Ingredients
Quick BBQ Chicken:
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about ⅔ lb.)
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp garlic powder
⅛ tsp salt
⅛ tsp pepper
½ Tbsp cooking oil
¼ cup BBQ sauce
Pizza:
1 prepared pizza dough
½ cup BBQ sauce
4 oz. Monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 jalapeño (optional), sliced
¼ cup sliced red onion
Instructions
In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Season both sides of the chicken breast with the spices.
Heat a skillet over medium. Add the cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface of the skillet. Add the seasoned chicken breast and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through (internal temperature of 165ºF). Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board.
Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes, then chop into small pieces. Add ¼ cup BBQ sauce to the chopped chicken, and stir to coat the chicken in the sauce.
Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Place the prepared pizza dough or crust on a pizza pan, then spread about ½ cup BBQ sauce over the surface.
Add the cheese, BBQ chicken, sliced jalapeños, and sliced onion to the pizza.
Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust and cheese are golden brown. Slice into 8 pieces and serve.
Key Points About Ingredients:
- Smoked paprika gives the chicken a deep, barbecue-forward flavour without a grill — it's a pantry essential for quick weeknight cooking.
- Monterey jack cheese melts beautifully and has a mild, creamy flavour that complements the bold BBQ sauce without overpowering it.
- Jalapeño is optional but recommended — it adds a pleasant heat that cuts through the richness of the cheese and sauce.
- Using a prepared pizza dough slashes prep time dramatically while still delivering a fresh, homemade-tasting crust.
- Resting the cooked chicken for 5 minutes before chopping keeps it juicy and ensures the BBQ sauce coats every piece evenly.
- Red onion adds a subtle sharpness and colour contrast that balances the sweetness of the BBQ sauce perfectly.
Key Nutritional Insights:
- Each serving provides a solid 35+ grams of protein, largely from the chicken breast and Monterey jack cheese, making this a satisfying and muscle-friendly meal.
- BBQ sauce contributes a notable amount of added sugar — choosing a lower-sugar variety can reduce the overall sugar content significantly.
- Monterey jack cheese is a good source of calcium, delivering roughly 25–30% of your daily needs per serving.
- This pizza is moderately high in sodium, primarily from the BBQ sauce and cheese — those watching sodium intake may want to use reduced-sodium options.
- The chicken breast is a lean protein source, keeping saturated fat relatively moderate despite the cheese topping.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size1
- Amount per serving
- Calories620
- Standard DV% Daily Value*
- Total Fat18 g72 g25%
- Saturated Fat8 g20 g40%
- Trans Fat0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat2 g
- Monounsaturated Fat5 g
- Cholesterol95 mg300 mg31.67%
- Sodium1320 mg2300 mg57.39%
- Total Carbohydrate76 g275 g27.64%
- Dietary Fiber3 g28 g10.71%
- Total Sugars22 g
- Added Sugars18 g50 g36%
- Sugar Alcohal0 g
- Protein36 g50 g72%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)12 mcg20 mcg60%
- Calcium280 mg1300 mg21.54%
- Iron4 mg18 mg22.22%
- Potassium480 mg4700 mg10.21%
- Vitamin A420 mcg900 mcg46.67%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)8 mg90 mg8.89%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)1 mg15 mg6.67%
- Vitamin K6 mcg120 mcg5%
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.4 mg1.2 mg33.33%
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.3 mg1.3 mg23.08%
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)9 mg16 mg56.25%
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)0.7 mg1.7 mg41.18%
- Folate90 mcg400 mcg22.5%
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0.6 mcg2.4 mcg25%
- Biotin4 mcg30 mcg13.33%
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)1.1 mg5 mg22%
- Choline85 mg550 mg15.45%
- Phosphorus340 mg1250 mg27.2%
- Iodine18 mcg150 mcg12%
- Magnesium38 mg420 mg9.05%
- Zinc2.4 mg11 mg21.82%
- Selenium32 mcg55 mcg58.18%
- Copper0.15 mg0.9 mg16.67%
- Manganese0.6 mg2.3 mg26.09%
- Chromium4 mcg35 mcg11.43%
- Molybdenum12 mcg45 mcg26.67%
- Chloride520 mg2300 mg22.61%
