Chef Note - Easy Barbecue Chicken Flatbread Pizzas

Chef Jason’s tips

Use the sauce sparingly

Too much barbecue sauce can make the centre of the flatbread soft. A thin layer on the base and a light coating on the chicken provide enough flavour.

Drain the toppings

Corn, pineapple and other preserved vegetables should be drained thoroughly before being placed on the pizzas.

Slice the vegetables thinly

The pizzas cook quickly, so thick pieces of onion or capsicum may remain raw.

Do not overload the bases

Heavy toppings trap moisture and prevent the bread from becoming crisp.

Watch the chicken carefully

The roast chicken is already cooked. It only needs to be reheated until piping hot, not cooked for a second time.

Optional toppings

Kendra can add one or two of the following:

• Thinly sliced mushrooms

• Pineapple pieces, drained thoroughly

• Sliced jalapeños

• Baby spinach

• Cooked bacon

• Cherry tomatoes, sliced and patted dry

• Avocado, added after baking

• Chilli flakes

• A small drizzle of barbecue sauce after baking

Avoid adding too many optional toppings to the same pizza.

Easy substitutions

No naan or flatbread

Use:

• Pita bread

• Lebanese bread

• Tortillas

• Turkish bread

• English muffins

• Thick slices of sourdough

Adjust the baking time according to the thickness of the bread.

No mozzarella

Use:

• Pizza cheese

• Tasty cheese

• Cheddar

• Monterey Jack

• A combination of mozzarella and cheddar

Mozzarella provides stretch, while cheddar adds a stronger flavour.

No barbecue sauce

Use:

• Tomato pizza sauce

• Pesto

• Sweet chilli sauce

• Tomato paste thinned with a little olive oil

• Garlic yoghurt sauce

No corn or capsicum

Try:

• Mushrooms

• Pineapple

• Baby spinach

• Cherry tomatoes

• Thinly sliced zucchini

Common mistakes

Using too much sauce

This is the most likely cause of a soggy flatbread pizza.

Cutting the chicken into large pieces

Large pieces take longer to heat and can make the pizza difficult to eat.

Using wet toppings

Excess liquid prevents the cheese and base from browning properly.

Baking every type of flatbread for the same time

Thin tortillas cook much faster than naan. Always check early.

Adding avocado before baking

Avocado is best added after the pizza comes out of the oven.

Serving suggestions

Serve with:

• Green salad

• Tomato and cucumber salad

• Coleslaw

• Sweet potato wedges

• Corn on the cob

• Avocado and lime salsa

• Garlic yoghurt dipping sauce

Storage and reheating

Place leftovers in a covered container and refrigerate them promptly.

The storage period does not restart when the roast chicken is turned into pizza. Count the chicken’s age from when the original roast chicken was purchased or cooked.

Reheat leftover pizza in an oven or air fryer until the chicken is piping hot throughout. Reheat only the amount you intend to eat.

The microwave can also be used, but it will produce a softer base.