BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza is a pizza lover’s dream come true! With just a few ingredients and about 20 minutes, you can have dinner on the table.

French Bread Pizza

This method creates cheesy pizzas with a crispy crust. It’s homemade bbq chicken pizza that’s fast enough for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

If you haven’t yet tried French Bread Pizza, you’re about to have a new favorite quick and easy dinner option. I typically make this in the oven when it’s our dinner, but when I need a quick lunch, the air fryer is perfect for 1-2 servings.

Toss this Pear Salad together while the pizza is in the oven and you’ll have an awesome dinner ready in no time.

How to Make French Bread Pizza

With just a few easy tips, I’m going to show you how to make perfect French bread pizza! This method creates cheesy pizzas with a crispy crust. It’s homemade pizza that’s fast enough for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

Want to know what the simple secret is for French Bread Pizza that turns out awesome every time? It’s an extra layer of cheese!

That first layer of cheese seals the bread and prevents it from getting soggy in the oven. This allows us to pile on the toppings and a good bit of sauce without messing up the perfectly chewy French bread crust.

The second layer of cheese holds everything together and creates a homemade pizza night that’s easier than you ever imagined.

BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• French or Italian bread
• olive oil
• mozzarella cheese
• barbecue sauce
• cooked chicken
• green onions

French Bread Pizza Recipe

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the bread in half lengthwise and then cut each half into 3 pieces, as pictured. If the bread is thicker than about 1-inch, press down on each piece until it’s closer to that thickness.

Place the pieces on a large baking sheet. Combine the olive oil and salt in a small bowl. Brush the sliced portion of each piece with the olive oil mixture.

Top the bread with half of the cheese and place in the oven. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the cheese melts.

While the cheese is melting, warm the sauce and the chicken in the microwave or on the stovetop. Remove the bread from the oven and spread the sauce evenly over the bread. Top with the chicken.

Cover the chicken with the remaining cheese and return to the oven until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parsley before serving.

Air Fryer French Bread Pizza

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Follow the recipe above through topping the bread with half of the cheese. Then place it in the air fryer. Cook for 4-5 minutes, just until the cheese melts.

While the cheese is melting, prepare the chicken and sauce. Remove the bread from the oven and spread the sauce evenly over the bread. Top with the chicken. Cover the chicken with the remaining cheese.

Return to the air fryer until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from the air fryer and sprinkle with parsley before serving.

For a few more dinner options that are always a hit with the family, try Cheesy Sausage Pasta, Classic Taco Soup, and these Easy Chicken Fajitas.

For the busiest days, the slow cooker is my favorite dinner helper. Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs and Salsa Chicken with Black Beans are both great options that never disappoint.

Pizza Sliders are made with buttered garlic and parmesan Hawaiian rolls, marinara, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. No one can resist these.

Can’t get enough BBQ chicken? Try BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes or BBQ Chicken Enchiladas next time you have extra chicken on hand.

{originally published 3/10/22 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/25/24}