This gluten free BBQ Chicken Pizza is healthy and made with homemade crust! It's topped with roasted chicken, mushrooms, and Gouda cheese.
I have my tried and true standby pizza recipes but switching things up every now and then can yield some delicious results, which is definitely the case with this Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza. It's one of those pizzas that you find yourself going back again and again for another slice.
We all love pizza, right? Pizza or some form of flat bread-y substance covered in toppings is easily one of the world's most popular foods. I can't recall a single instance of someone wrinkling their nose and replying 'Eh, not really' when asked if they like pizza.
The varieties of pizza in existence are endless - You can top a pizza with just about anything and it will probably taste pretty good. When it comes to pizza, I like them all (unless there's pineapple on it in which case I won't touch it).
I have a definite weakness for this barbeque chicken pizza. It's made with spiced, roasted chicken breasts that are diced and baked on top of homemade crust slathered in tangy BBQ sauce, sliced mushrooms, spinach, and smoked Gouda cheese.
It's garnished with pickled jalapenos and cilantro for extra fresh flavor. This pizza is savory, smoky, tangy, and even a little sweet. It's packed with lip-smacking goodness.
Jump to:
- What Toppings Go Well On BBQ Chicken Pizza?
- Ingredients For BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Which Pizza Dough Is Best?
- What Makes Gluten Free Pizza Dough Different?
- How To Make Gluten Free Pizza Dough
- Do You Cook Chicken Before Adding To Pizza?
- How To Make BBQ Pizza Sauce
- How To Bake Gluten Free Pizza Crust
- How To Make BBQ Chicken Pizza
- What To Serve With BBQ Chicken Pizza
- How Long Does This Pizza Last In The Fridge?
- Can It Be Frozen?
- BBQ Chicken Pizza (Gluten Free)
What Toppings Go Well On BBQ Chicken Pizza?
The basic toppings for BBQ Chicken Pizza include a BBQ sauce base, cooked shredded or diced chicken, and cheese.
This recipe calls for sliced mushrooms and fresh spinach, but you can adjust the veggies to your tastes. Sliced red onions, caramelized onions, bell peppers, and arugula or any hearty greens such as kale or Swiss chard are great alternatives.
As for the chicken, this recipe uses chicken breasts that are tossed in olive oil and spices, roasted in the oven, and diced into chunks. To simplify things, you can also use any leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
I love smoked Gouda cheese on this pizza for its characteristic smoky flavor, but you can opt for any cheese you like. Fontina, Havarti, cheddar or smoked cheddar, mozzarella, or any combination of these is perfect.
As for garnishes, I love to add some pickled jalapenos to balance out the sweetness of the BBQ sauce. Any type of pickled veggies such as pepperoncini or onions provide this pizza with some acidity to cut through the BBQ sauce.
Ingredients For BBQ Chicken Pizza
Here's what you'll need to make it.
- 1 - 1 ¼ lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (or leftover cooked or rotisserie chicken)
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- ¾ tsp. Garlic Powder (split)
- ¾ tsp. Onion Powder (split)
- ¾ tsp. Italian Seasoning (split)
- ½ tsp. Smoked Paprika
- ½ tsp. each Kosher Salt and Pepper
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce (gluten free)
- ½ cup Tomato Sauce
- 2 cups Spinach
- 8 oz. Mushrooms
- 2 cups Smoked Gouda Cheese (shredded) (or cheese of choice)
- Pickled Jalapenos (can sub pepperoncini)
- Cilantro (for garnish)
- 2 cups Warm Water (not hot water)
- 2 Tbsp. Sugar
- 3 tsp. Active Dry Yeast
- 3 cups Gluten Free Flour Blend (such as Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour)
- 2 tsp. Baking Powder
- 1 ½ tsp. Kosher Salt
- 2 Tbsp. Psyllium Husk Powder
- ¼ cup Olive Oil
Which Pizza Dough Is Best?
This recipe was originally published years ago using a regular pizza dough made with AP flour. Since that time, I am gluten free and have updated the recipe to reflect that change.
I searched for years for a terrific gluten free pizza dough and finally came across a recipe that I enjoy as much as regular pizza dough and it has become my go-to when making homemade pizza.
The gluten free pizza dough I use to make this BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe comes from Meaningful Eats. I have altered it slightly, but it's largely based on the one from that site.
This recipe calls for the dough to rise for 2 hours at room temperature before adding the toppings, so it's important to plan ahead when making it.
- You can also simplify the process by using a store-bought pizza crust such as the gluten free pizza crust mix from Bob's Red Mill or your favorite regular or gluten free pizza crust mix.
- Alternately, you can use a pre-made pizza crust (gluten free or regular), flatbread, or naan bread in place of homemade pizza crust.
- If gluten is not an issue for you, feel free to use my homemade pizza dough recipe. I used this recipe for years before I went gluten free and was consistently happy with the results.
What Makes Gluten Free Pizza Dough Different?
The process of making gluten free pizza dough differs slightly from that of making regular pizza dough.
There are a few things to keep in mind when making a gluten free pizza dough in order to achieve optimal taste and texture.
- Gluten free pizza dough calls for a gluten free flour blend. It's important to use a flour blend and not an all-purpose gluten free flour. A gluten free flour blend contains Xantham gum and all of the elements that help it to work much the same as regular all-purpose flour.
- A gluten free flour blend such as Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour, King Arthur Flour, or Cup 4 Cup work well when making gluten free pizza dough.
- It's important to add psyllium husk powder to gluten free pizza dough. This helps to create a stretchy dough and characteristic chewy texture.
- Gluten free pizza dough must be par-baked before adding the toppings. The same is true when making gluten free pie crust.
- Gluten free pizza takes longer to bake. The dough must first be par-baked and then it takes a few minutes longer to be baked after adding the toppings.
- The pan must be greased properly before spreading the pizza dough onto it in order to prevent the crust from sticking.
- Gluten free pizza dough is spread onto the pizza sheet with your hands. It's not necessary to roll it out with a rolling pin.
How To Make Gluten Free Pizza Dough
As mentioned, it takes about 2 hours for this pizza dough to rise, so it's important to plan ahead when making it.
Allowing the dough to rise helps to develop a deeper flavor and optimal texture. It also makes the dough much easier to work with.
The recipe used to make this pizza yields 2 pizzas. If you would only like 1 pizza, feel free to cut the recipe in half.
- To make the pizza dough, start by pouring 2 cups of warm (not hot) water into a glass bowl. Add 2 Tbsp. of sugar and 3 tsp. of active dry yeast to the water.
- Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. The yeast will start to proof during this time.
- While the yeast is proofing, add the dry ingredients to a stand mixer bowl or any large bowl. Add 3 cups gluten free flour blend, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt, and 2 Tbsp. psyllium husk powder to the bowl. Stir until completely combined with the paddle attachment.
- After 10 minutes, slowly add the water and yeast mixture, along with ¼ cup olive oil to the bowl while the mixture runs on a low speed. Continue to mix on a medium-low speed for 3-4 minutes, or until the dough is completely combined (make sure to scrape the sides and bottom with a spatula). Feel free to use a wooden spoon to mix the pizza dough by hand if you don't have a stand mixer.
- Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes, but ideally for 2 hours. The dough will rise during this time.
The texture of the dough should be a bit sticky and tacky, but should hold together nicely after mixed.
If it seems too watery, simply add a bit more flour, 1 Tbsp. at a time and continue to mix until the dough is sticky, but holds together.
Do You Cook Chicken Before Adding To Pizza?
The great thing about homemade pizza dough is that all of the other elements can be prepared while the dough is rising.
One such element is roasting the chicken breasts in the oven. This step can be completed at any point while the dough is rising. It is essential to cook chicken before adding to pizza.
This recipe calls for boneless, skinless breasts that are tossed in olive oil and a blend of savory spices such as garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning.
The chicken breasts are roasted until they are cooked through and then shredded or diced before adding to the pizza. It is essential to cook chicken before adding to pizza.
- To cook the chicken, start by heating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place 1 - 1 ¼ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts onto a baking sheet.
- Drizzle the chicken with 1 Tbsp. olive oil and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle ¼ tsp. each garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and pepper over the chicken breasts.
- Flip and sprinkle another ¼ tsp. each of the same spices over the second side.
- Toss until completely coated in the spices.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 18-20 minutes, or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (this can be checked using a food thermometer).
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven, allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, and dice it into chunks or shred it.
This chicken is juicy and the blend of spices gives it a great smoky and savory flavor.
If you're running short on time, you can use leftover roasted chicken or any kind of leftover cooked chicken, or rotisserie chicken.
How To Make BBQ Pizza Sauce
The component that defines a BBQ Chicken Pizza is the sauce that is added to it. Many pizza recipes call for a tomato sauce, but this one is made with jarred BBQ sauce.
I recommend using a high quality brand of BBQ sauce, such as the line of sauces from Stubb's. Stubb's BBQ sauces are gluten free and made without high fructose corn syrup.
For that characteristic sweet and smoky flavor, I recommend a sweeter variety such as Sticky Sweet, Sweet Heat, Smoky Mesquite, or Smoky Brown Sugar.
To balance out the sweetness of the BBQ sauce, I like to add some tomato sauce to the mixture and a few extra spices for even more depth of flavor.
- To make the sauce, add 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce to a small bowl.
- Add ½ cup of tomato sauce, along with ¼ tsp. each garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning and a pinch of kosher salt and pepper.
- Stir all of these ingredients until completely combined using a fork or a small whisk.
How To Bake Gluten Free Pizza Crust
After the dough has risen, it's time to press it onto a greased baking sheet and par-bake it in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
Par-baking the gluten free pizza dough helps the bottom of the crust become crispy and ensures that the dough doesn't get soggy after adding the toppings.
It is not necessary to par-bake the pizza crust if using regular pizza dough.
You can use baking sheets for a sheet pan style pizza or pizza pans for round pizzas. Either one is just fine.
- To par-bake the crusts, increase the oven heat to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread some olive oil over the surface of two medium-large sized baking sheets or pizza pans.
- Divide the pizza dough in half and place each onto a baking pan.
- With oiled fingers, spread the dough evenly over the surface of each baking sheet or pizza pan. The dough does not need to reach the edge of the pan.
- Press the dough as thinly as you can, without tearing the dough.
- Place the baking pans in the oven and par-bake the dough for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside.
How To Make BBQ Chicken Pizza
Once the crust, sauce, and chicken are ready it's time to prepare the rest of the toppings.
- Wipe 8 oz. of mushrooms (any variety) clean with a towel to remove any dirt and slice the mushrooms.
- Roughly chop 2 cups of spinach.
- Shred 2 cups of smoked gouda (or cheese of choice).
- Spread a generous amount of the BBQ sauce mixture over each of the pizza crusts (you may end up with a little extra sauce).
- Add half of the sliced mushrooms, chopped spinach, and grated cheese to each pizza.
- Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for an additional 12-14 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the baking sheets from the oven.
- Garnish the pizzas with sliced pickled jalapenos (or pepperoncini) and some fresh cilantro or herbs of choice (optional).
It should be pointed out that smoked Gouda does not 'melt' like most varieties of cheese. If you prefer a 'meltier' cheese, feel free to use a variety such as mozzarella, cheddar, or Fontina in addition to or in place of it.
Love BBQ? Don't miss these recipes!
- Tangy BBQ Turkey Meatballs
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
- BBQ Sweet Potatoes
- BBQ Sloppy Joes
- Pulled BBQ Chicken
What To Serve With BBQ Chicken Pizza
I love to serve homemade pizza with a fresh side dish like cherry tomato salad, Italian green bean salad, or minty pea salad.
A crisp lettuce salad or chopped Italian salad is a great side dish option.
Coleslaw and BBQ sauce are the perfect pairing - Try this crunchy coleslaw, kohlrabi slaw, or blue cheese coleslaw for a fresh and flavorful combo.
If you like to dip your crust into some kind of sauce you can't beat homemade ranch dressing or cool and creamy blue cheese dressing.
How Long Does This Pizza Last In The Fridge?
Any leftover pizza should last 2-3 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Be sure to allow the pizza to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.
Can It Be Frozen?
For the best taste and texture, I recommend enjoying this pizza right away or within a few days.
Love pizza? Check out these recipes!
- Homemade Mushroom Arugula Pizza
- Mediterranean Veggie Naan Pizza
- Arugula, Pesto, and Prosciutto Pizza
- Pizza Stuffed Peppers
- Sheet Pan Pizza
- Garden Vegetable Pizza
- Pesto Chicken Flatbread
Looking For More BBQ Recipes? Don't Miss These!
BBQ Chicken Sliders
BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Cheesy BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
BBQ Chicken Pizza (Gluten Free)
Equipment
- Baking Sheets or pizza pans
Ingredients
For The Pizza Dough:
- 2 cups warm water not hot water
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 3 tsp. active dry yeast
- 3 cups gluten free flour blend
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 Tbsp. psyllium husk powder
- 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt
- ¼ cup olive oil
For The Toppings:
- 1 - 1 ¼ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts can use leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ tsp. Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. Pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. onion powder
- ¼ tsp. Italian seasoning
- 8 oz. mushrooms any variety
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 cups smoked Gouda cheese shredded, or cheese of choice
- ¼ cup pickled jalapenos can sub banana peppers or pepperoncini
- ¼ cup cilantro for garnish optional
Instructions
Prepare The Pizza Dough:
- Start by pouring 2 cups of warm (not hot) water into a glass bowl. Add 2 Tbsp. of sugar and 3 tsp. of active dry yeast to the water. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. The yeast will start to proof during this time.
- While the yeast is proofing, add the dry ingredients to a stand mixer bowl or any large bowl. Add 3 cups gluten free flour blend, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt, and 2 Tbsp. psyllium husk powder to the bowl. Stir until completely combined with the paddle attachment.
- After 10 minutes, slowly add the water and yeast mixture, along with ¼ cup olive oil to the bowl while the mixture runs on a low speed. Continue to mix on a medium-low speed for 3-4 minutes, or until the dough is completely combined. Feel free to use a wooden spoon to mix the pizza dough by hand if you don't have a stand mixer.
- Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes, but ideally for 2 hours. The dough will rise during this time.If the dough seems too wet, feel free to add a bit more flour until it is sticky, tacky, and easy to handle.
For The Chicken:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place 1 - 1 ¼ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts onto a baking sheet. Drizzle the chicken with 1 Tbsp. olive oil and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle ¼ tsp. each garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and pepper over the chicken breasts. Flip and sprinkle another ¼ tsp. each of the same spices over the second side. Toss until completely coated in the spices.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 18-20 minutes, or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (this can be checked using a food thermometer).
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven, allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, and dice it into chunks or shred it.
For The BBQ Sauce:
- Add 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce to a small bowl.I recommend a sweet and smoky variety of BBQ sauce, such as Sticky Sweet or Smoky Mesquite.
- Add ½ cup of tomato sauce, along with ¼ tsp. each garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning and a pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Stir all of these ingredients until completely combined using a fork or a small whisk.
For The Pizza:
- Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wipe 1 8 oz. package of mushrooms (any variety) free of any dirt and slice the mushrooms. Roughly shop 2 cups of spinach. Shred 2 cups of smoked Gouda cheese (or cheese of choice).
- Spread some olive oil over the surface of two medium-large sized baking sheets or pizza pans. Divide the pizza dough in half and place each onto a baking pan or pizza pan.
- With oiled fingers, spread the dough evenly over the surface of each baking sheet or pizza pan. The dough does not need to reach the edge of the pan. Press the dough as thinly as you can, without tearing the dough.
- Place the baking pans in the oven and par-bake the dough for 15 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven.
- Spread a generous amount of the BBQ sauce mixture over each of the pizza crusts (you may end up with a little extra sauce). Add half of the sliced mushrooms, chopped spinach, and grated cheese to each pizza.
- Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for an additional 12-14 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the baking sheets from the oven.
- To Serve: Cut the pizza into slices and garnish with sliced pickled jalapenos (can sub pickled banana peppers or pepperoncini) and some fresh cilantro or herbs of choice (optional).
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
Yum. I adore chicken with BBQ sauce. This looks so delicious! Beautiful photos!
Christine
Thank you, Elaine! I'm a sucker for BBQ chicken as well.
Anja
You got me at smoky!!! I absolutely love smoked paprika, but I haven't tried in on a pizza yet, so this is definitely going on my to-make list 🙂
Anja
Use Your Noodles
Christine
Thanks, Anja! I think smoked paprika is my favorite spice of all.