Smoky BBQ Chicken Pizza
A quick and easy smoky BBQ chicken pizza grilled on a charcoal grill, delivering a perfect charred crust and melty cheese with bold, smoky flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12–14 ounces (340–400 grams) pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup (about 140 grams) cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- ½ cup (120 ml) BBQ sauce (smoky, tangy, e.g., Sweet Baby Ray’s)
- 1 to 1½ cups (100–150 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup (40 grams) thinly sliced red onion
- A handful of fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Optional toppings: sliced jalapeños, cooked bacon bits, diced bell peppers
Instructions
- Light 40-50 briquettes (about 2 pounds or 900 grams) using a chimney starter. Once coals are covered with gray ash (15-20 minutes), spread evenly under one half of the grill for indirect heat, leaving the other half cooler.
- Roll out pizza dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch (30 cm) circle. Brush both sides lightly with olive oil.
- Preheat grill grate over coals and close lid for 5 minutes. Oil the grate lightly using tongs and an oiled paper towel to prevent sticking.
- Place dough directly over the hot side of the grill. Close lid and cook 2-3 minutes until grill marks appear and dough puffs up, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Flip dough onto cooler side of grill. Quickly spread BBQ sauce evenly over cooked side, then sprinkle mozzarella, chicken, and red onion slices on top.
- Close lid and cook 7-10 minutes until cheese melts, crust crisps, and toppings warm through. Optionally, move pizza near hot coals for 1-2 minutes for extra smoky flavor, watching closely.
- Remove pizza from grill, sprinkle fresh cilantro on top, let rest a couple of minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes
Brush dough and grill grate with olive oil to prevent sticking. Control heat zones by using direct heat for initial dough cooking and indirect heat for melting toppings. Rotate pizza halfway through cooking if crust cooks unevenly. Keep a spray bottle of water handy to manage flare-ups. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, substitute dough and cheese accordingly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the pizza
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
Keywords: BBQ chicken pizza, charcoal grill pizza, smoky pizza, grilled pizza, easy pizza recipe, outdoor cooking, backyard pizza