis BBQ Chicken Pizza at Dominos includes grilled chicken, red onion, and three different types of cheese (mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and provolone cheese).
Meanwhile, the Honey BBQ Chicken Pizza at Pizza Hut has a very similar barbecue sauce to mine, as well as chicken, smoked bacon, and red onion.
Check out these other delicious pizza recipes:
Air Fryer Pizza Rolls Made From Scratch
Quick Pizza Sauce From Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 12-inch pizza crust
- 1-2 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup chopped or shredded cooked chicken (about one 8-ounce chicken breast)
- 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup a different type of cheese (I use smoked gouda or another 2/3 cup of mozzarella cheese)
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- chopped fresh herbs for topping, optional
Homemade Barbecue Pizza Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475°F. If making a homemade pizza crust, cover the room temperature dough (not too snug) with plastic wrap and let it sit while you preheat the oven. Or if you are using a frozen pizza crust, take it out of the freezer and let sit for 20-30 minutes while preparing the sauce.1 12-inch pizza crust
Prepare the homemade pizza BBQ sauce
- In a medium bowl, stir together the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and garlic powder up real good.For the microwave: Heat for 1 minute then stir. Repeat but for only about 30-second intervals, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and mixed up well.If using a saucepot: Heat over medium heat. Stir often, until no lumps are present.1/2 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 cup honey
- Brush the shaped dough a little bit with oil to keep the crust from getting soggy. If using homemade dough, with fingers or a spoon, push dents into the surface of the dough to prevent bubbling. Spread the sauce (about a 1/3 cup) over the dough. Mix the cooked chicken with the rest of the BBQ sauce, then spread it around the pizza. Add the different kinds of cheese, onion, and whatever other fixin’s you like.1 cup chopped or shredded cooked chicken, 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 2/3 cup a different type of cheese, 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced, 1-2 tsp olive oil
- Bake pizza for 12-15 minutes (it may be a bit longer depending on your oven so keep a good eye on it). Remove from the oven and top with fresh herbs, if you like. Let the pizza cool a bit and then slice.chopped fresh herbs for topping, optional
- Cover leftover pizza tightly and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat as you prefer.
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This looks like a great twist on pizza.
I didn’t realize how easy chicken bbq pizza could be! And I’d like to try this homemade sauce on chicken, ribs, and pulled pork, too.
The sauce looks delicious! I plan to use left over barbecue chicken from today’s cookout to make this pizza Monday! Thanks for another inspiring recipe!
We buy a rotisseri chicken every time we go to Sams. Theirs is very nice. We debone it and spread it out on a baking sheet. Put it in the freezer. When it is frozen, bag it loosely in a zipper bag. Having it ready in the freezer to use in recipes like this is very handy.