Craving pizza but short on time? This BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla combines the smoky-sweet flavors of BBQ chicken pizza with the crispy, cheesy goodness of a quesadilla for an easy meal that's ready in about 20 minutes. It's perfect for busy weeknights, game days, or using up leftover chicken. If you love quick, cheesy dinners, you'll also enjoy my Chicken Quesadilla Pasta.
Enjoy the best of pizza and quesadillas in one quick, family-friendly meal. This BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla is loaded with tender chicken, smoky barbecue sauce, gooey melted cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings, all tucked inside a crispy tortilla. Ready in about 20 minutes, it's the perfect way to use leftover chicken for an easy lunch, dinner, game-day snack, or after-school meal.
Quick Look: BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏲️ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 4
- 🥗 Calories: About 457 per serving
- 🍕 Flavor: Smoky, tangy, cheesy, and slightly sweet with classic BBQ chicken pizza flavors
- 🧀 Texture: Crispy golden tortilla with gooey melted cheese and tender chicken
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
- 🥙 Dietary: Easily adaptable with gluten-free tortillas and gluten-free barbecue sauce
- 🍳 Equipment: Large skillet, griddle, or panini press
- 💡 Why This Recipe Works
- This recipe combines the bold flavors of BBQ chicken pizza with the convenience of a crispy quesadilla, creating a fun fusion meal that's faster than homemade pizza. Using cooked shredded chicken keeps prep to a minimum, while mozzarella provides the perfect cheese pull and barbecue sauce adds smoky-sweet flavor. Cooking the pizzadilla over medium heat ensures the tortilla becomes crisp and golden while the cheese melts completely without burning.
- 🍽️ Serving Idea: Slice the pizzadilla into wedges and serve with extra barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or a crisp green salad. For a fun pizza-night pairing, add my Kitchen Blender Pepperoni Pizza to the table for another easy, cheesy crowd-pleaser.
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Jump to:
- Quick Look: BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
- Chef's Notes from Valentina
- Ingredients
- Substitutions And Additions
- How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
- Expert Tips to make perfect BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
- Frequently Asked Questions about BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
- More Easy Handheld Meals
- Quick and Easy BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
Ingredients
- Flour tortillas – Use large burrito-size tortillas so there's plenty of room for the filling. Gluten-free tortillas work just as well if needed.
- Cooked shredded chicken – Rotisserie or leftover grilled chicken makes this recipe quick and convenient.
- Barbecue sauce – Use your favorite smoky or sweet BBQ sauce. A thicker sauce works best because it won't make the tortilla soggy.
- Mozzarella cheese – Melts beautifully and creates the classic cheese pull. Freshly shredded cheese melts more evenly than pre-shredded.
- Red onion – Adds a mild crunch and balances the sweetness of the barbecue sauce.
- Fresh cilantro – Brings freshness and a pop of color. If you're not a fan, substitute sliced green onions or parsley.
- Butter or olive oil – Lightly coats the skillet, helping the tortilla become crisp and golden.
- Optional toppings – Serve with ranch dressing, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, avocado, or extra barbecue sauce for dipping. If you enjoy creamy dips, pair it with my Queso Fundido.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
1. Prepare the filling
Combine the shredded chicken with the barbecue sauce and any seasonings, then have the tortillas, cheese, and remaining toppings ready to assemble.
2. Assemble the pizzadilla
Place one tortilla in an oven-safe skillet. Spread the BBQ chicken mixture evenly over it, add the cheese and desired toppings, then cover with the second tortilla.
3. Crisp the bottom
Cook over medium heat for a few minutes, gently pressing the pizzadilla with a spatula, until the bottom tortilla begins to turn golden and crisp.
4. Finish in the oven
Transfer the skillet to a 400°F oven and bake until the cheese is completely melted and the tortilla is crisp and golden. Let it rest briefly, then slice into wedges and serve warm.
Frequently Asked Questions about BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
A pizzadilla is a fusion of a pizza and a quesadilla. It combines pizza-inspired toppings, cheese, and sauce inside crispy tortillas, creating a quick meal that's easier and faster to make than traditional pizza.
Yes! Rotisserie chicken is one of the best options because it's already cooked, tender, and flavorful. It's also a great way to use leftovers and have dinner on the table in about 20 minutes.
Low-moisture mozzarella creates the best cheese pull, but Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, cheddar, provolone, or a Mexican cheese blend also melt well. Freshly shredded cheese typically melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
Yes. Assemble the pizzadilla in an oven-safe skillet or on a baking sheet and bake until the tortilla is crisp and the cheese is melted. Baking is especially convenient when preparing multiple servings at once.
Use just enough barbecue sauce to coat the chicken, cook over medium heat, and avoid overfilling the tortilla. Letting the pizzadilla rest for 2–3 minutes before slicing also helps keep the filling in place while maintaining a crisp exterior.
You can prepare the BBQ chicken filling up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate it. Assemble and cook the pizzadilla just before serving for the crispiest texture.
It pairs well with a fresh green salad, coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato wedges, fries, pickles, ranch dressing, extra barbecue sauce, or guacamole, making it perfect for lunch, dinner, or game day.
More Easy Handheld Meals
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Quick and Easy BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla
Ingredients
- 2 (10-inch) flour tortillas
- 4 Tablespoons Prego® Italian Sauce (traditional)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or a blend of your choice
- 1 (12.5 ounce) can Swanson® Premium Chicken, drained
- 3 Tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Meanwhile, heat a medium non stick skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the skillet, spread on 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce, and then sprinkle on half of the cheese.
- Mix the chicken with the barbecue sauce in a bowl and then spoon over the cheese, reserving a bit to place on top later. Sprinkle on a bit of the oregano if desired. Place the remaining tortilla on top and let cook for about 1 minute or until golden brown. Using a large metal spatula, carefully flip over the pizzadilla. Spread the remaining tomato sauce over it, sprinkled the other half of the cheese, and spoon the reserved barbecued chicken.
- Place skillet in the preheated oven and bake for about 2-3 minutes or until cheese has melted. Slice and serve with a bit of oregano on top. Enjoy this bbq chicken pizzadilla!
Recipe Notes
- Warm the tortillas for 10–15 seconds in the microwave if they're cold. They'll fold more easily and are less likely to crack during assembly.
- Spread the filling in an even layer, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. This helps prevent the cheese from spilling out as it melts.
- If using rotisserie chicken, pat it dry with paper towels first. Removing excess moisture helps keep the tortilla crisp while it cooks.
- For the best cheese pull, let the mozzarella come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before assembling the pizzadilla.
- Slice with a pizza cutter instead of a knife. It creates cleaner wedges without pulling the melted cheese out of the filling.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
I remade this BBQ Chicken Pizzadilla while updating the recipe, and it quickly became one of my favorite ways to reinvent leftover chicken. What impressed me most was how the crispy tortilla, smoky barbecue sauce, and gooey mozzarella came together to create all the flavors of a BBQ chicken pizza in a fraction of the time. I also experimented with different barbecue sauces and found that a thicker, slightly smoky variety gives the best flavor without making the tortilla soggy. This is one of those recipes that's simple enough for busy weeknights but fun enough to serve on game day or for casual entertaining. — Valentina
The recipe looks amazing! Everything looks great and easy to make, Thanks for sharing your beautiful idea.
How GREAT!! I’ll able to make a nice dish easy away and bye the minimum time. I look forward to hearing from you how can I make a variation by adding some Items. Thanks for your great sharing
Wow, I so want this for my afternoon snack! I really love this recipe
Fabulous idea, I got to try this one out!
Is it good to put any oil beneath the first tortilla, Denise?
Hi, Barbara!
Great question!I did not spread any amount of oil or butter beneath the first tortilla because I used a no stick skillet. I also think it would be too toasted by the end of the process. It is great to have you here visiting us! I am looking forward to your post.
What a nice dish! Fast, easy, tasty. Winner! 🙂
Busy summer days always appreciate fast and flavorful dinners! Hope you are settling into the new school year Denise!
I am looking forward to a back to school. My children not so much. Hehe!For now, there is this new delish fave of ours, pizzadillas.
What a yummy recipe! It's one of those meals you can prep when you're super busy, so you're right; it'd be perfect for a busy day with kids starting school and all. Delicious idea dear Denise!
Hope you guys are doing fine, having finished with the whole moving thing:)
Hugs!
Mirella and Panos
Thank you! The house is already looking like a livable space. It was a hard moving because we were downsizing. Had much to get rid of. ;(
The pizzadillas are quite easy to prepare and my family really enjoy them. Sending hugs and love.