This Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chickpea Pizza is an elevated vegetarian dinner packed with flavor. The BBQ sauce is tangy, the goat cheese is creamy, and the hot honey adds spice and sweetness. This delicious pizza is perfect for lunch or dinner and can also be cut into small squares and served as a holiday appetizer.
It’s been too long since I posted a pizza recipe, but I think this one was worth the wait. If you’re looking to shake up your next pizza night, you’ve got to try my Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chickpea Pizza. I promise vegetarians and meat lovers will enjoy this delicious, sweet, and spicy recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Sweet & Spicy Pizza
- It’s easy to make – This pizza recipe has just a few ingredients, and the BBQ chickpeas take just a minute to prep. Throw the ingredients on the pizza, and the oven does the work.
- It’s packed with flavor – Between the BBQ sauce, goat cheese, jalapeños, and hot honey, there’s a lot going on with this dish, but the flavors go together well, and no one ingredient overpowers the rest.
- It’s a great hearty vegetarian recipe – I love a veggie-loaded pizza, but the chickpea topping takes this recipe to another level. It’s hearty and filling and will leave you feeling good after eating it.
Why Your Body Will Love This Pizza Recipe
- Fiber – The chickpeas add fiber, which benefits the digestive system, helps fill you up, and keeps you feeling full for longer. Jalapeños also contain fiber (and are known to boost metabolism). This is not one of those pizzas that will leave you wanting a nap immediately after eating it!
- Capsaicin – Capsaicin, which makes jalapeños spicy, treats nerve pain, migraines, and arthritis. It may even kill certain types of cancer cells.
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Antioxidants – Both jalapeños and tomato sauce boast antioxidant power. Antioxidants help neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood, and the lycopene in tomato sauce may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
- Protein and Fatty Acids – Chickpeas are a great source of plant-based protein, and both mozzarella and goat cheese provide the body with essential proteins. Goat cheese, however, has a different fatty acid profile than cow milk cheeses. Its fatty acids provide a higher proportion of medium-chain fatty acids, which are easily metabolized by the body and are a great energy source.
Vegetarian BBQ Chickpea Pizza Ingredients
- Pizza Dough – You can use your own pizza dough recipe or buy one pre-made from the grocery store. I love the dough from Trader Joe’s because it’s easy to use and always comes out great.
- Marinara Sauce – I like to use marinara sauce on my pizza because it has less liquid than pasta or tomato sauce, but either also works.
- Chickpeas – I used one cup of cooked chickpeas. White beans or crumbled tofu can be substituted.
- BBQ Sauce – Use your favorite store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce for this recipe. I used Sweet Baby Ray’s because I love its flavor and consistency.
- Mozzarella Cheese – I used grated mozzarella cheese, but fresh mozzarella works, too. A meltable vegan cheese can easily be substituted.
- Goat Cheese – Goat cheese is always a great addition to pizza. It’s creamy and complements the bold flavors on this pizza.
- Pickled Jalapeños – I love pickled jalapeños and put them on many things. You can use fresh sliced jalapeños if you prefer.
- Hot Honey – Drizzling hot honey before serving adds the perfect sweet heat to this pizza.
How To Make Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chickpea Pizza
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F, or as directed on the pizza dough recipe. Grease a pizza pan or large cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside. Add chickpeas to a medium-sized bowl and pour in the BBQ sauce. Mix until well combined and the chickpeas are coated with sauce. Set aside until ready to use.
- Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s about half an inch thick. You can also use your hands to help stretch the dough to your desired thickness and size. Place the pizza dough onto the greased pan and spread it as much as you need. Sometimes, it’s easier to stretch out once you put it down on the pan. Poke the pizza dough a few times with a fork to prevent big bubbles from forming while baking.
- Spread the marinara sauce evenly onto the base of the pizza dough and top with the grated mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the BBQ chickpeas over the top of the pizza. You can cover the entire pizza or place a few big spoonfuls around. Next, add the crumbled goat cheese and pickled jalapeños. Drizzle a Tablespoon or two of BBQ sauce over the top of the pizza and place it in the oven.
- Bake until the pizza crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Drizzle the pizza with hot honey, top with fresh cilantro, and enjoy!
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Make this recipe gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free pizza crust.
- Make this recipe vegan by using your favorite vegan cheese.
- Can the chickpeas be substituted? In place of chickpeas, you can use white beans or crumbled tofu.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they should last 4-5 days.
- What is the best way to reheat pizza? An air fryer or oven is best if you want your leftover pizza to regain its crispiness. You can also easily reheat it in a microwave.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP.
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Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chickpea Pizza
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chickpea Pizza is an elevated vegetarian dinner that is packed full of flavor! The bbq sauce is tangy, the goat cheese is creamy and the hot honey adds spice and sweetness. This delicious pizza is perfect for lunch or dinner. Cut into small squares and serve as a holiday appetizer!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons bbq sauce, your favorite kind
- 16 oz ball pizza dough, homemade or store-bought*
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce, or more if desired
- 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 oz crumbled goat cheese
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, or more if desired
- 1–2 tablespoons hot honey
- Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees F, or as directed on pizza dough recipe. Grease a pizza pan, or large cookie sheet, with cooking spray and set aside. Add chickpeas to a medium sized bowl and then pour in the bbq sauce. Mix until well combined and chickpeas are coated with sauce. Set aside until ready to use.
- Roll out the pizza dough, on a lightly floured surface, until it’s about half an inch thick. You can also use your hands to help stretch the pizza dough to your desired thickness and size. Place the pizza dough onto the greased pan and spread it out as much as you need. Sometimes it’s easier to stretch out once you put it down on the pan. Poke the pizza dough a few times with a fork, to prevent big bubbles from forming while baking.
- Evenly spread the marinara sauce onto the base of the pizza dough and then top with the grated mozzarella cheese. Place spoonfuls of the bbq chickpeas over the top of the pizza. You can cover the entire pizza, or just place a few big spoonfuls around. Next, add on the crumbled goat cheese and pickled jalapeños. Drizzle a tablespoon or two of bbq sauce over the top of the pizza and place in the oven.
- Bake until pizza crust is golden brown and cheese is melted, 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Drizzle pizza with hot honey, top with fresh cilantro and enjoy!
Notes
I love using the pre-made pizza dough from Trader Joe’s. I bake it at 500 degrees F. and it always comes out great.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dinner, Vegetarian
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
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