BBQ Chicken Pizza
March Madness food
My husband and I are huge basketball fans, so when March Madness comes around, you can usually find us in any pub that has a zillion TVs and excellent wings. But now that we’re parents, we’ve been finding it easier (and cheaper) to stay at home… and much more enjoyable, given that Noah can last a maximum of 45 minutes in a restaurant before he (and we) go berserk. We’ve been honing our indoor setup, which has fewer screens than a restaurant, but allows our high-energy three-nager to watch as much (or as little) basketball as he wants without knocking over our beers or literally bouncing off the walls (well, he still bounces, but at least it’s in another room!)
The downside to this setup is missing out on pub food, which I love dearly, but don’t always have the energy to replicate. (And let’s be honest: takeout doesn’t taste as good after a 20-minute car ride!) But I think I’ve found the perfect sports-watching food to make at home with this BBQ pizza. The pizza dough is super easy to make (I started it after breakfast and came back to a beautifully risen dough when it was time to make lunch!) Then it’s just a matter of slicing some rotisserie chicken and layering it with the other ingredients.
This pizza is the perfect combo of tender chicken, sweet red onions, savory Gouda cheese, and tangy BBQ sauce. (I used Kinder’s Mild, but sub your favorite as you like!) Fresh cilantro and another drizzle of BBQ sauce after baking really amp up the flavor.
If your kids are like mine and turn up their noses to BBQ pizza, try this: save a little dough and roll into little breadsticks and bake until soft and fluffy (190 degrees). Rub with butter and sprinkle with a little salt & garlic powder, then serve with a little of the chopped chicken, cheese, and any fresh or frozen veggies you have around.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Serves: 4-6
Cook time = 40 minutes (pre-made dough) or 1.5 hrs (homemade dough)
For Dietary Restrictions
Gluten free: use a pre-made gluten-free crust
Dairy free: Use dairy-free cheese
Kids Can Help
measure and mix ingredients, knead the dough, spread sauce and cheese, add toppings
Ingredients
For the dough:
1 cup warm water
2 ¼ tsp (or one package) active dry yeast
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (optional: if you have wheat flour, you can substitute 1 cup of wheat flour for higher nutritional value).
OR use pre-made dough or crust
For the pizza:
1-2 cups of breast meat from a rotisserie chicken
½ of a red onion (about ½ cup sliced)
16 oz shredded Gouda, Gruyere, or Mozzarella cheese
1 cup BBQ sauce (I like Kinder’s— get the squeeze bottle for easy drizzling)
½ bunch fresh cilantro
Salt
Cornmeal or extra flour for dusting the tray
Directions
If you’re making your own dough, start with Step 1. If you're using pre-made dough or crusts, skip to step 6.
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl, stir together yeast and water until yeast is dissolved. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Add oil, salt, and sugar and stir gently to combine.
Step 3
Add the flour ½ cup at a time, stirring between additions. Mix well with a stiff spatula, scraping down the sides.
Step 4
Knead the dough: Lightly flour your hands and knead (fold, press, and turn; repeat) in the bowl for 5 min. You can add a little more flour during this process as needed to prevent sticking.
Step 5
Once the dough is uniform and smooth, leave it in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Place in a warm spot or use the proofing setting on your oven, if it has one. Allow dough to rise 30-60 minutes minimum, ideally up to 3 hours.
Step 6
Once the dough has risen, preheat your oven to 450 degrees (if using premade crusts, 400-425).
Step 7
Prepare the toppings: slice the onion into thin strips; remove the breast meat from the rotisserie chicken and slice into thin pieces.
Step 8
Roll out the dough into a large oval. Sprinkle cornmeal or a little bit of flour onto your baking sheet before transferring the dough to prevent sticking. Spread about 3/4 cup of BBQ sauce on top with a spatula (save the rest to drizzle after baking), then cover with an even layer of cheese. Scatter the chicken and onion on top. Finish with a generous sprinkling of salt.
Step 9
Bake for 15-20 minutes (may be slightly less for pre-made crust), rotating the pan once halfway through. Take out when the cheese is slightly browning and bubbling.
Step 10
Mince the cilantro and sprinkle over the top of the pizza with the remaining BBQ sauce. Serve immediately.
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