Vegan BBQ Chicken Pizza

Pizza dough is slathered with garlic, tangy barbecue sauce, chick’n pieces, cheddar, and smoky gouda. Then take this saucy pie over the top with red onions and cilantro! Yum!

This is such a fun meal! Crispy pizza with layers of deliciousness is created with your favorite barbecue sauce and vegan cheeses. I think cheddar and smoked gouda go so well here, but mozzarella works too! 

The twist on this pizza is that barbecue sauce is spread over the pizza dough instead of a red sauce or marinara. 

This mouth-watering vegan barbecue pizza is so simple to prepare and with just a few ingredients. It’s perfect for game days or a quick dinner.

You can either make your own dough or save time by buying one that’s ready to bake. After that, gather a handful of items and your meal is minutes away!

Nothing beats this homemade, veganized version of California Pizza Kitchen’s popular bbq pizza!

Reasons To Love This Recipe

• Dairy-free
• Quick & easy
• Fully customizable
• Ready in less than 25 minutes
• Packed with an irresistible flavor

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Ingredients and Substitutions

• Pizza Dough – Save time by using store-bought prepared dough, unless you want to go the homemade route. If buying, be sure to check the ingredients to ensure that yours does not have any dairy or eggs. A gluten-free dough would work just as well!
• Barbecue Sauce – Use your favorite bbq sauce. The ingredient to look out for is honey. My absolute favorite is Stubbs from my hometown of Austin, but many others are so delicious like this one by 365.
• Garlic – Minced fresh garlic is best here, but garlic powder can work too!
• Vegan Chicken – I really like Gardein or Daring, but any other vegan chicken is just fine to use. You can even use tofu seasoned with some of your favorite spices.
• Vegan Cheese – A combination of vegan cheddar and vegan gouda is phenomenal on this pizza. Many of the vegan cheese brands now make a gouda flavor, but mozzarella cheese can work as well.
• Onions – I think red onions taste the best on this pizza, but you can certainly try it with others or leave them off!
• Seasoning – Just a few shakes of salt and freshly cracked pepper help to bring out all the flavors.
• Cilantro – Fresh cilantro leaves are really tasty with barbecue sauce. If you’re not a cilantro fan, another herb like basil or parsley is good too.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here are some quick visual steps. Find the full recipe with exact measurements on the recipe card below.

Take the dough out of the refrigerator so that it starts to come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 450°F. 

Dice the onions and mince the garlic. Defrost the frozen vegan chicken in the microwave just enough to be able to dice it. Shred your vegan cheese if needed. Spread 1 teaspoon of olive oil on your pizza pan if it isn’t nonstick. 

Place the ball of dough onto a smooth surface. Add some olive oil to your hands and then press it out and stretch it with your hands* to about a 12-inch diameter. 

*I don’t recommend using a rolling pin as this can cause the dough to spring back. If the dough is a little stubborn with stretching out, either warm it up in the microwave for 5-10 seconds or let it sit in a warm area for 10 minutes. 

You can add a little bit of cornmeal to the bottom of the dough for added flavor and texture. Then, transfer the dough to the pizza pan.

Spread the bbq sauce over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Next, top the sauce with the minced garlic.

Add the diced vegan chicken, shredded vegan cheese, and some of the red onion slices. Sprinkle the salt and black pepper all over the pizza.

Bake the pizza in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the crust is gold and the cheese is mostly melted. The time will vary depending on the thickness of your dough and the type of pizza pan you use.

Drizzle more bbq sauce over the pizza. Garnish it with cilantro and the rest of the onions. Slice the pizza and enjoy!

Recipe Variation Ideas

• Drizzle vegan ranch dressing on top.
• Add jalapeño slices or red pepper flakes for a spicy pizza.
• Increase the veggies with bell peppers, cauliflower, or mushrooms.
• Spread garlic powder and melted vegan butter over the crust before baking.

No-Waste Ideas

• Make Roasted Tomato Sandwiches, Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad, or Mediterranean Couscous with any remaining red onion.
• Use leftover vegan chicken to make Pot Pie Soup, Korean Fried Chicken, or Sesame Chicken.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover pizza slices in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for 3 months. Reheat them in the toaster oven, oven, or air fryer until heated through. You can also heat them in the microwave, but that will soften the pizza a bit.

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