Introduction

Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza offers a fiery twist on classic pizza, combining spicy Nashville hot chicken flavors with melty mozzarella and tangy pickles. This dish is perfect for those who love a bit of heat and bold Southern-inspired tastes on their slice.

A round pizza with one main layer of golden brown crust topped with a layer of dark red barbecue sauce, covered unevenly by melted light brown and white cheese. On top, there are thin, curved white onion slices spread across the pizza, along with thick, round, green pickle slices with wavy edges arranged randomly. The pizza is placed on a black pizza peel, which rests on a white marbled surface with a pizza cutter with a black handle visible in the lower left corner, and a jar with honey and a wooden honey dipper is placed at the top left edge of the image. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

16 oz raw pizza dough (store bought or homemade equivalent)
2 tablespoons flour (for dusting)
8 popcorn chicken tenders (cooked & roughly chopped)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
2 tablespoons honey (for drizzling)
1/4 cup Nashville hot sauce (recipe below)
Chilled dill pickle slices (for topping)
Chilled sweet onion (sliced for topping)
Corn meal (for dusting)
1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried black garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven and preheat for at least one hour.
Step 2: Cook the popcorn chicken tenders according to the package instructions. Once cooked, let them cool and then roughly chop into bite-sized pieces.
Step 3: Prepare the Nashville hot sauce by melting 1/2 cup of butter over medium heat until frothy and slightly browned. Whisk in the honey, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar.
Step 4: Add the cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, black garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
Step 5: Let the sauce simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat to low and cook for another 15–20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Step 6: Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter until melted, then remove the sauce from heat and keep warm.
Step 7: Dust a clean surface with flour. Roll out the pizza dough to about 1/4 inch thick and form a round of 12-14 inches in diameter. If using a pizza stone, transfer dough to a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal.
Step 8: Brush about 1/4 cup of the Nashville hot sauce evenly over the dough, leaving the edges clear for the crust.
Step 9: Evenly spread the chopped chicken over the sauce, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
Step 10: Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 10–15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
Step 11: Remove the pizza from the oven and top with chilled dill pickle slices and sliced sweet onion. Drizzle a little honey over the top if desired, then slice and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

For a milder heat, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper in the sauce.
Use freshly cooked chicken tenders if you prefer homemade protein over store-bought popcorn chicken.
Try adding a sprinkle of fresh cilantro or green onions after baking for added freshness.
If you don’t have a pizza stone, use a baking sheet preheated in the oven for a similar crispy crust effect.

Storage

Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes to keep the crust crispy. Avoid microwaving to prevent sogginess.

How to Serve

A round pizza with a thick, light golden brown crust sits on a black tray over a white marbled texture surface. The first layer is melted white cheese spread evenly, topped with small chunks of browned meat mixed with dark reddish-brown barbecue sauce. On top, thin, translucent white onion slices are scattered across the pizza, along with bright green ridged pickle slices spread evenly. In the background, there is a glass container with honey and a textured beige cloth. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the Nashville hot sauce ahead of time?

Yes, the sauce can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Reheat gently on the stove before using.

What if I don’t have popcorn chicken tenders?

You can substitute with cooked chicken breast pieces or even grilled chicken strips. Adjust cooking times accordingly if making homemade chicken.

Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 506 reviews

This Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza combines the iconic spicy, tangy flavors of Nashville hot chicken with the comfort of a cheesy baked pizza. Featuring a homemade Nashville hot sauce, crispy popcorn chicken, melted mozzarella, and topped with chilled dill pickles and sweet onions, this recipe offers a perfect balance of heat and coolness in every bite.

Author: Stella
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 1 12-14 inch pizza (serves 3-4) 1x
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Pizza Dough and Base

16 oz raw pizza dough (store bought or homemade equivalent)
2 tablespoons flour (for dusting)
corn meal (for dusting)

Chicken and Cheese

8 popcorn chicken tenders (cooked & roughly chopped)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Toppings

chilled dill pickle slices (for topping)
chilled sweet onion (sliced for topping)

Nashville Hot Sauce

1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried black garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons honey (for drizzling)

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat for at least one hour before baking to ensure maximum heat retention and a crisp crust.
Cook the chicken: Prepare the popcorn chicken according to the package instructions, or your preferred method if homemade. Once cooked, allow it to cool, then roughly chop into bite-size pieces.
Prepare the Nashville hot sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup of butter until it becomes frothy and starts to brown slightly. Whisk in honey, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar until combined. Add cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, dried black garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to integrate all spices.
Simmer the sauce: Let the sauce simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to low and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens. Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter at the end until fully melted. Remove the sauce from the heat and keep warm.
Roll out the dough: Lightly dust a flat surface with flour and roll the pizza dough out to approximately 12-14 inches in diameter and about a quarter inch thick. If using a pizza stone, transfer the dough onto a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal to prevent sticking.
Assemble the pizza: Brush about a quarter cup of the Nashville hot sauce evenly over the rolled-out dough, leaving a border around the edges for the crust. Evenly distribute the chopped popcorn chicken and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
Bake the pizza: Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Finish and serve: Remove the pizza from the oven. Top with chilled dill pickle slices and sweet onion slices for a refreshing contrast to the spicy chicken. Optionally drizzle a little extra honey over the top for a hint of sweetness before slicing and serving.

Notes

If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can use a baking sheet, but preheating the sheet along with the oven helps achieve a crisper crust.
Adjust the cayenne pepper quantity in the sauce to control the heat level.
The chilled pickle slices and sweet onions provide a classic Nashville hot chicken flavor contrast and should not be omitted.
You may substitute popcorn chicken with crispy fried chicken tenders for a less processed option.
Allow the sauce to thicken sufficiently to prevent the pizza from becoming soggy.

Keywords: Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza, Spicy Chicken Pizza, Nashville Hot Sauce Pizza, Popcorn Chicken Pizza, Spicy Pizza Recipe