If you’re like me, you will find any excuse not to fire up the oven during the hot summer months! I love grilling and this summer decided to try my hand at grilled pizza. The first time I made it, homemade crust and all, my son’s comment was, “This is the best pizza EVER!” And this boy loves his pizza so I’ll take that as a huge compliment! I’ve made several different versions from the standard pepperoni to the lastest creation – roasted tomato, bacon, feta and mozzarella. One of my favorites though continues to be BBQ Chicken. The tangy BBQ sauce with the spicy cilantro and creamy cheese is just perfect!
Pizza Crust
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 tsp yeast
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup ice water, divided
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Place in electric mixing bowl. Add flour, olive oil, honey, salt and 3/4 cup ice water. Using dough hook attachment on mixer, mix on low until all ingredients begin to combine. As the mixture begins to resembled dough, slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of cold water. Continue to mix on low for 2 minutes. Lightly dust counter or rolling surface with flour. Remove dough from mixer and knead by hand for 6-7 minutes. Divide dough in half and roll each half into a ball. Place in individual bowls that have been greased lightly with olive oil. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours. (Dough is ready to use at this point or can be stored in the refrigerator overnight. If stored overnight, I wrap the dough loosely in plastic wrap and place in a ziploc bag.)
BBQ Chicken Pizza
- BBQ sauce of your choice (I like to use a hickory flavor sauce)
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- diced chicken (great use for leftover chicken!)
- handful of cilantro, chopped
- 2 cups shredded cheese (I used pizza blend)
Preheat grill on medium. Roll out pizza dough onto lightly floured surface. Lightly brush one side with olive oil. Place oil side down on grill for several minutes until crust is lightly browned with grill marks. Lightly brush top side of crust with olive oil and flip. Top with BBQ sauce, sliced onion, diced chicken, cilantro, and cheese. Grill until bottom side is nicely browned and cheese is melted. Remove and enjoy!