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Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza Recipe

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★★★★★

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.

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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

Find it online: https://stirringwithstella.com/nashville-hot-chicken-pizza-recipe/