Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Recipe you can make in 30 minutes or less
Chicken on pizza? Really?
Yes!
The combination of the chicken, cilantro, red onions, cheese, and barbecue sauce make up the the perfect BBQ Chicken Pizza.
Do I need to cook chicken before putting on pizza?
Yes! It is very important to cook the chicken first, in order to ensure that the chicken is cooked evenly and fully. This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover chicken. On a busy weeknight, an even easier option is to pick up a cooked rotisserie chicken and simply use that!
What cheese works best for pizza?
You really cannot go wrong with pre-shredded pizza mozzarella! This cheese is absolutely delicious, creamy, and melty! Mozzarella also comes in great Vegan, dairy-free, varieties as well like this one that you can order from amazon
Do I need a Pizza Stone?
The best result will come from using a stone. The best method to cook a pizza and have the crust turn out crisp on the bottom, yet chewy in the middle is to cook it on a pre-heated stone. If you do not have one, I highly recommend adding one to your kitchen arsenal. Pizza Stones like this one come in very affordable (under $35) options now:
Makes: 2 pizzas; Serves 4-6 people
Ingredients
8 ounces boneless and skinless chicken breasts (2 large or 3 small chicken breasts), or the meat from 1/2 - 3/4 pre-cooked rotisserie chicken)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
16 ounces pizza dough, for a quick weeknight meal, we love to use a pizza dough mix
2 tablespoons semolina or cornmeal
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, you can use a non-dairy plant based vegan option as well
¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (if desired). You can also use dried cilantro if that is what you have on hand.
Instructions
BBQ Chicken
If chicken is not cooked, in a large frying pan, cook the chicken in olive oil over medium-high heat until just cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Do not overcook.
Toss the chicken in 1-2 tablespoons of the BBQ sauce.
Pizza
If using a pizza stone, make sure to pre-heat it for 45-60 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
Prepare the pizza dough according to the package directions.
Sprinkle cornmeal on your counter
Place half of the pizza dough on the cornmeal and roll out the dough.
Use a large spoon to spread ¼ cup BBQ sauce evenly over the surface of the rolled dough.
Cover with ¾ cup shredded mozzarella.
Distribute half the chicken pieces evenly over the cheese.
Place half of the thinly sliced red onion over and around the chicken.
Sprinkle an additional ¼ cup mozzarella over the top of the pizza.
Repeat the steps for the second pizza
Transfer the pizzas to the oven and bake until the crust is crisp and golden and the cheese in the center is bubbly, about 8 to 10 minutes.
When the pizzas are cooked, carefully remove from the oven and sprinkle 1 tablespoon cilantro over the hot pizza.
Slice and ensure it has cooled adequately before taking a bite.
Enjoy!
Nutritional Information
Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 438mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 1mg
