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California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

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2 hours 20 minutes
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I love making copycat restaurant recipes in my home, including this California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza. It will blow your mind at how delicious it is.
California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

I could eat pizza for every meal of every day and possibly never get sick of it.  I just LOVE it.  It is the one meal our family eats without any complaints.

If you have ever been to California Pizza Kitchen, you know how delicious their BBQ Chicken Pizza is.  This recipe rivals even their amazing pizza.

It is so full of flavor, and is so simple to make. My family was shocked that I made something that tasted better than the actual pizza place.

The sauce on this recipe is one of my favorites. It’s quick, simple, delicious, and pairs perfectly with this delicious BBQ Chicken Pizza.

What bbq sauce flavor works best with this pizza?

For this pizza, we like to stick to our basics. I usually go for a honey, brown sugar, or an original bbq sauce recipe.

My husband likes to get a little wild with his bbq sauces and use a spicy flavor, or one with a little more heat.

With our kids (and my weak tastebuds) we try to keep it simple and just use an original bbq sauce or something a little on the sweet side to be safe.

I have also found that I don’t love the hickory taste with this pizza, unless I am smoking it, and not baking it.

Recipe shortcuts:

I love the taste of homemade dough, more than any other dough out there. However, I also love shortcuts and saving time.

With this recipe I will usually make the homemade dough because it is pretty simple and quick, but sometimes I will buy a pre-made crust or pizza crust dough.

I also love the cilantro on this pizza, but you could do without it if you don’t have it on hand, or don’t prefer the flavor.

Watch how to make another chicken favorite here:

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This Easy Chicken Salad Sandwich is quick, simple, full of flavor and easy to make. The best part of the sandwich: grapes. Watch how simple and delicious it is, here:

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BBQ Chicken Pizza

Copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

I love making copycat restaurant recipes in my home, including this California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza. It tastes just like the restaurant!
Serving8
Prep Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
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Ingredients

Pizza Crust

  • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup olive oil

For the Pizza

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
  • 20 ounces barbecue sauce
  • olive oil, for drizzling
  • salt, to taste
  • 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Equipment

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes
  2. In a mixer, combine flour and salt.
  3. Drizzle olive oil into the mixer and mix until combined.
  4. Pour in yeast/water mixture after it has proofed and mix until dough is formed.
  5. Coat a large mixing bowl with olive oil and form dough into a ball and place inside. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set aside for 1-2 hours or in the fridge for 2+ hours.
  6. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
  7. Drizzle and spread olive oil over two baking sheets.
  8. Split dough in half and roll out onto each pan.
  9. Lightly brush a little olive oil onto each crust and sprinkle with salt.
  10. Spread 1/4 cup bbq sauce on each crust.
  11. Combine cooked chicken with remaining bbq sauce until chicken is coated in sauce.
  12. Top pizzas with mozzarella, chicken and sliced onion.
  13. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.
  14. Remove from the oven and garnish with cilantro.
  15. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

Makes 2 pizzas.

Nutrition

Calories: 671 kcal · Carbohydrates: 79 g · Protein: 32 g · Fat: 24 g · Saturated Fat: 9 g · Cholesterol: 81 mg · Sodium: 1443 mg · Potassium: 513 mg · Fiber: 3 g · Sugar: 25 g · Vitamin A: 626 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 324 mg · Iron: 4 mg
Cuisine: Italian
Course: Main Course
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.

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Published: June 8, 2011Updated: April 24, 2024

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Questions & Reviews

  1. Tina says:
    yummmy - I think I may need to make this tomorrow night...look yummy oh and the goggles are a great new trend...way to go.

    thanks for visiting my blog and following me I am here to return the favor.

    be back soon
    xo
    tina
  2. Camille says:
    I am seriously cracking up about the goggles!!! So funny! You are one hot mama! :)
    Love you!
  3. Val says:
    My favorite kind of pizza....looks amazing.
  4. Just Jaime says:
    Looks yummy. Your picture is funny and cute!
  5. Katie's Nesting Spot says:
    I love that pizza and have bought the frozen but it just is lacking. I bet that's so much yummier and nice that you can make it at home. I am a little intimidated by the idea of making the crust from scratch but I bet it's so worth it. Thanks for sharing your delicious creations on A Crafty Soiree!
  6. A Pretty Life in the Suburbs says:
    Mmm I love pizza! This post cracks me up! New follower!
    Jo-Anna
  7. Lady says:
    Can't wait to make this!! Great tip with the goggles;)
  8. Martha says:
    UM YUM!! That looks fantastic!!
  9. shopannies says:
    your pizza looks refreshing and delicious yummy come see what I shared at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
  10. Anonymous says:
    Does this recipe make two pizzas or one? It is not clear, however it says to place half the cheese, onion and chicken on the crust and bake. I am currently making this and it is looking good.
  11. Six Sisters says:
    @Anonymous,

    This recipe makes 2 pizzas! Thanks!
  12. SEO Harvester says:

    Pizza Equipment
    I need Pizza Equipment for Apple Pizza. any one can help me?
  13. Kait says:
    What type of BBQ sauce do you use?
  14. The Ellis' says:
    @Kait,

    We usually use the Famous Dave's Sweet and Zesty sauce, but I've tried it with a few different brands and they all taste pretty similar.
  15. Lisa says:
    Oooh, yum! This is one of our favorites!
  16. Mandygirl238 says:
    That pizza is seriously my FAVORITE store bought pizza!! Yay I can't wait to try it out!
  17. sauvie island farms says:
    I put my son's motorcycle helmet on when I cut up onions. It's always laying around the house, and it has a big face shield....works great also!
  18. Christine says:
    Easiest way to combat onion tears for me is to chew gum :). AMAZING pizza!
  19. La June 52 says:
    I made this this evening using my homemade bbq sauce and I must say it was great!
  20. Rachel says:
    Could you freeze this pizza? If so, what would I need to do to reheat it? Should I leave off the cilantro when freezing?
  21. Cyd says:
    Rachel, we have never frozen this pizza. We eat it up pretty quick. Not sure how it would all work. Sorry we aren't much help on this recipe.
  22. Jenn says:
    My BF loves BBQ chicken pizza and I would love to make this for him. BUT...almost every recipe I find says to add bottled BBQ sauce...and there are SO many BBQ sauces on the market I get flustered (I have the same problem with pulled pork recipes :-/ Can someone please give me some ideas on what specific BBQ sauces work best with chicken pizza (and pulled pork, for that matter)? The ones I've tried tend to have a red BBQ sauce, whereas most of the sauces I use for BBQ at home are dark, strong and mostly used for beef. Thanks for the recipe, the pic looks amazing!
  23. Cyd says:
    We use all brands and flavors of barbecue sauce. You are ususally safe with original or honey barbecue. It just depends what flavors you like. You can buy some that has a little more kick to it. Hope this helps! :)
  24. Andi says:
    We love to use Sweet Baby Rays or any that are made with brown sugar. I've never seen any BBQ sauce specifically say it's for beef, pork or chicken.
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