This BBQ chicken and bacon pizza combines tender BBQ chicken, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, crisp chopped bacon, caramelized onions, fresh mozzarella, and a light sprinkle of shredded Parmesan. I tossed this together one night with what I had on hand and the bacon plus Parmesan ended up being the missing touch that pulled everything together.
BBQ chicken pizza is comfort food at its best: smoky, savory, and a little sweet. After sharing a tease of this pizza on Instagram and getting lots of love, I decided to post the full recipe so you can make it at home.
Caramelized Onions on Pizza
Caramelizing the onions elevates the whole pizza. Cook the onions slowly in butter over low heat until they become soft and deeply golden. The low-and-slow method lets the onions develop natural sweetness and rich flavor. It usually takes about 20–30 minutes; if you’re short on time, sauté them until very tender and lightly browned for a quicker option.
BBQ Sauce Instead of Red Sauce?
This pizza uses BBQ sauce instead of a classic red sauce. It may sound unusual, but the tangy-sweet BBQ sauce is what makes the flavors work together. Sweet Baby Ray’s original is a great choice because it has a balanced sweetness that complements the savory toppings. Use a thin spread of sauce so it doesn’t pool on the crust.
How to Use a Pizza Stone
A pizza stone helps achieve a crisp crust. Preheat the stone in a 500°F oven for about an hour, then slide the pizza onto the hot surface using a well-floured peel. Bake for roughly 10–15 minutes, watching closely since ovens vary. The high heat cooks the dough quickly, giving you a crunchy exterior and tender interior.
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Enjoy this recipe? If you made it, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ rating and a review in the comments!
BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- 18 –20 ounces pizza dough
- 1 8 ounce chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunksfully cooked
- 6 –7 1/4 inch slices fresh mozzarella8-ounce ball
- 3-4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauceI like Sweet Baby Ray’s
- 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup flour, for crust
- 2 tablespoons butter
- pinch of salt
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 500°F. Place a pizza stone in the oven and let it heat for about one hour to ensure a very hot surface.
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Caramelize the onions: Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat, add the sliced onion, and cook gently until soft and golden brown, about 20–30 minutes. Remove and set aside.
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While the onions cook, cut the chicken into small pieces. Sauté in a little oil over medium heat until cooked through and lightly browned. Toss the cooked chicken with a little BBQ sauce to coat and set aside.
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Roll the dough into a 12-inch round and lightly season the surface with a pinch of salt.
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Dust a pizza peel with flour so the dough slides easily. Transfer the dough to the peel and spread a thin layer of BBQ sauce over the top, leaving a 1-inch border for the crust.
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Top the sauce with the BBQ-coated chicken, caramelized onions, chopped bacon, and fresh mozzarella slices. Finish with a light sprinkle of shredded Parmesan.
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Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone and bake 10–15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly. Keep an eye on it, as cooking times vary by oven. Remove, let cool briefly, slice, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Adapted from: Allrecipes.com