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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!

Toasted bread topped with melted cheese, red onions, chopped herbs, and banana peppers makes a flavourful Instant Pot dinner perfect for busy nights.

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.

Slice of cheesy barbeque French bread pizza topped with chicken, red onions, and peppers on a plate, with more bread in the background—a perfect 20 minute meal.

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.

Three cheesy French bread pizzas topped with red onions and peppers on a baking tray—an easy chicken pizza that's perfect as a 20 minute meal.

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.

Raw chicken breasts, baguette, shredded cheese, pepperoncini, seasonings, broth, onion, and sauce come together to make a delicious 20 minute meal—perfect for Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza lovers.

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.

Barbeque French bread pizza topped with melted cheese, chicken, red onion, and pepper rings on a wooden board; bowl of peppers nearby—an easy chicken pizza favorite.

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.

A cheesy open-faced Easy Chicken Pizza topped with red onions and peppers sits on a plate, with a bite taken out—perfect for a quick 20 minute meal.

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.

Sliced bread topped with shredded chicken, melted cheese, and herbs creates an easy chicken pizza, served on stacked plates—a flavourful Instant Pot dinner option.

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.

Toasted bread topped with melted cheese, red onions, and yellow peppers creates an Easy chicken pizza twist—perfect for fans of Flavourful Instant Pot dinner ideas.

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.

Close-up of cheesy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza topped with chicken, red onions, and sliced peppers on a wooden board—a tasty 20 minute meal perfect for busy nights.

French Bread Pizza with Chicken FAQs

What’s the easiest way to shred chicken?

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!

What are pepperoncini peppers?

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.

What kind of BBQ sauce works best?

Sweet, smoky sauces pair best, but you can use spicy or tangy varieties if preferred.

Toasted cheesy bread with red onions, banana peppers, and herbs—this dish is a barbeque french bread pizza favorite, served on a wooden board with knife and napkin.

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza Recipe

5 from 8 votes

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

This recipe for Instant Pot BBQ chicken French bread pizza brings together barbecue, gooey cheese and crisp French bread in the best way. It’s fast, satisfying and packed with flavor.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

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

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 1627mg | Potassium: 499mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 491IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 211mg | Iron: 1mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

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.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 8 votes (3 ratings without comment)

8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Yum this looks great I love a good BBQ pizza can not wait to try your recipe for this on Friday night pizza night!