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Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls Recipe

5 from 9 votes

Cheesy soft rolls of pizza dough stuffed with tender chunks of chicken, sweet BBQ sauce, chopped red onion and salty bacon bits!

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Easy and delicious Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls

A Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Roll on a spatula garnished with parsley

 

Bring on the party!

We’ve got the BEST recipe for amazing Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls right here 🙂 Everybody (even kids) love pizza and what better way to make your besties happy than with this luscious party food in snack form!

Whether you’re having the girls over for a glass of wine, or the whole gang for the big game, you’ll thrill your guests with these tasty, hearty Pizza Rolls. Not a big fan of BBQ chicken pizza? No worries, change it up and use your favorite pizza toppings instead.

If you’re covered up with teenagers on the weekends, or prone to impromtu slumber parties, this is the recipe for you! Make several pans of pizza rolls, each with different fillings to fit all their cravings.

An overhead view of Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls in a skillet

Grab a rotisserie chicken at the store or poach your own chicken breast for these pizza rolls.

I make poached chicken all the time during the winter months. It’s prefect for salads, sandwiches, soups, casseroles and so many other uses, and it’s great in these pizza rolls too. You only need one cup of finely chopped tender chicken for this recipe.

These are so much easier to make than you’d think and so good. Sink your teeth into the sweet BBQ sauce, tender bites of chicken and all that cheesy goodness! I love the minced red onion scattered throughout the layers and layers of sauciness.

And bacon! Don’t forget to add a little crumbled bacon for a really nice salty bite. I cannot wait to make these again!

a plate of Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls with BBQ sauce on the side

Overview of Ingredients:

  • 1 pound of pizza dough – store-bought or homemade
  • sweet BBQ sauce – store-bought or homemade
  • part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
  • cooked chicken, finely chopped
  • red onion
  • crushed red pepper flakes – optional but highly recomended
  • crisp cooked bacon
  • parsley
  • vegetable oil

Filling Inspiration:

If you’re in the mood for a more traditional pizza roll, switch out the BBQ sauce for pizza sauce. Use traditional toppings and enjoy! Serve with extra marinara sauce for dipping.

Try adding Parmesan cheese, well drained crushed pineapple, fresh basil leaves, olives, pesto, spinach and jalapeños.

Since these rolls bake quickly, we recommend pre-cooking or sautéing hearty vegetable before adding to the rolls. Vegetables like bell peppers and mushrooms need to be cooked first too. Finely minced onion is fine added raw.

Of course you should pre-cook any meats like ground beef, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, ham and pepperoni.

Serve pizza rolls with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.

Use your favorite sweet BBQ sauce for a nice, lip smacking, moan worthy bite. During the summer months, when we grill nonstop, I love to make my own Easy Honey BBQ Sauce to have on hand.

However when the grill is covered in snow, I buy all-natural Bone Doctors Original BBQ Sauce. It’s perfect for these homemade pizza rolls with a fresh sweet flavor and plenty of spice.

A plate with two Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls with a cup of BBQ sauce on the side

Overview: how to make homemade pizza rolls

1. Prepare the pizza dough

If making homemade, prepare the dough as directed. If using frozen pizza dough, follow the package instructions for thawing ahead of time. For refrigerated dough place in a well oiled bowl, cover and allow it to come to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.

Lightly oil a large 9 or 10-inch round skillet or baking pan. Cast iron skillets work well for this recipe. Set aside.

2. Assemble the rolls

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly floured surface and roll out the room temperature pizza dough to a large rectangle 18×10-inch. Spread BBQ sauce over the surface of the dough leaving a 1/2-inch border.

Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella evenly across the surface of the dough, then top with the chicken, onion, red pepper flakes and bacon.

Starting on the long side, roll the dough away from you into a tight cylinder, tucking and pulling just a bit as you go. Pinch the seams together to seal. Cut into 8 equal slices and place cut side down in the prepared pan.

3. Bake the rolls

Bake for 25 minutes or until puffed with a golden brown crust. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top and continue baking for a few more minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with additional BBQ sauce for dipping.

Tips and shortcuts:

If the pizza dough springs back and won’t hold its shape, let it rest an additional 5 minutes, then roll again.

Use a BBQ sauce that you love. Something with sweet heat is our favorite.

Try using dental floss to cut the rolls. It works amazingly well!

Use fresh, frozen or refrigerated pizza dough – I love options!

Our local grocery store chain sells ready-to-go pizza dough in 2 pound bags; enough for two pans of these Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls. To prep, set the fresh dough out for an hour or two so it can come to room temperature, then roll into a rectangle.

If using frozen pizza dough, be sure to allow time to thaw first. That’s pretty much all the prep you needed for the pizza dough. So easy! Homemade Pizza Dough is always great and easy to make. Just read the instructions on your bag, tube or package of dough and get ready to make these Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls.

Make ahead BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls

Absolutely! Assemble the pizza rolls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed. Allow the rolls to come to room temperature 30 minutes before baking.

Thanks for PINNING!

A skillet filled with Pizza Rolls

Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 rolls
Course: Appetizer, Pizza
Author: Tricia
Pin RecipePrint RecipeRate Recipe
5 from 9 votes
Cheesy soft rolls of pizza dough stuffed with tender chunks of chicken, sweet BBQ sauce, chopped red onion and salty bacon bits!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pizza dough fresh, frozen or refrigerated, thawed
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce (sweet) plus extra for serving
  • 1 ¼ cups part-skim mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
  • 1 cup cooked chicken finely chopped (rotisserie, poached, etc)
  • 3 tablespoons red onion finely chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 3 slices bacon cooked crisp, drained and finely chopped (optional)
  • fresh parsley leaves chopped for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil for greasing the pan, plus more for oiling the bowl

Instructions

  • If frozen, follow instructions for thawing your pizza dough. If using refrigerated dough, place in a well oiled bowl, cover and allow to come to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
  • Lightly oil a large 9 or 10-inch round skillet or baking pan. Cast iron skillets work well for pizza. Set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out the room temperature pizza dough to an 18x10-inch rectangle. If the dough springs back and won’t hold it’s shape, let it rest an additional 5 minutes, then roll again. Spread the BBQ sauce over the surface of the dough leaving a 1/2-inch border all around the edges.
  • Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese evenly across the surface of the dough, then top with the chicken, onion, red pepper flakes and bacon, if using.
  • Starting on the long side, roll the dough away from you into a tight cylinder, tucking and pulling just a bit as you go. Pinch the seams together to seal. Cut into 8 equal slices and place cut side down in the prepared pan. When cutting try using dental floss instead of a knife. It works amazingly well!
  • Bake for 25 minutes in a preheated 400°F oven. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top and continue baking for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with additional BBQ sauce for dipping.

Recipe Notes

  • Substitute pizza sauce for the BBQ and use your favorite traditional toppings instead.
  • Since these bake quickly you’ll need to pre-cook or sauté hearty vegetables before adding to the rolls. Vegetables like peppers and mushrooms need to be cooked first too. Finely minced onion is fine added raw.
  • Pre-cook all meats used in the rolls.
Filling Inspiration: Ground beef, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, ham and pepperoni. Parmesan cheese, well drained crushed pineapple, fresh basil leaves, olives, and jalapeños. Pesto, peppers, onions, mushrooms and spinach
Nutritional information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered as an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 717mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg

Easy to make Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls

Use convenience foods like store-bought pizza dough, BBQ sauce, rotisserie chicken and pre-shredded mozzarella cheese. These tasty rolls come together in no time and are always a favorite. Might want to plan on two pans for a hungry crowd!

Pizza lovers might also like our Chicago Deep Dish Pizza recipe and this Skillet Margherita Pizza. For another easy, quick and delicious option, try these French Bread Pizzas, 4-ways!

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37 Comments

  2. Kate S.

    I’m wondering if we rolled them too tight or something. We used refrigerated dough and thawed in a covered bowl. They didn’t not expand and the dough in the middle never cooked through. Had to throw them away. They looked and smelled good!

    Reply

  3. rita

    Can’t wait to try this tonight. How do you store them? Since I’m using chicken…fridge or on the shelf at room temp?

    Reply

  4. Amanda

    5 stars
    SO SO SO good! I’ve been dreaming about these since we made them and I am cannot wait to incorporate them into our regular meal rotation.

    Reply

  6. Sarah

    Hi lovely recipe, definitely wanna try it, but may I know if I could use a mix of whole meal bread flour & all purpose flour for the pizza dough..that’s what I use for a regular pizza & I love the chewy taste of it!!

    Reply

  7. patricia harper

    I have never thought using dough – great idea n will try it – i use frozen puff pastry – you don’t need to add the extra cheese as it bubbles up whilst cooking and forms a layer across the top – i made up the recipe accidentally when i got tired of making a batch on sausage rolls one night – they were always “demanded” at husband or son’s office morning teas – i just call them sausage rollups – family over for sunday lunch this weekend – they will be getting these to go with their lasagne – thanks for the recipe

    Reply

  9. Susan

    Wow, those look delicious, Tricia! I have to make this for my grandsons! Great way to make a football game even more fun, although I’m sad for the Saints.

    Reply

  10. Pam

    Woo hoo! Cheesy goodness here, Tricia! Sounds delicious to me and I bet they disappear in a flash. Evidently, the options are endless for this dish, a must try. Thanks!

    Reply

  12. mimi rippee

    Wow Tricia. I am printing the recipe now. I first thought about how my grand daughter would love making these with me and eating them. But then I saw the BBQ sauce part and thought, “hell, I want these.” I think I’ll make them for super bowl. Spectacular.

    Reply

  14. Liz

    SO gooey and delicious!! Perfect for game day—while everyone else is watching the Superbowl, I’ll be eating more than my fair share of these yummy pizza rolls!

    Reply