Weather: 64 degrees, clear
What I’m listening to: Wii Sports, kids playing, a chainsaw buzzing in the distance
Years ago, we went to visit some college friends of ours at their apartment in Glendale, California. The husband was in medical school at the time and we were anxious to catch up with them and reminisce about our college days as Resident Assistants together in the dorms, the four of us. It’s been years since we’ve seen them and now we all have children, all cute and tow-headed (that is to say, blonde). And I still remember what we ate for dinner sitting around their little table in their apartment so many years ago: BBQ Chicken Pizza, homemade.
My friend told me the recipe as we shared together around their table, a quick list of toppings inspired by the restaurant California Pizza Kitchen. I’ve been making it ever since, probably about 12 years now.
This summer, our friend Tim is living with us and working as a commercial fisherman. His favorite pizza has always been BBQ Chicken. He requests it every time he comes to visit, and since he’s here for the summer, I’ll be making it several times. And now I’m posting the recipe here on the blog so that he can make it himself after he leaves. And so you can make it, too, of course. I hope you can create all kinds of memories around this pizza, just as we have.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Homemade barbecue chicken pizza inspired by California Pizza Kitchen. Makes 1 pizza.
Yields: 1 standard pizza
- [Pizza Dough|http://alaskascratch.wpengine.com/2013/07/03/basic-pizza-dough/] for 1 standard pizza
- 1/2 cup [barbecue sauce|http://alaskascratch.wpengine.com/2012/06/04/country-ribs-with-sassy-barbecue-sauce/], plus 2 tablespoons more for tossing with the chicken
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 large chicken breast half (or two small ones), cooked and shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup red onions, sliced
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease a standard pizza pan (I use a 15x17 Wilton pizza pan with the holes in the bottom to help get the bottom of the crust golden and crisp). Press the pizza dough into the pizza pan. Spread the 1/2 cup barbecue sauce onto the dough as a sauce. Top with shredded mozzarella.
In a bowl, season the shredded chicken with salt and pepper and toss with 2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce. Sprinkle the chicken over the cheese. Follow with cilantro and red onion slices. Bake 15-17 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is golden and cooked through in the center. Slice and serve.
