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BBQ Chicken Pizza is our shortcut to pizza night when nobody wants to wait on dough, piling smoky BBQ sauce, melty colby jack, and savory chicken sausage onto crispy naan. I started making these on busy school nights when the girls were starving, and the tangy pickled red onions on top turned it into something they actually request by name. If you love an easy homemade pizza like our sheet pan pizza, this BBQ twist comes together even faster.
Ready in about 10 minutes with naan as the base, this BBQ chicken pizza is the kind of fast, flavor packed dinner the whole family devours.
BBQ Chicken Pizza Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 2 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 8 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 587kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Smoky, cheesy, and tangy (BBQ sauce, melty cheese, pickled onions)
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, a no fuss pizza night like our sheet pan pizza
Quick Answer
To make BBQ chicken pizza, spread BBQ sauce over naan or your favorite crust, then top with shredded colby jack cheese and sliced chicken sausage. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is golden. Finish with fresh cilantro and quick pickled red onions for a tangy, smoky pizza in minutes.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Naan is an instant crispy crust. Using naan skips the dough entirely and bakes up crisp on the bottom and chewy inside in just minutes.
- Chicken sausage is a built in shortcut. Pre-cooked chicken sausage just needs to be sliced and warmed, so there is no raw chicken to cook first.
- BBQ sauce replaces the marinara. A smoky, tangy BBQ sauce base is what gives this pizza its signature flavor and sets it apart from a classic slice.
- Colby jack melts beautifully. This cheese melts smooth and gooey with a mild flavor that lets the BBQ sauce shine.
- Pickled red onions cut the richness. A handful of quick pickled onions adds a bright, tangy crunch that balances all that melty cheese.
- A hot oven crisps it fast. Baking at 400 degrees, or on a preheated pizza stone, gets the crust golden and the cheese bubbly in under 10 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Faster than delivery. Start to finish in about 10 minutes, quicker than the pizza place could even answer the phone.
- No dough required. Naan does all the work, just like the shortcut crust on our sheet pan pizza.
- Totally customizable. Everyone can top their own naan exactly how they like it.
Key Ingredients
BBQ chicken pizza needs just a handful of simple ingredients, most of which you can keep on hand for an easy pizza night.
- Naan: Soft, pillowy naan makes the perfect personal pizza crust that crisps up fast in a hot oven.
- BBQ Sauce: The smoky, tangy base of the whole pizza. A homemade BBQ sauce makes it extra special.
- Colby Jack Cheese: Mild and melty, it gets gooey and golden without overpowering the BBQ flavor.
- Chicken Sausage: Pre-cooked chicken sausage adds savory, smoky bites and means no raw chicken to handle.
- Pickled Red Onions: Quick pickled onions add a bright, tangy crunch that balances the rich cheese.
- Fresh Cilantro: A sprinkle on top adds a pop of fresh, herby color and flavor.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This BBQ chicken pizza is endlessly adaptable. Here are some favorite ways to switch it up.
- Use shredded rotisserie or grilled chicken tossed in BBQ sauce instead of chicken sausage.
- Swap the colby jack for mozzarella, smoked gouda, or a Mexican cheese blend.
- Add sliced jalapenos or a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet and spicy kick.
- Change the base to flatbread, a flour tortilla, or a homemade pizza crust.
- Pile on extras like corn, crumbled bacon, or diced bell pepper.
- Finish with a drizzle of ranch or extra BBQ sauce after baking.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Make the pickled red onions ahead. Place the sliced onion and smashed garlic in a jar. Simmer the vinegar, sugar, water, and salt until dissolved, cool with a few ice cubes, then pour over the onions and chill at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. If using a pizza stone, let it heat up in the oven.
- Spread BBQ sauce over each naan, then top with half of the cheese, the sliced chicken sausage, and the remaining cheese.
- Bake directly on the pizza stone or on a sheet tray for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.
- Slice the pizzas and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and a handful of the pickled red onions. Serve right away.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Make the pickled onions ahead. They need at least 8 hours to pickle, so prep them the night before.
- Use a preheated pizza stone if you have one for the crispiest naan crust.
- Do not overload the naan or the crust will steam instead of crisping.
- Slice the chicken sausage thin so it heats through and spreads across the whole pizza.
- Add the cilantro after baking so it stays fresh and bright.
- Watch the last few minutes since naan can go from golden to too dark quickly.
- Let everyone build their own for an easy, fun pizza night.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
BBQ chicken pizza is a meal on its own, but it is even better as part of a fun pizza night spread. Serve it with a crisp green salad, a handful of pizza hut style cheese sticks, or some veggies and dip on the side.
For a game day or party feast, set it next to a platter of BBQ crockpot chicken wings and southwest egg rolls for a whole spread of crowd pleasing bites. A bowl of extra homemade BBQ sauce for dipping is always a good idea.
Want to make it a whole pizza bar? Put out our sheet pan pizza and meatball pizza alongside the BBQ chicken pizza and let everyone grab a few different slices.
BBQ Chicken Pizza FAQs
BBQ chicken pizza uses barbecue sauce in place of the usual marinara. Pick a sweet, smoky, or tangy sauce you love. A homemade BBQ sauce makes the pizza taste extra special, and a little extra drizzle after baking never hurts.
Colby jack is a great melty, mild choice for BBQ chicken pizza. Mozzarella, smoked gouda, or a Mexican cheese blend all work beautifully too. Smoked cheeses play especially well with the barbecue flavor.
Absolutely. Naan makes a quick, crispy base, but you can also use flatbread, a flour tortilla, store bought pizza crust, or homemade pizza dough. Just adjust the bake time so the crust gets golden and the cheese melts.
Yes. Shredded rotisserie or grilled chicken tossed in a little BBQ sauce is a classic topping for BBQ chicken pizza. This recipe uses pre-cooked chicken sausage for an even faster shortcut, but either works great.
Do not overload the naan with sauce or toppings, and bake it in a hot oven, ideally on a preheated pizza stone. A thin, even layer of BBQ sauce and cheese lets the crust crisp up instead of steaming.
Store leftover BBQ chicken pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat slices in the oven, air fryer, or a hot skillet to crisp the crust back up. Add fresh cilantro and pickled onions after reheating.
Looking for what to make next? Try our crowd pleasing sheet pan pizza for another easy, feed the family pizza night.
Easy BBQ Chicken Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 Naan bread
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
- 2 cups Colby jack cheese shredded
- al fresco Chicken Sausages thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped fine
For the pickled red onions
- 1 medium red onion thinly sliced on the mandolin
- 2 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- handful ice cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°. If using a pizza stone, let the stone sit in the oven to get hot.2 Naan bread
- Cover the pizzas with the bbq sauce, half of the cheese, and the chicken sausage. Top with remaining cheese. Place directly on the pizza stone, if using, or onto a sheet tray. Bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted, chicken is heated through, and bread is golden brown.2 Naan bread
- Slice and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and pickled red onions.2 Naan bread
For the pickled red onions
- Place onions and garlic in a large mason jar or a bowl. Set aside.2 Naan bread
- In a small saucepot, add the vinegar, sugar, water, and salt. Bring to a simmer, until the sugar and salt are dissolved, whisking occasionally. Take off the heat and add the ice cubes to cool down the liquid.2 Naan bread
- Pour liquid over the onions and garlic until covered. Let cool completely on the countertop, then cover and place in the fridge for 8 hours, or overnight.2 Naan bread
Notes
- You can use any flavor of chicken sausage that you like.
- Naan bread comes in various sizes, you can use smaller or larger, baking times may vary.
- If you don’t want to make your own homemade pickled red onions you can use regular red onions instead.
- You can make your own Homemade BBQ Sauce for this recipe.
- We like Colby Jack cheese for this but any cheese will work, use your favorite.
- If you want to use regular pizza crust you can, Naan makes it quick and easy so if using regular crust follow directions on baking time and degrees on the package.
Nutrition
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