Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza (with Kraut)

It doesn’t get much easier or tastier than this simple BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe! Thin and crispy pizza crust, your favorite barbecue sauce, grilled chicken, two kinds of cheese, plus a tangy topping twist — BBQ kraut, make this one epic way to get dinner on the table, and in your tummy quickly!

Summer is here and grilling season is in full swing! I don’t know about you, but there is just something special about cooking outdoors. As much as I love a good burger or hot dog, I love coming up with new recipes to make on our Traeger and our gas grill.

There is a place we love to eat that makes a great grilled pizza, and I decided it was high time I came up with a recipe to enjoy at home. You don’t need any special equipment, no special pizza oven or even a pizza pan for that matter, this BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe is made right on top of the grill grate, giving it a wonderful smoky element. 

​Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza

I have added a few shortcuts to this recipe, making it the perfect recipe for a beginner cook, or even a seasoned one that is short on time. By utilizing a store-bought crust, bottled BBQ sauce as your pizza sauce, and pre-cooked chicken, the only prep work this recipe requires is slicing a little onion and layering it all on before popping the pizza on the grill. No pre-cooking the crust head of time.

This post is sponsored by Frank’s Kraut, but my lifelong love and opinion of their delicious sauerkraut are all my own.

Frank’s Sweet & Smoky BBQ Kraut

Recently, Frank’s Kraut added a new flavor to their repertoire; Sweet & Smoky BBQ Kraut hit the shelves last summer and friends, let me tell you, it’s just what your summer grilling season ordered! You may remember it from last year’s BBQ Smoked Sausages with Kraut. They have taken their delicious sauerkraut and jazzed it up with some brown sugar, molasses, and spices to give it an amazing barbecue flavor. It’s the perfect topping for this classic BBQ Chicken Pizza. 

If you are a fan of unique pizza recipes and pizza toppings Be sure to check out my Reuben Pizza (pictured above) and my Spinach Artichoke Pizza!

Barbecue Chicken Pizza Recipe

If you would rather make this recipe from scratch, there are a few things that you can do; Use a Homemade Pizza Dough recipe to make the crust, make your own Homemade BBQ Sauce, grill your chicken breasts, and always make sure to shred your own cheese from a block. If you prefer to use pizza dough vs. a premade crust as I have, there are some great tips for grilling pizza here.

BBQ Chicken Pizza Ingredients:

For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card.

• Premade pizza crust – I used a shelf-stable pizza crust, like a Boboli Crust.
• BBQ Sauce – use your favorite BBQ sauce, or try my homemade BBQ sauce!
• Grilled Chicken Breast meat – grill it fresh, or use leftover grilled chicken. This is a great weekday meal when you’ve prepped chicken on the weekend to use that week. 
• Red onion – thinly sliced
• Fresh mozzarella cheese – I love grating my fresh mozzarella, it melts so much better, of course, you can use pre-shredded mozzarella cheese if you’d like.
• Smoked gouda cheese – I grate my cheese, but you can use pre-shredded if you like. 
• Frank’s Sweet & Smoky BBQ Kraut – used as a topping when serving this pizza, gives it the ultimate twist on flavor! 

​How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizza with Kraut

This recipe comes together in a snap, and disappears even faster!

Start with a clean grill. You don’t want any residue from whatever you grilled the time before leaving black stuff on the bottom of your crust. Preheat your grill to 400 degrees F.

Spread the barbecue sauce over the top of the crust to the edges.

Top with the grilled chicken and then the red onion. 

Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. 

Place the pizza directly onto your clean grill grates and watch it closely. The pizza should be golden brown on the bottom and the toppings should be warmed through and melty on the top. (Be careful not to let the grill flame up!)

Remove from the grill. Top with mounds of Frank’s BBQ Kraut before cutting into 8 pieces and serving.

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. This pizza freezes well for up to 3 months, but I recommend adding the BBQ Kraut topping after it is reheated.

Oven Preparation

Make this delicious pizza year-round right in your oven. Follow the same instructions and bake the pizza at 400 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes, or until you have a golden brown crust and a melty cheese topping. Bake directly on the oven rack, or use a pizza stone or baking sheet if you prefer.

Love it? Pin it!

Next time you are in the mood for a really good pizza try this recipe! Make sure you pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go. 

Substitutions & Tips

• Top the pizza with fresh herbs before serving. Try fresh cilantro, parsley, or chives. 
• Spice things up with some red pepper flakes.
• Change up the flavors of cheese – try Monterrey Jack cheese or a sharp cheddar for something different. 
• Any leftover chicken will work or shred up a rotisserie chicken. Prefer dark meat? Use chicken thighs. You can even purchase frozen grilled chicken strips, warm them before adding them to the pizza.
• Always make sure that your grill grates are clean before laying the pizza on top of them.

FAQs about Grilled Pizza

• What type of grill is best for grilling pizza? Using a gas grill or wood-fired pizza oven will get the high heat needed to cook pizza the best. Although charcoal grills are also nice.
• Do I need a pizza stone or steel to grill pizza? It is not necessary to use a pizza stone, however, it will help if you are concerned with the crust getting burnt. Some say that using a pizza stone or pizza steel helps recreate the effects of a professional pizza oven by absorbing heat and transferring it to the crust. It’s a personal preference really. Note: Make sure that your pizza stone is grill-safe. Not all are.
• What temperature should I grill pizza at? 375 – 450°F is recommended, to properly cook the crust and toppings without burning.
• How long does it take to grill a pizza? Grilled pizzas cook quickly, usually just 4-7 minutes total depending on temperature and the pizza and its ingredients.

Favorite Pizza Recipes

My whole family loves pizza night – we can always agree on it.  I have several pizza recipes right here on my website If you want a really amazing Pepperoni Pizza you have to give my Detroit pizza a try. If you are a fan of pizza with grilled chicken, I know you’ll love my Buffalo Chicken Pizza! I have everything from a Classic Supreme Pizza, to Pizza Dip, Mexican Pizza to Dessert Pizza.

Is Kraut Healthy?

Sauerkraut comes packed with vitamins. Vitamins C and K, low in sugar, and high in fiber, kraut has been used as a folk remedy for several ailments for years. Of course, it is always nice when modern science realizes that, right?

Sauerkraut Recipes

I have been blessed to work with Frank’s Kraut for almost a decade now. Over the years we have created many wonderful recipes together. I wanted to share a few of my favorite grilling recipes that use their amazing sauerkraut. My Pastrami Burger (pictured above) is in a word: Amazing. As is my new recipe for Rachel Burgers.

If hot dogs or sausage are more your thing, make sure you try my BBQ Hot Dogs and Kraut as well as my Grilled Polish & Sauerkraut recipes.

Love Sauerkraut? Everything you always wanted to know about Kraut! Where it comes from, how it’s made, and tons of Sauerkraut recipes in this Ultimate Guide to Sauerkraut.

Frank’s Kraut

My love of Frank’s Kraut doesn’t just span years, it spans decades.  It’s the only sauerkraut my family has ever eaten.  Coming from Polish and German descent, that’s saying something, isn’t it?

You can find many fantastic sauerkraut recipes here on my blog, as well as on the Frank’s Kraut Website.  I even have a Pinterest Board dedicated just to sauerkraut!  You will be sure to find new and creative recipes year-round at all these places, and when you follow Frank’s Kraut on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

The next time you are grilling, remember to Grill Out with Frank’s Kraut! 

I hope that you and your family thoroughly enjoy this recipe for The Best BBQ Chicken Pizza! I can’t wait to hear what you think!