Why Chicken Pizza?
I didn’t set out to become a chicken pizza enthusiast—honestly, I was just lazy and looking for a way to jazz up plain old leftover poultry. The first batch? Kind of a disaster (I baked it on a warped cookie sheet, and half slid onto the oven floor). But everyone dug in, and soon our “weekly pizza night” became a ritual—a little slice of homemade joy where perfection was optional and creativity was mandatory. I’ve tweaked, tasted, and even burned a few, and now I’m sharing everything—warts and all.
1. Classic BBQ Chicken Pizza
This one’s my go-to for family movie nights. Once I dropped the entire finished pie flipping it from the pan. It still tasted glorious.
Ingredients:
- 1 pizza crust (store-bought, homemade, or “I forgot to prep” pita)
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s—just trust me.)
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- ½ cup red onion, sliced
- 2 cups mozzarella
- Handful of cilantro
- Optional: Some crispy bacon bits (when spirits are high)
Steps:
Spread BBQ sauce. Scatter chicken, onions, cheese, and bacon. Bake at 425°F until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden (about 12–15 min). Yank it out, swear when it sticks a bit, add cilantro, grab a cold drink, and dig in.
2. Buffalo Chicken Pizza
I once made this with leftover wing sauce from a party. Not a bad way to use up stray condiments.
Ingredients:
- Your favorite pizza dough
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
- ¼ cup Buffalo sauce (Frank’s Red Hot, always)
- 2 cups mozzarella
- A drizzle of blue cheese dressing
- A crunchy handful of sliced celery
Steps:
Toss chicken in Buffalo sauce. Layer pizza dough with chicken and mozzarella, then bake hot and fast. Splash the blue cheese and celery on top. Try not to eat it all in one sitting.
3. Garlic Chicken White Pizza
This is what I make when I want to feel “fancy” but with minimum actual effort.
Ingredients:
- Pizza crust
- Cooked chicken (roasted, from the night before if I’m lucky)
- Alfredo sauce (Rao’s sauce)
- Minced garlic, and I mean a LOT
- Spinach
- Cheese, cheese, and more cheese
Steps:
Spread Alfredo and garlic on crust. Pile on chicken and spinach, drown in mozzarella. Bake until gooey, eat straight from the pan because waiting is overrated.
4. Mediterranean Chicken Pizza
For when you’re feeling healthy-ish but still want pizza.
Ingredients:
- Dough, any kind
- Diced chicken (grilled if you’ve got patience)
- Feta, olives, sun-dried tomatoes
- Mozzarella and a drizzle of olive oil (California Olive Ranch)
Steps:
Brush the crust with oil, load up with all the above. Bake, slice, pretend you’re on a Greek island.
5. Thai Chicken Pizza
This one came about after a homemade Thai dinner explosion in my kitchen.
Ingredients:
- Crust
- Peanut sauce (Reese’s Peanut sauce works)
- Chicken
- Peppers, carrots, cilantro, maybe some cheese if you can’t help yourself
Steps:
Spread peanut sauce. Mound on chicken, veggies, then cheese. Bake, sprinkle cilantro. Grab the chopsticks as a joke (no one ever uses them).
6. Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pizza
My “how to turn leftovers into something that looks intentional” trick.
Ingredients:
- Crust
- Chicken
- Alfred sauce
- Spinach
- Mozzarella
Steps:
Layer all ingredients. Bake. Eat. Nod knowingly at the approval from your family.
7. Mexican Chicken Pizza
Sometimes I call this “taco pizza” and no one blinks.
Ingredients:
- Dough
- Chicken
- Refried beans
- Salsa (Herdez salasa)
- Cheddar, corn, black beans
Steps:
Spread beans, salsa. Top with chicken, cheese, corn, and beans. Bake, slice, watch people argue over which slice is “the best.”
8. Pesto Chicken Pizza
Thank you, summer basil and lazy store-bought pesto.
Ingredients:
- Dough
- Chicken
- Barilla pesto
- Cherry tomatoes
- Mozzarella
Steps:
Pesto first. Then chicken and tomatoes. Cheese on top. Bake, serve under twinkly lights if you have them.
9. Chipotle Chicken Pizza
Make this if you’re feeling bold.
Ingredients:
- Dough
- Chipotle-marinated chicken
- Mozzarella
- Bell peppers, tomatoes, jalapeños
Steps:
Spread chipotle sauce. Add everything else. Bake, slice. Happy sweat.
10. Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza
The best excuse to eat salad and pizza at once.
Ingredients:
- Baked pizza base
- Grilled chicken
- Romaine lettuce
- Caesar dressing (Cardini’s)
- Parmesan
Steps:
Pile salad on just-baked crust with chicken and toss in dressing. Summer lunch perfection.
11. Butter Chicken Pizza
Indian takeout leftovers become legend.
Ingredients:
- Crust
- Butter chicken
- Red onion
- Cheese
Steps:
Spread butter chicken on base, top with onion and cheese. Bake, rejoice.
12. Spicy Buffalo Ranch Pizza
For spice fiends and ranch lovers.
Ingredients:
- Crust
- Buffalo chicken
- Ranch (Hidden Valley)
- Mozzarella
- Scallions
Steps:
Buffalo up the chicken, ranch the pizza, bake, scatter scallions after. Savor.
13. Hawaiian Chicken Pizza
Let the pineapple debates begin.
Ingredients:
- Dough
- BBQ chicken
- Pineapple
- Bacon bits
- Mozzarella
- Red onion
Steps:
Layer everything, bake, defend your topping choices fiercely.
14. Chicken Parm Pizza
Comfort food with crispy edges.
Ingredients:
- Crust
- Breaded chicken strips
- Marinara
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan
Steps:
Spread sauce, add chicken and cheese, bake till bubbly. Slice, inhale.
15. Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pizza
This one screams “potluck win.”
Ingredients:
- Dough
- Chicken
- Creamy spinach artichoke dip
- Mozzarella
- Chili flakes
Steps:
Spread, bake, serve, listen for the “wow.”
16. Cheesy Chipotle Ranch Pizza
Made on nights when everyone’s craving something extra.
Ingredients:
- Dough
- Chipotle chicken
- Cheese
- Jalapeños
- Ranch for drizzling
Steps:
Pile it all up, bake, ranch it, enjoy.
17. Smoked Chicken Bacon Pizza
Smoked chicken mornings are rare—use them well.
Ingredients:
- Crust
- Smoked chicken
- Bacon bits (Hormel)
- Mozzarella
- Green onions
Steps:
Scatter everything, bake till perfect, top with onions.
18. Chicken Alfredo Broccoli Pizza
The sneaky way to get kids to eat broccoli.
Ingredients:
- Crust
- Alfredo chicken
- Steamed broccoli
- Mozzarella
Steps:
Spread, layer, bake—applause from the broccoli brigade.
19. Mediterranean Veggie Chicken Pizza
For when you need “fresh.”
Ingredients:
- Base
- Marinated chicken
- Olives
- Roasted peppers
- Spinach
- Feta
Steps:
Pile on veggies and cheese, bake, eat under blue skies if you can.
20. Lazy Rotisserie Chicken Pizza
Yes, this is the lazy night hero.
Ingredients:
- Base
- Rotisserie chicken
- Jar pizza sauce
- Mozzarella
Steps:
Spread, top, bake, boom—done.
21. Béchamel Chicken Pizza
No shame if you are using jarred sauce.
Ingredients:
- Base
- Béchamel
- Grilled chicken
- Sausage bites
- Mozzarella
- Gruyere
Steps:
Sauce first, chicken and sausage, top with cheese, bake. Cut thick slices and call it rustic.
True Pizza Tips from My Messy, Lovely Kitchen
- Chicken should always be cooked ahead. Raw chicken on pizza? That’s a sure way to lose friends.
- Cheap pizza pans warp; spend on a Lodge Cast Iron survived three moves.
- More cheese > less cheese. Only rule.
- Rao’s pizza sauce makes even a thrown-together pizza taste like you planned ahead.
- Mozzarella melts beautifully; pre-shredded (Kraft) is my shortcut.
- Don’t sweat the odd shapes. Real pizza is a little lumpy, a little charred, always gone too soon.
Final Slice
These recipes aren’t perfect, but dang, they’re tasty. Pizza is my family’s language, and there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing the quiet, haphazard compliments after everyone’s demolished every last piece. If you use these recipes, tweak them wildly, and laugh at every kitchen mishap, you’re living the true pizza life.
Tag me if you share your creations—I’ll be right there celebrating your burnt edges, extra cheese, and bold topping choices. Happy slice-hunting, fellow imperfect pizza lovers!