Name: Copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 pound pizza dough ball (thawed if frozen (look for it at your local grocery store or pizzeria)); 1/2 cup BBQ sauce; 3 cups shredded mozzarella; 1 cup shredded smoked Gouda; 1 small red onion (thinly sliced); 1 cup cooked chopped chicken; 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves (chopped (for garnish))

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This copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe pairs sweet and tangy BBQ sauce with chicken, gooey mozzarella, smoky Gouda, zippy red onion, and fresh cilantro. It’s a unique and absolutely delicious combination of flavors! And bonus, using store-bought dough from your pizzeria or grocery store means it’s quick and easy to whip up for pizza night at home.

When I was in law school, I liked to meal prep when I had time. My rotation consisted of things I could dump and forget in the slow cooker (like beef stew), prepare large batches of at one time (such as meatballs), or cook with minimal hands-on effort (like roast chicken).

But I also liked to keep a few store-bought favorites stashed in my freezer, including a couple frozen California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza. I fell in love with that unique pizza flavor combo!

Chewy crust is a delicious base for sweet, tangy BBQ sauce, tender chicken, a blend of gooey mozzarella and smoky Gouda cheeses, the peppery bite of red onion, and the fresh flavor of verdant cilantro.

Give this pizza a try and it might become a new family favorite!

In This Article

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

We use cooked chopped chicken, so technically this is a leftovers meal! Feel free to use grilled chicken, baked chicken, or roast chicken (and rotisserie chicken also works well). Or even leftover turkey after Thanksgiving would be delicious!
You will save a ton of time by using store-bought pizza dough from your local pizzeria or grocery store.
The cheeses here are very forgiving. I like the blend of mozzarella cheese (for the gooey factor!) and smoked Gouda cheese (for a touch of smoky flavor). However, feel free to use any cheese combination you like! Cheddar, provolone, and fontina are all great choices.
The blend of flavors is a real winner! Don’t skip the cilantro, it really brightens it up.

The Best BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

Extra-virgin olive oil
Pizza dough
BBQ sauce
Mozzarella
Smoked Gouda
Red onion
Cooked chopped chicken
Fresh cilantro

Step-by-Step Instructions

Drizzle the oil inside a large bowl. Place the dough inside the bowl and turn it to coat in oil. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 450F. Gently deflate the dough, but don’t push out all the air. Spread it out onto a 12-inch pizza stone or similar sized baking sheet, pressing it out with your fingers. Use the tines of a fork to prick several holes in the dough (this is called “docking” it).
Spread the BBQ sauce evenly on top, leaving a border of about ½-inch all around.
Evenly sprinkle on the mozzarella and smoked Gouda cheeses.
Then add the onion and chicken.
Bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.

overhead view of bbq chicken pizza on pizza stone

Storage

Store leftovers wrapped in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can reheat pizza in a 375F oven until warm, about 10 minutes. Check out the Notes in the recipe card below for more methods to reheat pizza.

California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza FAQs

Who Invented BBQ Chicken Pizza?

American pizza chef Edward LaDou developed this pizza for California Pizza Kitchen.

He had been working for Wolfgang Puck at his restaurant Spago in Los Angeles, and he had developed a name for himself with his unusual pizza combinations. (Think along the lines of toppings like pâté, smoked salmon, and duck sausage.)

In 1985, Larry Flax (co-founder of California Pizza Kitchen) asked LaDou to develop the menu for CPK. LaDou accepted and developed the restaurant’s first menu, which included the BBQ Chicken Pizza!

You can find out more about the history of this pizza on Wikipedia and Hungry Howie’s.

copycat california pizza kitchen bbq chicken pizza

What’s on California Pizza Kitchen’s BBQ Chicken Pizza?

LaDou’s original pizza included cooked chicken, BBQ sauce, onion, fontina cheese, and cilantro.

What’s on Domino’s Memphis BBQ Chicken Pizza?

According to Domino’s, their pizza contains grilled chicken, fresh onion, mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, and a tangy tomato-based Memphis-style BBQ sauce with white vinegar and sweet molasses.

What’s on Pizza Hut’s Backyard BBQ Chicken Pizza?

According to Pizza Hut, their pizza has grilled chicken, bacon, and onion. It also has cheese, but their website doesn’t specify what kind.

hand holding plate with slice of bbq pizza

Side Dishes That Pair Well with BBQ Chicken Pizza

homemade bbq chicken pizza on pizza stone with plate of pizza

Let's Connect

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Copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

By: Faith Gorsky

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Time for the Dough to Rise 1

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 441 kcal