Italy, New York, and Chicago usually take all the credit for the best
pizza in the world. But we can thank California Pizza Kitchen for one of the most recognized pizza innovations of all time: the BBQ chicken pizza. Invented in 1985 by Ed LaDou, the BBQ chicken pizza appeared in the original menu for the chain. The unorthodox flavor combination was originally considered controversial, if not sacrilegious. But it has remained a mainstay on CPK’s menu for nearly 40 years and appears on other restaurant menus all over the country.
We have our own copycat version of the BBQ chicken pizza, but we don’t always want to go through the effort of shaping raw pizza dough. Enter: the BBQ chicken French bread pizza. This recipe combines the uniquely sweet and savory flavor of the BBQ chicken pizza with the ease of a Stouffer’s-style French bread pizza.
Store-bought French bread does all of the heavy lifting here, so all you have to do is slice it in half, assemble your pizza, and let the cheese get bubbly and golden in the oven. You can even use store-bought BBQ sauce if you want to make this recipe even more convenient. It’s easy to make, easy to share, and most importantly, easy to eat. Whether you’re serving this for a weeknight dinner or a game day snack, you most likely won’t end up with leftovers.
The type of bread you choose is important here. When we’re talking about French bread, we don’t mean the crusty baguettes you can find at an artisanal bakery. As delicious as those may be, they’re far too firm to be the foundation of a pizza. What you want is the loaf from your supermarket’s bakery section with the crackly crust and pillowy soft center. But in a pinch, you can also use ciabatta.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
Italy, New York, and Chicago usually take all the credit for the best
pizza in the world. But we can thank California Pizza Kitchen for one of the most recognized pizza innovations of all time: the BBQ chicken pizza. Invented in 1985 by Ed LaDou, the BBQ chicken pizza appeared in the original menu for the chain. The unorthodox flavor combination was originally considered controversial, if not sacrilegious. But it has remained a mainstay on CPK’s menu for nearly 40 years and appears on other restaurant menus all over the country.
We have our own copycat version of the BBQ chicken pizza, but we don’t always want to go through the effort of shaping raw pizza dough. Enter: the BBQ chicken French bread pizza. This recipe combines the uniquely sweet and savory flavor of the BBQ chicken pizza with the ease of a Stouffer’s-style French bread pizza.
Store-bought French bread does all of the heavy lifting here, so all you have to do is slice it in half, assemble your pizza, and let the cheese get bubbly and golden in the oven. You can even use store-bought BBQ sauce if you want to make this recipe even more convenient. It’s easy to make, easy to share, and most importantly, easy to eat. Whether you’re serving this for a weeknight dinner or a game day snack, you most likely won’t end up with leftovers.
The type of bread you choose is important here. When we’re talking about French bread, we don’t mean the crusty baguettes you can find at an artisanal bakery. As delicious as those may be, they’re far too firm to be the foundation of a pizza. What you want is the loaf from your supermarket’s bakery section with the crackly crust and pillowy soft center. But in a pinch, you can also use ciabatta.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
- Yields:
-
4
serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 15 mins
- Total Time:
- 35 mins
- Cal/Serv:
- 693
Directions
-
- Step 1
Preheat oven to 425°. Slice loaf in half lengthwise. Depending on length of your loaf, you may need to cut crosswise into 4 pieces to fit on sheet. Arrange bread slices cut side up on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Step 2Toast bread until slightly dry to the touch and the edges start to turn golden, about 5 minutes.
- Step 3Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss chicken and 1/4 cup BBQ sauce until coated. In another medium bowl, combine mozzarella and cheddar.
- Step 4Spread 3/4 cup BBQ sauce on bread in an even layer, making sure to reach the edges. Top with about half of cheese mixture, then sprinkle with onion. Spread chicken mixture on bread, then top with remaining cheese mixture.
- Step 5Bake pizza until cheese is melted with golden brown spots on top, 12 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with more BBQ sauce and top with cilantro.
- Step 1
Related Video: BBQ Chicken Pizza
