Bar B Q Chicken Pizza

I found this recipe on the Pioneer Woman website.  It's a California Pizza Kitchen style recipe.  I was excited to try a chicken pizza recipe, and this one definitely didn't let me down.  Easy, but so delicious.  I was happy that the crust is made with olive oil, so it's got to be more healthy, right?  The red onions are sweet, so don't go too skimpy with them. We added fresh mushroom slices, that was very good, and pineapple chunks would also be good.

Basic Pizza Crust

It's best to make the dough at least 24 hours in advance, and 3 or 4 days in the fridge is even better.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon instant or active dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup olive oil

Preparation

I threw all the ingredients in my bread maker and set it for pizza dough.  Works great.

Or

Sprinkle yeast over 1 1/2 cups warm (not lukewarm) water.

In a mixer, combine flour and salt.  With the mixer running on low speed (with paddle attachment), drizzle in olive oil until combined with flour.  Next, pour in yeast/water mixture and mix until just combined.

Coat a separate mixing bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil, and form the dough into a ball.  Toss to coat dough in olive oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and store in the tridge until you need it. 

Makes 2 crusts.

Now for the Good Stuff

Ingredients

1 whole batch of pizza crust (makes 2)

2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

olive oil, for drizzling

salt for sprinkling

16 ounces fresh mozarella cheese, sliced thin

1/2 whole red onion, cut in half and sliced very thin

chopped fresh cilantro, to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Salt chicken breasts on both sides, then place in an ovenproof dish.  Pour BBQ sauce over the breasts and turn them over to coat.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until chicken is done.  Remove from oven and cut into a fine dice. Set aside.

Increase oven to 500 degrees.

Stretch out one pizza crust .  Lay it on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil.  Drizzle a little olive oil on the crust, then sprinkle on a little salt. 

Spoon a couple of tablespoons of extra BBQ sauce on the crust and spread it evenly.  Top sauce with half the sliced mozzarella. 

Sprinkle on half the diced chicken and thinly sliced red onion.

Sprinkle again with a little salt, then bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toppings are bubbly.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle on plenty of chopped cilantro.  Cut into squares and serve immediately.  Repeat with other crust and other ingredients, or save for another time.