This BBQ Chicken Pizza is one of those life-changing recipes that I know I’ll make again and again. And again some more. Inspired by the well-known California Pizza Kitchen recipe, but about a thousand times healthier because it’s homemade (and in my opinion, even more delicious), this will be sure to become a new favorite of yours, too!
Zach and I just sat here and ate this for dinner with no real conversation except for the occasional “oh my GOD this is good!” and “this is the best pizza in the WORLD!” Our brains literally could not register anything except for the deliciousness of this pizza.
Side note: I’m so happy I married someone who loves food as much as I do :-)
The best part about this recipe is that it uses leftover cooked chicken (any will do) and naan for the pizza crust, making it extremely quick and easy to prep (with very few dishes dirtied). And since apparently moving across the country requires, you know, lots of packing and planning, I can use all the time I can get! Quick and easy meals are my best friend lately.
Oscar is my other best friend, and he has been “helping” me pack every day by immediately placing himself inside all of the boxes (don’t let that innocent look fool you!).
First things first. Naan pizza is my favorite way to make pizza in a hurry. I love a good homemade pizza dough as well, but this is a great alternative- no rising, kneading, or rolling required! And since making my last naan pizza recipe (buffalo mushroom– also delicious), I’ve made a very important discovery to keeping the crust extra crispy and not soggy.
First, bake only the naan bread- no toppings yet- in the oven at a high temperature for 5-7 minutes or until it’s just starting to get crispy. This will help firm up the bread so it stands up to the sauce and toppings you are about to add. I use my half baker’s sheet with an oven safe rack nestled inside it to cook my naan pizza, but you can also put it directly on the rack in the oven (this enables hot air to circulate above and below the crust, making it crispier).
Once you’ve baked the naan for a while, remove it from the oven and add the toppings. First, a layer of barbecue sauce (any kind will do- I used the precious remaining Salt Lick BBQ sauce I had leftover from our last trip to Austin- only two weeks until I can get that liquid gold anytime I want to!).
Then, some mozzarella cheese, followed by cooked chicken mixed with more BBQ sauce, and sliced red onions. Back into the oven for 10 more minutes, with a sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro for the final touch.
CPK’s pizza uses smoked gouda instead of mozzarella- you can use whichever you want. I prefer the simplicity of mozzarella because it doesn’t compete with the other delicious toppings. And if you’re feeling adventurous, here’s how to make your own whole wheat naan bread and homemade BBQ sauce!
Taking photographs of this and not eating it right away was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Oh, the struggles of being a food blogger.
Next time you want to grab a frozen California Pizza Kitchen BBQ chicken pizza, try this instead. It’s so much healthier, so much tastier, and almost just as easy as popping a frozen pizza in the oven!
Other Pizza Recipes:
- Sautéed Vegetable and Goat Cheese Naan Pizza
- Buffalo Mushroom Naan Pizza
- Hawaiian Pizza
- Caprese Naan Pizza
Easy BBQ Chicken Naan Pizza (Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 2 naan flatbreads
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce any kind will do
- 1 cup cooked shredded or chopped chicken such as rotisserie
- 1/4 cup red onion sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees and place the oven rack in the lower half of the oven.
- Mix 2-3 tablespoons of the barbecue sauce with the chicken.
- Place the naan on a rimmed baking sheet. Top each naan flatbread with the remaining BBQ sauce, followed by the cheese, chicken and BBQ sauce mixture, and sliced onion.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes in the lower part of the oven, or until cheese is melted and crust is browned.
- Top each pizza with one tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro.
Notes
- The provided nutrition information does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. Feel free to calculate it yourself using this calculator or by adding the recipe to Yummly.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:
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