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This smoked mozzarella BBQ chicken French bread pizza is packed full of flavor and a breeze to make. I made it even easier using rotisserie chicken, so it’s ready in 30 minutes!
Pizza is the ultimate food—an excellent choice no matter the occasion. I remember ordering pizza after our wedding (at the bar) and thinking it tasted better than any pizza I had ever had.
In reality, that pizza was mediocre. But the memory is still fun.
Now, when making pizza at home, I tend to go the pressed-out dough route, like in my Smoked Mozzarella Pizza or maybe a pan pizza like my Loaded Baked Potato Pizza. However, I switched things up this time by making a French bread pizza!
And not just any French bread pizza. Nope. One topped with balsamic sauteed red onions, shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, smoked mozzarella cheese, and cilantro.
Talk about BIG TIME flavor!
I used shredded rotisserie chicken because I wanted this recipe to be quick and easy. And what’s faster than rotisserie chicken? I like to buy the big 3-pound packs of shredded rotisserie chicken from Costco. Such a time saver!
If you don’t have rotisserie chicken on hand, use drained canned or leftover sliced grilled chicken or roast and then shred fresh chicken.
Ingredients needed
- French bread
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Red onions
- Balsamic vinegar
- Rotisserie chicken
- BBQ sauce
- Smoked mozzarella cheese
- Cilantro
How to make French bread pizza
The great thing about French bread pizza is that you can have dinner quickly and use any toppings you love!
- Preheat your oven and line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone pan liner.
- Baste each slice of bread with olive oil and garlic.
- In a pan, saute red onions until soft. Add in balsamic vinegar and mix until combined.
- Remove the pan from the heat, add chicken and some BBQ sauce. Stir to combine.
- Spread the remaining BBQ sauce on the bread and top each half with equal parts of the chicken mixture.
- Top with cheese and bake.
- Garnish with cilantro.
My Pro Tips
French Bread Pizza Tips & Substitutions
- Use a hearty French bread that can withstand the weight of the toppings. I like to use something from a local bakery.
- Sweet yellow onions can be used in place of red onions.
- I’m using Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, but feel free to use your favorite—or even homemade!
- Use leftover grilled chicken, drained canned chicken, or even freshly roasted chicken instead of rotisserie chicken.
- Swap out BBQ sauce for Roasted Tomato Sauce and top with traditional pizza toppings like pepperoni, sausage, or mushrooms.
More pizza recipes
BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (18-inch) loaf French bread, cut in half, lenghtwise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons grated garlic
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1-1/2 cups BBQ sauce, divided
- 3 cups shredded smoked mozzarella
- 1/4 cup minced cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
- Lay out your bread, cut side up. Baste the bread with about 1 tablespoon olive oil and spread on grated garlic.
- In a large skillet add 1 tablespoon olive oil and set over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add in onions and cook for about 10 minutes until they are soft.
- Add in balsamic vinegar and cook for another minute to make sure it's incorporated.
- Remove the pan from the stove and add in shredded rotisserie chicken and 1 cup bbq sauce. Stir to combine.
- To assemble French bread pizza, coat each slice with 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and add equal amounts of the chicken mixture to the French bread.
- Top with equal amounts of cheese and bake for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pizza is hot.
- Remove pizza from oven, sprinkle with cilantro and drizzle with extra bbq sauce if desired.
Absolutely gorgeous recipe! I love it!
What a great pizza! I love this combo of flavors! How fun that you’re heading to SF – one of my favorite cities! Enjoy!
Oh my, I need this pizza! My eldest son is a sucker for bbq pizza and would be thrilled if I made this for him.
I just love French bread pizza! 🙂 And this BBQ version sounds delicious! Love all the smokiness happening here.
Such an amazing pizza!! I can’t wait to make it for my family!
I have been needing a chance up on my pizza night! This is just what we need!
We love French bread pizza! This will be gone in a flash here!