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If you love barbecue and pizza, this recipe is going to blow you away. Instant Pot BBQ chicken French bread pizza is a fast, flavorful dinner that combines tender shredded chicken with tangy BBQ sauce, gooey cheese, and crunchy French bread. It’s the perfect solution when you want a satisfying meal with minimal effort. Using the Instant Pot speeds up the process, while the oven adds that crave-worthy melty finish. Ideal for weeknights, parties or anytime comfort food is calling your name!
Instant Pot BBQ chicken French bread pizza is a cheesy, tangy and crispy meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes and perfect for easy dinners or game day.
You might also enjoy lasagna al forno, baked ham rosettes, Italian pizzagaina rustica, and slow cooker sriracha honey pork chops.
Why You’ll Love It
Quick and easy: Using the Instant Pot gets dinner on the table fast.
Great texture combo: Crispy bread, tender chicken and melted cheese in every bite.
Customizable toppings: Add or swap ingredients to suit your taste.
Perfect for sharing: Makes a great snack or main for gatherings, potlucks, or game night.
Bold BBQ flavor: Tangy sauce, savory chicken and zesty pepperoncini bring tons of flavor.
BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless for quick cooking and easy shredding.
Chili powder: Adds a touch of spice and warmth to the chicken.
Garlic powder: Enhances the savory depth of flavor.
Chicken broth: Keeps the meat moist while cooking in the Instant Pot.
BBQ sauce: Choose your favorite for bold, smoky sweetness.
Red onion: Thinly sliced for a punch of sharp, sweet flavor.
Pepperoncini: Adds tang and a little kick. These peppers are a couple of inches long and light yellowish green. They turn red after maturing so you can get those too, although the yellowy green ones are easier to find. If you can’t find either then you can use banana peppers which are similar in terms of heat and flavor.
Mozzarella cheese: For that gooey, stretchy pizza goodness.
Cheddar cheese: Brings a rich, sharp flavor to complement the mozzarella.
Peppercorns: Cracked on top for a subtle spice and crunch.
Cilantro: Fresh and bright, perfect for garnish.
How to Make French Bread Chicken Pizza
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Season the chicken: Rub it with chili powder, garlic powder and salt.
Pressure cook: Cook in chicken broth in the Instant Pot.
Shred and mix: Shred the chicken and stir in BBQ sauce.
Prep the bread: Slice the bread and arrange open-faced on a baking sheet.
Assemble: Top with BBQ chicken, onions, pepperoncini and mixed cheeses.
Bake: Cook in the oven until hot and the cheese is melted.
Garnish: Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Try a different protein: Use pulled pork, turkey or rotisserie chicken instead.
Use a different bread: Substitute ciabatta, hoagie rolls or sourdough.
Make it spicy: Add jalapeños or a drizzle of hot sauce.
Vegetarian version: Substitute the chicken with jackfruit or roasted vegetables and use vegetarian BBQ sauce.
Cheese options: Swap cheddar and mozzarella for Monterey Jack or provolone.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with salmon sushi muffins or hot honey wings.
Side dishes: Enjoy onion rings, voodoo fries or a charred zucchini salad with your Instant Pot French bread pizza.
Dessert: Whip up a delicious chocolate hazelnut semifreddo for dessert.
How to Store Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Pizza
Store: Keep leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: I don’t recommend this, as the pizza would become soggy.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes at 350°F or in a covered skillet if you flick in some water droplets first (this creates steam). Another idea is reheating it in the oven at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
Top Tips
Toast the bread first: For an extra crispy base, lightly toast the bread before topping.
Don’t skip the pressure release: Quick releasing helps the chicken stay juicy.
Mix cheeses together: A combination gives more flavor and better melt.
Use quality BBQ sauce: Choose one you love since it’s a main flavor.
French Bread Pizza with Chicken FAQs
Use a pair of forks or tear it up by hand (obviously let it cool down first!) Another method is to put the chicken in a bowl and use the low setting on a hand mixer to shred it. Don’t use the high speed else you’ll be redecorating the entire kitchen with bits of chicken!
These mild, sweet chilies usually come pickled in jars. Other names for pepperoncini include sweet Italian peppers and Tuscan pepper. They’re sweet rather than hot but some are mild while others are somewhere between mild and medium. If you want to use a hotter pepper on this pizza, I’d recommend jalapenos as they offer more of a kick.
Sweet, smoky sauces pair best, but you can use spicy or tangy varieties if preferred.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza Recipe
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
- 1 Teaspoon chili powder
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup chicken broth
- 2 Cup BBQ sauce
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 Cup pepperoncini
- 1 Cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 Cup cheddar cheese
- 1 Teaspoon peppercorns, freshly cracked
- cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken with chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Place chicken breast onto the trivet and into the Instant Pot. Pour in the chicken broth. Seal, then set to manual high pressure for 10 minutes. Quick release the steam and shred the chicken.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Set the Instant Pot to “keep warm” and stir in your favorite BBQ sauce. Once incorporated, remove and add to a bowl.
- Shred the cheese and mix to combine.
- Cut French bread in half and place onto a solid surface open face. I also cut the bread in half again to make 4 sections. Top the bread with the shredded chicken, red onions and pepperoncini. Cover with cheese and grind black pepper over the top.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove bread from the oven. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
Notes
Don’t skip the pressure release: Quick releasing helps the chicken stay juicy.
Mix cheeses together: A combination gives more flavor and better melt.
Use quality BBQ sauce: Choose one you love since it’s a main flavor.
Nutrition
This Instant Pot BBQ chicken French bread pizza is a tasty twist on two comfort food favorites. The savory chicken, sharp cheese and crispy bread work together to create a meal that’s fun to make and even more fun to eat. Whether you serve it as an easy weeknight dinner, game day snack or casual party food, it’s a guaranteed hit. Give it a try and enjoy the bold, smoky flavors in every crunchy bite.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I tried it and it was so good! Love this recipe!
It was amazing. Thanks for this recipe.
Yum this looks great I love a good BBQ pizza can not wait to try your recipe for this on Friday night pizza night!
Oh man these look sooo good! Going to pin these to make later!!
I love how quick this is to make! Super easy for a weeknight meal
So much yes! I love anything with a BBQ flavour so this is right up my street
So yummy! This is perfect for pizza night with the kids or as a game day snack for the Super Bowl.
yum! i got an air fryer for Christmas. I need to try this recipe