Cheap Eats :: Barbecue Chicken Pizza and Pizza Dough Recipe

Pizza is one of my very favorite foods. I could really, honestly eat it every single day. I have some favorites that I make on a regular basis...and BBQ Chicken is a family favorite in our house.
Depending on my monthly budget, I sometimes buy ready made dough in the store. Both Trader Joe's and Winco have really yummy bagged dough in both white and whole wheat varieties. I love all 4 variations.
But when things are extra tight...you cannot beat homemade dough. It's really not that difficult to whip up and it costs pennies to make.
Here is a recipe I have been using recently. My family likes it very much and I do too, though I am still experimenting now and again to find the perfect one.
Don't get hung up on the equipment. You can make a square pizza on a cookie sheet, you can even use an old cast iron skillet for a deep dish style pie.
I enjoy using my pizza stone, but mine is 13" so when I need to feed a group, I use a large 16" pizza pan.

Tamie's Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredients:
2 1/4 tsp Dry Active Yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
1 tbs sugar or honey
2 1/4 cup All-purpose flour [plus up to 1/2c on the side for kneading]
1 tsp salt
1 tbs Olive Oil

1. add yeast and sugar to lukewarm water (set aside to activate)
2. mix flour and salt in your stand mixer bowl (or in a regular bowl)
3. add water/yeast mixture to the flour
4. add olive oil in as well

5. using the paddle attachment, mix on low until well incorporated.
6. switch to your dough hook, knead dough on high speed for 5 mins [add more flour to the bowl 1tbs at a time until your dough isn't sticking to the bottom of the bowl anymore]

7. when your dough is done kneading, add it to an oiled/greased bowl and let the dough rise for 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size. [I like to put it in the oven with the light on, cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel if you'd like...sometimes I do, sometimes I don't]

8. turn your dough out onto a floured surface or pizza peel to rest for 10-20 mins. (while you assemble the ingredients for your pizza)
*note: For a 12-14" pie, this dough will make two pizzas. For bigger pies, use the whole ball. Normally I divide my dough in half on the cutting board and save the other half for another night. (use within a day or two or freeze for a month or two) This time I used the whole ball for a 16" pie.

9. I add cornmeal to the pan I am using for my pizza so the dough will not stick. It will not burn and it's especially important if you are using a pizza stone. If you are using a baking sheet, you can opt for cooking spray.
10. stretch or roll out your dough to the size needed. I stretch mine by hand...but rolling is fine. I'm even trying to teach myself to spin the dough. But this still scares me and I'm not good enough at it to instruct anyone on it yet.

Now to the Barbecue Chicken Pizza portion of the post:




Tamie's BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe:

Ingredients:
3-5oz of cooked chicken
[you may cringe, but canned chicken works great for pizza and soups, I use a tiny bit for pizza and save the rest for soup or chicken salad sandwiches the next day-you can use any kind of chicken you like...leftover rotisserie chicken works really well too.]
1/2 bottle of BBQ Sauce
Small bunch of cilantro [save money, grow it yourself!]
1/2 a med red onion [diced]
8oz shredded mozzarella cheese
3-4oz cheddar cheese [medium or sharp]
1-3tb olive oil

Preheat oven to 450F
1. brush the rim of your crust with olive oil
2. add sauce to your dough

 3. spread sauce as close to the edge as possible with the backside of a large spoon. [really, get that sauce reeeeeally close to the edge, trust me]

4. I like to saute my red onion for a bit. I HATE raw onion and even though it will get baked a bit in the oven regardless...it's too raw for me...so if you really want a nice treat, saute those red onions for a few minutes on the stove before adding them to your pie.

5. add your mozzarella cheese and then your cheddar cheese
6. add chicken
7. add your sauteed onion
8. add cilantro (chop, tear or throw it on whole...use as much or as little as you like)

9. bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes [check it often and pull it out when it looks done to your taste. I like my pizza well done, so I usually end up going all the way to 15]
10. let cool on the counter for a few minutes, slice and enjoy!