This smoky, spicy, and cheesy chipotle chicken pizza combines tender marinated chicken, a creamy chipotle sauce, and fresh toppings on a golden homemade crust. Perfect for a flavour-packed dinner or weekend treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Homemade pizza crust with a soft, chewy texture and golden edges.
- Smoky chipotle chicken with a hint of sweetness from honey.
- Creamy chipotle sauce that doubles as both a base and drizzle.
- Perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and cheesy.
- Easy to customise with your favourite toppings.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Pizza Crust
- 325 g (2½ cups) all-purpose flour
- 180 g (¾ cup) warm water (about 110°F), plus more if needed
- 1½ teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Chipotle Chicken
- 225 g (½ lb) boneless chicken tenders
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for cooking
- ½ tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
Chipotle Sauce
- 2 chipotle peppers (from the can above)
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
Toppings
- 3 cups shredded cheese (mix of low-moisture mozzarella and pizza blend)
- 2 tablespoons sliced kalamata olives
- ½ tomato, diced
- 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced
- ½ bell pepper, thinly sliced
- Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Pizza Crust
- In a large bowl, mix flour, warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil into a rough dough.
- Knead on a clean surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and stretchy, adjusting flour or water if needed.
- Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and proof in a warm place for 60–90 minutes until doubled.
Chipotle Chicken
- Mix chicken, olive oil, honey, adobo sauce, and seasonings in a bowl. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- Cook in a lightly oiled pan over medium-high heat for 3–5 minutes per side until cooked through.
- Rest 5 minutes, slice thinly, and toss in its juices.
Chipotle Sauce
- Blend chipotle peppers, mayonnaise, salt, garlic powder, pepper, lemon juice, and honey until smooth.
- Adjust seasoning to taste.
Assembly
- Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C).
- Oil a 9×13-inch sheet pan. Roll or stretch dough to fit.
- Spread chipotle sauce over dough, then top with shredded cheese, chicken, and vegetables.
- Bake 12–13 minutes until edges are golden and cheese melted.
- Drizzle with extra chipotle sauce and garnish with cilantro. Serve hot.
Servings And Timing
- Servings: 4–6
- Prep time: 30 minutes (plus 1–1.5 hours rising)
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Total time: About 2 hours
Variations
- Use store-bought pizza dough for a quicker version.
- Add pineapple for a sweet and spicy twist.
- Swap chicken for shrimp or grilled vegetables for a pescatarian/vegetarian option.
- Use a whole-wheat crust for a nuttier flavour.
Storage/Reheating
- Store leftover slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 5–7 minutes or in an air fryer for 3–4 minutes.
- Not recommended for freezing after baking, but dough can be frozen before proofing.
FAQs
Can I Make The Dough Ahead Of Time?
Yes, refrigerate overnight after kneading and bring to room temperature before using.
How Spicy Is This Pizza?
It’s medium-hot, but you can reduce the chipotle peppers and chilli flakes for a milder taste.
Can I Use Pre-Cooked Chicken?
Yes, just toss it in the chipotle marinade and warm before topping the pizza.
Can I Use Another Sauce Instead Of Mayonnaise?
Yes, Greek yoghurt works for a lighter version.
What Cheese Works Best?
A mix of mozzarella and a pizza blend (like cheddar and provolone) melts beautifully.
Can I Cook This Pizza On A Stone?
Yes, preheat the stone in the oven and transfer the pizza carefully for extra crispness.
Can I Make It Without Jalapeños?
Yes, simply omit or swap for bell peppers.
Can I Double The Recipe?
Yes, double all ingredients and bake on two trays.
Can I Freeze The Dough?
Yes, freeze after kneading but before proofing. Thaw and proof before baking.
How Can I Make It Gluten-Free?
Use a gluten-free pizza crust recipe or pre-made gluten-free base.
Conclusion
This chipotle chicken pizza delivers a smoky, spicy, and cheesy punch on a perfectly baked crust. With its creamy chipotle sauce and vibrant toppings, it’s a homemade pizza that’s both comforting and exciting.
Print
Chipotle Chicken Pizza
- Total Time: About 2 hours
- Yield: 4–6 servings
Description
A smoky, spicy homemade pizza topped with marinated chipotle chicken, creamy chipotle sauce, melted cheese, and fresh vegetables on a golden crust.
Ingredients
Pizza Crust: 325 g all-purpose flour, 180 g warm water, 1½ tsp instant yeast, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp olive oil
Chipotle Chicken: 225 g boneless chicken tenders, 1 tbsp olive oil, ½ tbsp honey, 3 tbsp adobo sauce, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp each garlic powder, chilli powder, paprika, ½ tsp chilli flakes, ¼ tsp pepper, ½ tsp oregano, ¼ tsp coriander, ¼ tsp cumin
Chipotle Sauce: 2 chipotle peppers, ¾ cup mayonnaise, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp pepper, ½ tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp honey
Toppings: 3 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella + pizza blend), 2 tbsp sliced kalamata olives, ½ tomato diced, 1 small jalapeño sliced, ½ bell pepper sliced, chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Make the crust: Mix flour, warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil into a dough. Knead 8–10 min until smooth. Proof 60–90 min until doubled.
- Prepare chicken: Marinate chicken with olive oil, honey, adobo, and spices for 30 min. Cook in oiled pan 3–5 min per side until done. Slice and toss in juices.
- Make sauce: Blend chipotle peppers, mayonnaise, salt, garlic powder, pepper, lemon juice, and honey until smooth.
- Assemble: Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C). Oil 9×13-inch pan, stretch dough to fit. Spread sauce, add cheese, chicken, and vegetables.
- Bake: Bake 12–13 min until crust is golden and cheese melts. Drizzle with more sauce and garnish with cilantro.
Notes
- For quicker prep, use store-bought dough.
- Adjust spice level by reducing chipotle and chilli flakes.
- Greek yoghurt can replace mayonnaise for a lighter sauce.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (+1–1.5 hours rising)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (of 8)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
