Introduction

Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza is a spicy twist on classic comfort food, combining the bold flavors of Nashville hot chicken with cheesy, crispy pizza. This recipe brings together tender popcorn chicken, a fiery homemade sauce, and cool pickle slices for a perfect balance of heat and tang.

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 follows)
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

Preheat: If using a pizza stone, preheat it to 425°F (220°C) for at least one hour or while prep your pizza.
Cook the chicken: Prepare the popcorn chicken according to package instructions. Once cooked, let it cool, then roughly chop into bite-sized pieces.
Prepare the Nashville hot sauce: Melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat until frothy and starting to brown. Whisk in honey, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Add cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, black garlic powder, and chili powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer the sauce: Let the sauce simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes, then reduce to low and continue cooking for 15–20 minutes until thickened. Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Remove from heat and keep warm.
Roll out the dough: Dust a flat surface with flour. Roll pizza dough to about 1/4 inch thickness in a 12-14 inch round shape. If using a pizza stone, transfer dough to a pizza peel dusted with corn meal.
Assemble the pizza: Brush about 1/4 cup of the Nashville hot sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a border around the edges. Scatter chopped chicken evenly, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake: Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking tray. Bake for 10–15 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve: Remove pizza from oven and top with chilled dill pickle slices and sliced sweet onion. Drizzle with honey if desired for a hint of sweetness.

Tips & Variations

For extra heat, add more cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the Nashville hot sauce mixture.
Use freshly shredded mozzarella for better melting and texture.
If you don’t have popcorn chicken, bite-sized pieces of fried chicken work perfectly.
Try adding sliced jalapeños for an additional spicy kick.
Allow the sauce to cool slightly before brushing on the dough if you find it too runny.

Storage

Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving to keep the crust from getting soggy.

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, you can prepare the sauce a day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and gently warm before using.

What if I don’t have a pizza stone?

You can bake the pizza directly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Preheat the sheet for better crust crisping if possible.

Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 129 reviews

This Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza combines the fiery, flavorful heat of Nashville hot chicken with the cheesy, comforting goodness of a classic pizza. Featuring a homemade Nashville hot sauce infused with butter, cayenne, and smoked paprika, topped with crispy popcorn chicken, mozzarella, and cool pickles and sweet onions, this recipe delivers a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors on a golden, crisp pizza crust.

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

Ingredients

Scale

Pizza Dough & Base

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

Chicken Topping

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

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

Toppings

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

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven and allow it to preheat for at least one hour to ensure an even, crispy crust.
Cook Chicken: Prepare the popcorn chicken tenders according to the package instructions until fully cooked and crispy. Allow them to cool, then roughly chop into bite-sized pieces.
Prepare Nashville Hot Sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt ½ cup of butter over medium heat until it’s frothy and beginning to brown slightly. Whisk in 1/4 cup honey, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar until fully combined. Add cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, black garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to blend all flavors.
Simmer Sauce: Let the sauce simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes, then reduce to low heat and cook for an additional 15–20 minutes until thickened. Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter for richness. Remove from heat and keep warm.
Roll Out Dough: Lightly dust a clean, flat surface with flour. Roll the pizza dough out to about a quarter inch thick and approximately 12-14 inches in diameter. If using a pizza stone, transfer the dough onto a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal to prevent sticking.
Assemble Pizza: Brush about 1/4 cup of the warm Nashville hot sauce over the pizza dough, leaving a border around the edges for the crust. Evenly spread the chopped popcorn chicken over the sauce, followed by a generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake: Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven or onto the pizza stone. Bake for 10–15 minutes until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Add Fresh Toppings and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and top with chilled dill pickle slices and sliced sweet onion for a cool, tangy contrast to the spicy hot chicken. Slice and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.

Notes

For best results, use a pizza stone to get a crispier crust.
The Nashville hot sauce can be adjusted for heat by varying the cayenne pepper amount.
If you prefer, you can substitute homemade fried chicken tenders for the popcorn chicken.
Letting the dough rest after rolling can help prevent shrinkage in the oven.
Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side if you want a creamy complement.

Keywords: Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza, spicy chicken pizza, Nashville hot sauce recipe, homemade pizza, comfort food, spicy pizza