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BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls
BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls are a bite-sized, easy appetizer that’s pack with shredded chicken, onions, cilantro, cheese and bbq sauce. All rolled up in crescent rolls dough for a simple party snack that everyone will love.
If you’re a fan of bbq chicken pizza, you’ll love these pizza rolls! It’s like taking the whole pizza and rolling it up into a neat little package that you can just pop in your mouth. Plus they only take about 20 minutes to make!
You can use a tube of crescent roll dough as the base, or for more of an authentic pizza crust taste, use refrigerated pizza dough for your homemade pizza rolls. You can usually find it in the same section as the crescents and all you have to do is roll it out. Even a homemade pizza dough would work if you roll it our nice and thin.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls
- Refrigerated crescent dough – You know the one that pops open with a smack on the countertop and you roll out a sheet of dough that’s got triangle shapes on it to make dinner rolls? That dough works great for making pizza rolls and pinwheels, too.
- BBQ sauce – just pick your favorite. I am obsessed with Sweet Baby Rays.
- Grated cheddar-jack cheese – Any cheese will do, really. Just grate it fresh off the block.
- Shredded cooked chicken – This can be leftovers, rotisserie, or even shredded turkey.
- Red onion – They have a sharp flavor, so be sure to mince them pretty fine.
- Cilantro – Chop it up to sprinkle inside, and keep a few stems for using as garnish later.
- For dipping: Ranch dressing or BBQ sauce.
How to Make Pizza Rolls
- Preheat the oven and line a large baking sheet with foil, parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Roll out the sheet of dough on a lightly floured surface, pinch together at the seam, and layer on bbq sauce, shredded chicken, red onions and grated cheese.
- Roll it up into a tight log and slice into 1-inch pieces. Place rolls on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes.
- Cool slightly, then serve with ranch dressing and bbq sauce for dipping.
FAQs
Can you make these ahead of time?
Yes, up to a day ahead. Follow the instructions up to rolling into a log shape. Do not cut. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap, securing the ends, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Slice and bake when ready.
Can you use other pizza toppings?
Absolutely! This recipe uses bbq chicken and onions, but the method works just as well with other flavors. Make a variety – use pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and pepperoni for something more traditional or try a pizza supreme with crumbled Italian sausage olives and green peppers. Really, any of your favorite pizza toppings would work.
Serving Suggestions
These little poppable bbq chicken pizza pinwheels make a easy, handheld appetizer for your game day party, birthday party or the holidays. They go perfectly with Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings and Blue Cheese Dip.
Create a simple, delicious meal and serve them with a big green salad or fruit. Then pop the leftovers in a small bag and send them to school in your kids’ lunches or have them ready for an after school snack.
Variations
Spicy: Use a spicy bbq sauce, add a few dashes of hot sauce, or use Pepper jack cheese.
Deluxe: To heighten the flavor a bit, there are a couple of extra steps you can take. Combine the chicken with the bbq sauce and simmer for a few minutes to deepen the flavor; saute the onions for 10-15 minutes to caramelize them, and add some crumbled crispy bacon. A little garlic powder or even fresh garlic would also amp up the flavor a bit.
Kid Friendly: Leave out the cilantro and onions, kids don’t generally like those things.
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat in the microwave or oven. They’re even delicious chilled!
Expert Tips
- If you want to omit the cilantro, go ahead and do that. For color you can use parsley or chives instead.
- Try some Mozzarella instead of Cheddar-Jack.
- Use a serrated knife for cutting. The “teeth” help to cut through the rolled up bbq chicken pizza without pulling the dough.
- If you have the time, I recommend rolling up the dough, wrapping it in plastic wrap and placing in the fridge for 30 minutes to set the shape.
More Snack Sized Appetizers to Try
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BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls
BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls are an easy appetizer that's packed with shredded chicken, onions, cilantro, cheese and bbq sauce.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 11 ounce can refrigerated crescent dough
- 1/4 cup bbq sauce
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar-jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 teaspoons minced cilantro
- For dipping: ranch dressing or BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Or use parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Lightly flour a large wooden cutting board. Roll out dough onto the floured surface, gently pressing seams together as you go.
- Spread barbecue sauce evenly over the dough, to the edges. Top with shredded cheese, chicken, onions and cilantro.
- Roll dough slowly, keeping the filling in place as much as possible, and seal the edges. *Roll width-wise (the longest side) for smaller pinwheels, and length-wise (the shortest side) for larger pinwheels. Using a serrated knife, cut the log into 1-inch pieces.
- Arrange pinwheels onto the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350℉ for about 9-11 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
- Cool slightly, then serve with ranch dressing and bbq sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
Calories: 181kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 7gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 382mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 108IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 1mg
