Description
This Southwest Chicken Pizza combines the bold flavors of the American Southwest with a crispy homemade crust, topped with seasoned shredded chicken, black beans, corn, vibrant vegetables, and a blend of mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses. A perfect easy-to-make dinner that offers a delicious twist on traditional pizza with a smoky barbecue or enchilada sauce base.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce or enchilada sauce
Chicken Topping
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese and Vegetables
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
- Optional: sliced jalapeños for topping
Garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking surface: Preheat your oven to 475°F and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat thoroughly.
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, toss the shredded chicken with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch circle, then transfer it carefully onto a piece of parchment paper.
- Assemble the pizza base: Lightly brush the dough surface with olive oil to enhance crispness, then spread the barbecue or enchilada sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust.
- Add cheese layers: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the sauced dough for a gooey cheese layer.
- Add toppings: Evenly distribute the seasoned chicken, black beans, corn, red onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeños if using on top of the cheese layer.
- Bake the pizza: Transfer the assembled pizza using the parchment paper onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the pizza from the oven, sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro, slice into 8 pieces, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Substitute rotisserie chicken for a convenient shortcut.
- For extra heat, drizzle chipotle sauce over the pizza after baking.
- To make this pizza vegetarian, replace the chicken with additional black beans and sautéed vegetables.
