Looking to wow your taste buds this summer? Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza is the ultimate flavor-packed, crowd-pleasing dinner that’s part smoky BBQ heaven, part cheesy comfort food, and 100% pure magic. If you’re juggling busy days, picky eaters, and backyard hangs—this one’s for you.
Whether you’re throwing together a casual Friday night meal or feeding your crew after a day at the pool, this pizza delivers big on taste without turning your kitchen into a sauna. Bonus: grilling means no oven, no sweat—literally.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza
This isn’t just any pizza. Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza checks all the boxes:
✅ Flavor explosion? Check.
✅ Easy enough for a weeknight? Yup.
✅ Looks fancy enough for guests? Oh yeah.
✅ Picky-eater approved? You betcha.
The smoky chicken, sweet-charred corn, melty cheeses, and zingy pickled onions all layered on a crisp crust… it’s like summer had a baby with your favorite BBQ joint and decided to serve it on a pizza peel.
Ingredients: What You’ll Need
For the Dough:
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for kneading)
- 1 tsp salt
- Flour + coarse cornmeal for dusting
For the Toppings:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt + pepper
- ½ cup BBQ sauce (plus extra for drizzling)
- 2 ears corn on the cob
- 2 green onions
- 4 oz sharp white cheddar, grated
- 4 oz mozzarella, grated
- 2 oz parmesan, finely grated (plus more for topping)
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh chives
- Quick pickled onions (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh basil + cilantro for garnish
How to Make Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza
1. Prep the Dough
In a big bowl, mix warm water, yeast, honey, and olive oil. Let it sit till it gets foamy—about 10 minutes. Add flour and salt, stir until sticky dough forms. Knead on a floured surface, adding extra flour if needed, until smooth. Rub a clean bowl with olive oil, add the dough, turn it to coat, and let it rise for 1 to 1.5 hours.
Pro Tip: If your kitchen’s chilly, pop the bowl into your (turned-off) oven with the light on—it’s like a cozy nap spot for your dough.
2. Grill the Chicken
Preheat the grill to high. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and brush with BBQ sauce. Grill for about 5 minutes per side, or until it hits 165°F. Let it rest, then chop it into bite-sized pieces.
3. Grill the Corn and Green Onions
Throw your corn and scallions on the grill while the chicken cooks. Scallions only need 2–3 minutes; corn takes 10–12. Rotate the corn so it gets those beautiful grill marks. Once cool, slice the corn off the cob and chop the scallions.
4. Shape the Dough
Punch down your risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a rustic circle (or whatever shape your heart desires—no judgment here). Let it rest for a few minutes under a towel while you prep toppings.
5. Build Your Pizza
Dust your pizza peel with flour + cornmeal (trust me, you don’t want a sticky situation here). Lay out the dough, then:
- Spoon BBQ sauce over the base
- Sprinkle a layer of cheese
- Add chopped chicken, grilled corn, and scallions
- Top with more cheese and a BBQ sauce drizzle
- Drizzle 2 tbsp of ranch dressing on top
6. Grill the Pizza
Carefully slide the pizza onto the grill (like a pizza ninja). Turn the burner under the pizza to low, keep the others on medium-high. Close the lid and cook 5–8 minutes, rotating if needed. You’re going for golden edges, bubbly cheese, and crispy bottom.
7. Finish Like a Boss
Slide the finished pizza onto a cutting board and dress it up: more parmesan, a ranch drizzle, fresh chives, basil, cilantro, and pickled onions for a tangy kick.
Tips & Tricks for Pizza Night Success
- No grill? Use a pizza stone in the oven at 475°F for similar results.
- Corn hack: No fresh corn? Frozen kernels sautéed in a hot pan till browned work great.
- Don’t skip the ranch. I mean, unless you hate flavor. Then we can’t be friends (just kidding… kind of).
My Backyard Pizza Revelation
Confession time: this Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza was born from a summer BBQ gone wrong. I ran out of burger buns, had leftover chicken, and a ball of dough waiting for a miracle. A little improvisation later, and boom—BBQ chicken pizza magic. Now, it’s the one recipe my family asks for every single weekend once the weather warms up.
FAQs About Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza
Can I use store-bought dough?
Absolutely. Life’s busy—grab your favorite dough from the grocery store fridge and save yourself 90 minutes.
Can I bake this instead of grilling?
Yes! Crank your oven to 475°F, use a baking sheet or stone, and bake 12–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
How do I store leftovers?
Pop slices in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep that crispy crust.
What other toppings can I add?
Red onions, jalapeños, pineapple (yes, I said it), or even bacon. This is your pizza party—make it yours!
Conclusion
So there you have it—your new favorite summer tradition. Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza is the kind of dish that turns an ordinary evening into something special. Whether you’re sipping iced tea on the patio or feeding a hungry crew after a swim, this pizza brings people together with every cheesy, smoky, tangy bite.
Go ahead, fire up that grill and let the pizza party begin.
Explore More Flavor-Packed Summer Favorites
If this Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza stole your heart (and maybe your last drizzle of ranch), you’ll definitely want to keep the grill fired up for more backyard-worthy bites. Here are a few more Chicken Magic favorites to keep your summer meals exciting, colorful, and packed with bold flavor:
- Craving more sweet-and-smoky combos? You’ll love the Dr Pepper Chipotle Grilled Chicken for its sticky-sweet glaze and bold kick of heat.
- For a cheesy, tangy dinner that’s easy to throw together, try the BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad—perfect for picnics or a lazy Sunday lunch.
- If you can’t get enough of that grilled flavor, our Grilled Hot Honey Chicken brings the heat and the sweet in every juicy bite.
- And for a satisfying meal-in-a-bowl, don’t miss the High Protein BBQ Chicken Ranch Bowl—it’s wholesome, hearty, and ranch-drizzled bliss in every forkful.
Let your summer table sizzle with these crowd-pleasers that go beyond ordinary. From salads to bowls and everything grilled in between, Chicken Magic has your warm-weather cravings covered.
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Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 1 large pizza (serves 4) 1x
Description
This Grilled Summer BBQ Chicken Pizza is the ultimate summer meal—topped with smoky grilled chicken, sweet corn, tangy onions, melty cheese, and a drizzle of ranch and BBQ sauce. Perfect for backyard gatherings or a fun family lunch !
Ingredients
For the Dough
1 cup warm water
3 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
Flour and coarse cornmeal for dusting
For the Toppings
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and pepper
½ cup BBQ sauce, plus more for drizzling
2 ears corn on the cob
2 green onions, chopped
4 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
4 oz mozzarella cheese, grated
2 oz parmesan cheese, finely grated (plus extra for topping)
¼ cup ranch dressing
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Quick pickled onions (optional)
Fresh basil and cilantro for garnish
Instructions
Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, honey, and olive oil. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy. Stir in flour and salt. Knead on a floured surface until smooth. Let rise in an oiled bowl, covered, for 1 to 1.5 hours.
Grill the chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and brush with 2 tbsp BBQ sauce. Grill on high heat for 5–6 minutes per side or until internal temp reaches 165°F. Let rest, then chop.
Grill veggies: While grilling chicken, add corn and green onions to the grill. Scallions take 2–3 minutes, corn about 10–12. Slice corn off cob and chop scallions.
Preheat grill to 450–500°F.
Shape the dough: Punch down dough, roll out to desired shape, and let rest under a towel.
Assemble pizza: On a floured pizza peel dusted with cornmeal, layer BBQ sauce, cheese, chopped chicken, corn, scallions, more cheese, and drizzle with ranch.
Grill the pizza: Slide dough onto the grill, lower heat under pizza, close lid, and cook for 5–8 minutes, checking for golden crust and bubbly cheese.
Finish and serve: Top with extra parmesan, more ranch, fresh chives, basil, cilantro, and pickled onions. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
You can use store-bought dough to save time.
No grill? Bake at 475°F for 12–15 minutes on a pizza stone or sheet pan.
Don’t skip the cornmeal under the dough—it prevents sticking and gives it that signature texture!
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Main course
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg