California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ Chicken Pizza

The introduction of this pizza at the opening of our Beverly Hills restaurant in 1985 ignited the California Pizza Kitchen craze. We combined great-tasting barbecued chicken with cheese and pizza crust - two all-American favorites in every bite! Instantly popular, it opened our eyes to the infinite potential of non-traditional toppings. Though we have seen it copied throughout the U.S., nobody does it better than the original.

BBQ Chicken Pieces

10 ounces boneless/skinless chicken breasts cut into ¾-inch cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons favorite BBQ sauce (we use a spicy-sweet sauce)

For The Pizza

Cornmeal, semolina or flour for handling raw pizza dough
1/2cup favorite BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons shredded smoked Gouda cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 small red onion, sliced in 1/8-inch pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

TO MAKE THE BBQ CHICKEN:
1. In a large frying pan, cook the chicken in olive oil over medium-high heat until just cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Do not overcook. Set aside in the refrigerator until chilled through. Once chilled, coat the chicken with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce; set aside in the refridgerator.

TO MAKE THE PIZZA:
2. Place the pizza stone in the center of the oven and preheat to 500 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour before cooking pizzas.

3. Use a large spoon to spread 1/4 cup BBQ sauce evenly over the surface of the prepared dough within the rim. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon smoked Gouda cheese over the sauce. Cover with ¾ cup shredded mozzarella.

4. Distribute half the chicken pieces evenly over the cheese (approximately 18 pieces). Place approximately 18 to 20 pieces of red onion over the surface. Sprinkle an additional 1/4 cup mozzarella over the top of the pizza.

5. Transfer the pizza to the oven; bake until the crust is crisp and golden and the cheese at the center is bubbly, 8 to 10 minutes. When the pizza is cooked, carefully remove it from the oven; sprinkle 1 tablespoon cilantro over the hot surface. Slice and serve.

6. Repeat with remaining ingredients for a second pizza. (The 2 pizzas may be prepared simultaneously if you are careful in placing the pizzas at opposite corners of your pizza stone.)