Cheese, Bbq Chicken Pizza: The Perfect Combination?

BBQ chicken pizza is a popular dish, with many recipes available online. The pizza typically features BBQ sauce, chicken, and cheese, with red onions and cilantro as common additional toppings. The type of cheese used can vary, with mozzarella, smoked gouda, Colby-Jack, and pepper jack being popular choices. Some recipes also include additional ingredients such as peppers, caramelized onions, or pineapple. The pizza is typically baked in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Mozzarella and smoked gouda

Mozzarella is a classic pizza cheese, and for good reason. It has a mild, creamy taste that is not too overpowering, allowing the other ingredients to shine. It also has a high melting point, which means it can withstand the heat of the oven without burning, and it will stay beautifully gooey.

Smoked gouda brings a rich, smoky flavour to the pizza. Its strong, unique taste is a perfect complement to the BBQ sauce, and it adds a wonderful depth to the overall flavour profile. The smokiness of the cheese is a great way to add a "barbecue" taste to the pizza without drying out the meat, as you would with a longer cooking time.

The two cheeses also have a great visual impact when combined. The white mozzarella and the yellow/brown smoked gouda create a lovely marbled effect when melted together, making the pizza look as good as it tastes.

When making a BBQ chicken pizza with mozzarella and smoked gouda, it is important to get the ratio of the two cheeses right. You want enough smoked gouda to add flavour without overwhelming the other ingredients, so a combination of two-thirds mozzarella to one-third smoked gouda is a good balance.

For a truly delicious BBQ chicken pizza, combine these cheeses with a good quality BBQ sauce, some pre-cooked chicken, red onion, and fresh cilantro. This combination of ingredients will create a pizza that is sweet, tangy, smoky, and fresh—a delicious treat for any night of the week.

Spicy barbecue sauce

For a spicier pizza, you can add some chilli sauce to the barbecue sauce. This will give the pizza an extra kick and make it even more saucy. If you want to tone down the spice, you can omit the chilli sauce or add less to the barbecue sauce.

When making your BBQ chicken pizza, spread the spicy barbecue sauce evenly over the pizza dough, creating a thin layer as your base. You can also toss the cooked chicken in some barbecue sauce before spreading it over the pizza to give it more flavour and moisture.

The amount of spicy barbecue sauce you use can vary depending on your preference. Most recipes call for around 1/3 to 1 cup of barbecue sauce for a 12-inch pizza. However, you can add more or less to suit your taste. You can also serve extra sauce on the side for dipping.

Pre-cooked chicken

Using pre-cooked chicken is a convenient way to make a delicious and easy BBQ chicken pizza at home. You can either cook the chicken yourself ahead of time or buy it pre-cooked from a store. This saves you the hassle of preparing and cooking raw chicken, making the pizza a quicker and simpler meal to put together.

When using pre-cooked chicken for your pizza, it's important to ensure that it is heated through properly during the baking process. This is especially important if you are using leftover chicken, as you want to make sure it is still safe to eat. Make sure your oven is hot enough and that you bake the pizza for the recommended amount of time.

To enhance the flavour of pre-cooked chicken on your pizza, you can toss it in some BBQ sauce before adding it to the pizza. This adds moisture and tanginess to the chicken, preventing it from drying out during baking. It also gives the chicken a more prominent flavour in the finished pizza. You can use your favourite brand of BBQ sauce for this, adjusting the sweetness or spiciness to your taste.

Another tip for using pre-cooked chicken is to shred the chicken into smaller pieces. This helps the chicken to mix well with the other toppings and ensures you get a bite of chicken in every mouthful. Shredded chicken also has a more appealing texture than larger chunks, making for a more enjoyable eating experience.

Red onion and cilantro

When making a BBQ chicken pizza with red onion and cilantro, you can either use fresh or caramelised red onion. If you want to caramelise your onion, this will take around 45 minutes to an hour, but it's a great way to add a little extra depth to the flavour of your pizza.

When it comes to assembling your pizza, you'll want to start with your BBQ sauce—spread this evenly over your pizza base, then add your chicken, which you can toss in a little extra BBQ sauce to keep it moist. Next, add your red onion, followed by your cheese—a combination of mozzarella and smoked gouda or Colby-Jack works well and will give you that classic pizza flavour with a nice smoky edge. Finally, sprinkle over your chopped fresh cilantro and your pizza is ready to bake!

Pizza dough

Making pizza dough from scratch is a simple and rewarding process. It is also a great way to make your BBQ chicken pizza even more delicious. Here is a guide to making your own pizza dough, with some tips and tricks to ensure success.

Ingredients

The ingredients for pizza dough are simple and easy to source. You will need:

• Flour (either all-purpose or bread flour)
• Yeast (instant or active dry)
• Water (warm, but not too hot)
• Sugar
• Salt
• Olive oil

Method

• Combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
• Add the olive oil and warm water, then stir well.
• Gradually add more flour until a cohesive, elastic ball of dough forms. The dough should be slightly sticky but still manageable.
• Drizzle a separate bowl with olive oil and transfer the dough into it, turning to coat in the oil.
• Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes to an hour, or until doubled in size.
• Gently deflate the dough and transfer to a floured surface. Knead briefly until smooth.
• Use a rolling pin or your hands to stretch the dough into a circle, to your desired thickness.
• Transfer the dough to a lined pizza pan and either pinch the edges or fold them over to form a crust.
• Drizzle the dough with olive oil and use a fork to poke holes over the centre to prevent bubbling during baking.

Tips and Tricks

• If you are new to working with yeast, it is worth investing in an instant yeast variety, as this will make the process easier.
• When adding the water, ensure it is not too hot, as this will kill the yeast. The ideal temperature is between 100-110°F (40-46°C).
• You can add extra ingredients to your dough to enhance the flavour, such as garlic powder, dried basil, or Italian seasoning.
• If you want to get ahead, you can make the dough and let it rise, then refrigerate it for several hours or up to 2 days before shaping and baking.
• You can also freeze pizza dough for up to 3 months. Simply wrap the dough ball tightly in plastic wrap or seal it in an airtight container.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Now that you have mastered the art of pizza dough, it's time to assemble your BBQ chicken pizza. Here is a simple recipe to get you started:

• Preheat your oven to 350-475°F (175-246°C).
• Spread a thin layer of BBQ sauce over your prepared pizza dough.
• Top with cooked, shredded chicken that has been coated in a little BBQ sauce.
• Add sliced red onions and your chosen cheese (mozzarella and smoked gouda work well).
• Sprinkle with fresh cilantro to taste.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.

Enjoy your homemade BBQ chicken pizza!

Frequently asked questions