Making Gourmet Pizza at Home Part 2 - Barbecue Chicken Pizza

The second new pizza from our recent Gourmet Pizza Night is the gotta-try-this-at-home Barbecue Chicken Pizza. Barbecue sauce may be unconventional, but with the chicken, cheese, onions and cilantro it elevates pizza to something special.

The recipe is adapted from the The California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook and it is every bit as good as the version served in their restaurants. Maybe even better!

The flavors blend nicely to create a spicy, smokey, sweet, savory pizza sensation. The CPK recipe called for smoked gouda cheese, which I didn't have, but it might just add another appealing flavor layer, so I will look for some next time.

Diced leftover chicken would work well here. Just follow the recipe and saute it in the barbecue sauce to infuse the flavor.

Try cooking this pizza on the grill for a delicious variation on a theme at your next cookout. Outstanding flavor from a few simple ingredients, prepared in a short amount of time.

Good enough for company pizza--the guys will love this one!


Barbecue Chicken Pizza
(adapted from California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook)

1 partially pre-baked pizza crust
8 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. barbecue sauce
1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
1-2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Place pizza stone on bottom rack of oven and to 500 degrees. In a large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and add chicken. Saute chicken for 5-6 minutes, until just cooked. Add barbecue sauce and continue to cook 1-2 minutes, until sauce coats chicken completely. Spread mozzarella cheese (reserve small amount of cheese for sprinkling on top) over pre-baked pizza crust. Spread chicken pieces over entire pizza. Place onion slices over chicken. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella over top of pizza. Place pizza on stone in oven and bake until crust is browned and cheese is bubbly, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped cilantro before serving. Makes one 10-12 inch pizza.