Barbecue Chicken Pizza

One of my favorite pizza recipes is this barbeque chicken pizza. Where else can you get a taste of American food prepared with an Italian style? Although barbeque sauce can be traced back to it’s beginning with African heritage, I still think of it as being an American food.

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless chicken breast
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tbsp. cooking oil
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce (your choice)
• 1 prepared pizza dough
• 4 oz. Monterey Jack shredded
• 1 jalapeno sliced (optional)
• 1/4 sliced red onion

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Season both sides of the chicken breast with the spices or use your own flavors to spice the chicken.
2. 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. Move the chicken to a cutting board.
3. Let the chicken sit for 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.
4. 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.
5. Add the cheese, BBQ chicken, sliced jalapeños, and sliced onion to the pizza.
6. Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust and cheese are golden brown. Slice and serve. (Suggestion: Cut into slices with scissors. It works best.)