Dang! Summer sure made a sneak attack on me.
My kids are officially on summer break. What? Yup. I know. Crazypants.
I really do love having the boys home for summer. And I really LOVE the un-structuredness of summer. No schedules. Sleeping in. Trips to the library to stock up on summer reading. Lots of pool time. And beach time. And lake time. And more pool time.
But, I’ll be honest…I have to try really hard to not think too much about some of my own work that is not getting done while the boys are home.
Like I said… I try. But, man, sometimes the anxiety of it hits me like a brick. Or one of those rogue footballs that can too-often be found flying through my house. Anyway. Like I said…I’m working on it.
Unfortunately, letting go of my to-do list is not one of my finer talents.
It can really stress me out. And make me no fun. And make my husband really really annoyed at me.
I promised myself that I’m going to be much better about that whole “letting-go” thing this summer. It is my main goal for the next couple of months. I guess you’ll have to ask my husband, come August, how well I really did. 😉
With this lack of schedule in the summer though, I do tend to let go and get a bit lazy in the kitchen. I end up focusing on meals that are super quick, light, healthy, and easy to prepare … because, really, when it is 115 degrees here most of summer, spending too much time over a hot stove is sooo not appealing.
This Gluten-Free Barbecue Chicken Pizza definitely ends up being a regular guest around here. It uses leftover chicken, a few fresh veggies and herbs, and prepared pizza crusts. We don’t do a ton of grains around here though, so when I’m feeling ambitious I will often put together an easy Almond Flour Pizza Crust for this.
It all comes together pretty fast and then a quick 10-15 minutes in the oven and you end up with super simple, quick, and light meal, ready to go – and the oven is barely on long enough to heat up your house and kick on the AC…which is all my husband really cares about anyway.
I tend to serve this one most often with our favorite Pineapple and Bacon Arugula Salad.
It is a huge favorite around here and the kiddos usually devour the salad as fast as the pizza. I just throw it together in the time the pizza is baking and then dinner is done.
Gluten-Free Barbecue Chicken Pizzas
Serves 4
Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free; easily Dairy-Free
Ingredients:
- 2 Allergy-Friendly Frozen Prepared Pizza Crusts, OR make Grain-Free version
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, divided
- 1/2 cup Allergy-Friendly Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup leftover shredded Chicken from a prepared Rotisserie Chicken
- ½ of a Red Onion, very thinly sliced
- ¼ cup frozen Organic Corn
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 ½ cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded (FOR DAIRY-FREE omit entirely-cheese not necessary here)
- 3 tablespoons Cilantro, chopped
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Drizzle the pizza crusts with the olive oil, dividing the oil between the two crusts. Place both crusts in the oven, directly on the rack. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from oven and spread barbecue sauce evenly over both crusts. Top with the shredded chicken, red onion, corn, and sea salt. Then spread cheese evenly over both. Bake for 5 more minutes, until cheese is bubbly.
4. Remove, top with chopped cilantro, and slice. Serve with Pineapple and Bacon Arugula salad or other salad of choice.
Are your kids out for summer yet?
Kim Maes, CNC, AADP, known as the Allergy Free Food Coach, is a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant and Certified in the Practical Application of Food Allergy Guidelines.. She is also the creator of the Cook It Allergy Free iPhone and iPad Apps and the Cook It Allergy Free website, where she shares her passion for teaching others how easy and delicious it can be to eat whole, pure allergy-friendly meals that the entire family will enjoy.
Can’t wait to add this to my summer dinner rotation! Thanks Kim!
I think your crew would like this one, Angela!! 😉
Pizza is always a winner for lazy summer days 🙂
Yum, this is one that I need to make again! We used to love barbecue chicken pizza!
Hoping we can eat this (and really anything) together one of these days… and we may be headed your way come September for a few. 😉
Pizza looks good but I’ll have the salad please. YUM!!!!!!
I am with you. I would eat the salad all day long for sure. The pizza is really for the boys. LOL
A great pizza for entertaining too! I’m pinning this on my newly created “Entertaining” board! Totally inspired by this recipe!
Hmm… I have to go check out your entertaining board, Maggie!! I am sure you and I have similar ideas of what we like to serve when we entertain … 😉
Can’t wait to try something similar on a cauliflower crust. You make the best comfort food!! 🙂
Oh my gosh! On a cauliflower crust this would be amazing!! SO going to try that, Hallie! 😀
Well, I already know I love that salad! (Me and my whole support group.) Next I have to try this yummy looking pizza! You’ve got all my favorite ingredients in it. 🙂
Thanks, Kim! Happy, happy summer with your boys! xoxo,
Shirley
I love that you have served that salad to your group, Shirley!! 🙂 I think you’ll love the pizza too, though! And they go great together for sure! 😀
XO
I want to come to dinner at your house!
Enjoy your summer with those gorgeous boys.
xo,c
Wonderful!
Kim, I sympathize with you and all of the other moms when it comes to summer vacation time.
We say that we want it all, and we can have it all, but it is a very hard balance.
We want to be home with our children but know that we still need to get our stuff done. That must be hard for every mom out there.
I think it is great though that you are finding a way to balance it. The stress is there, the panic sometimes might set in, but luckily summer vacation does end.
I do think that the recipe for the barbeque chicken pizza looks delicious and is a great summer time meal.
This looks so good! My boys got out of school a week and a half ago. They are currently with their grandparents while Tony and I are doing the con thing for him right now. I miss them so much! I hope you guys have an amazing summer!
Yum, yum! I wonder if my husband would like this… I need to try it! Have you tried making your own gluten free crust? I have a recipe on my blog that is delicious! It isn’t soggy and doesn’t fall apart. I like the touch of cilantro, ooh my mouth is watering!