As the owner of a BBQ recipe website, I end up with a ton of leftover smoked meats. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great problem to have. This pulled pork pizza was born from that delightful smokey surplus, turning yesterday’s smoked pulled pork into today’s most incredible pizza. This recipe also works with smoked brisket or tri-tip as well. It’s a creative way to transform leftover barbecue into a whole new meal that’ll have everyone asking for more.
Why This Pulled Pork Pizza Recipe Works
Combining leftover smoked pulled pork with pizza creates a flavor explosion that’s guaranteed to impress. The smoky, tender pulled pork paired with homemade BBQ sauce and melty mozzarella cheese transforms an ordinary pizza into something extraordinary. Get creative with the ingredients if you want, and have fun with it.
Pulled Pork Pizza Ingredients
- 1.5 cups smoked pulled pork (Recipe coming soon)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (I used my homemade BBQ sauce)
- 2 cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
- 1 pizza dough (I bought the dough balls from my local pizza joint)
Key Ingredients Breakdown
The pulled pork is definitely the star of this recipe. I am using leftover 12-hour-smoked pork shoulder seasoned with brown sugar and an all-purpose rub. The recipe will be posted soon. You can use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce or choose to make your own if you want. I am not going to get into how to make a homemade pizza crust right now. I am using pizza dough from my favorite local pizza place. If you want to make your own dough, try this pizza crust recipe.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Swap smoked pulled pork with smoked brisket or even reverse-seared smoked tri-tip.
- Opt for vegan cheese for a dairy-free version
- Blend other cheeses with the mozzarella, like cheddar or gouda.
- Add pineapple if you want a Kalua Pork pizza if you dare.
Essential Equipment
- Pizza oven (I am using my Green Mountain Grill Pizza Oven)
- Pizza peel
- Infrared Thermometer. (I am using the Thermoworks IR)
Pizza Oven Mastery: Practice Makes Perfect
- Get to know your pizza oven. The only way to do that is to make pizzas and practice.
- Learn what temperature your pizza stone is at. I like mine between 400 and 500 degrees. Use an infrared thermometer to gauge the stone’s temperature.
- Preheat the pizza oven and let the stone get to the proper temperature.
Pulled Pork Pizza Cooking Process
Step 1: Dough Preparation
- Start by pressing out from the middle and turning to form a puck shape. Do not flatten the edges.
- Stretch the pizza dough with your hands and knuckles. Be careful not to split the dough.
- When the pizza dough is 15” round, place it on a lightly floured surface. This is the perfect size for my pizza oven.
- I like to add a bit of cornmeal or semolina flour to the bottom of the dough. It helps prevent the pizza peel from sticking.
Step 2: Sauce and Toppings
- Spread homemade BBQ sauce. Go a bit lighter in the middle. Don’t get any sauce on the outer half-inch.
- Cover with freshly grated mozzarella
- Chop the pulled pork into 1” pieces and add it evenly over the cheese.
- Sprinkle red onion slices
Step 3: Pizza Oven Technique
- Use the peel to place the pizza into the pizza oven.
- Rotate every 2-3 minutes.
- Total cooking time: This will depend on your pizza oven and the stone temperature. My stone was at 430ºF, and it took about 12 minutes to cook. I like my pizza crispy.
- Look for dark spotted crust and bubbly cheese
Pulled Pork Pizza Tip
The difference between a good and a great pizza is temperature and technique. A blazing hot pizza oven isn’t just about heat—it’s about understanding how that heat transforms your ingredients. You want bubbly cheese and a fully cooked golden brown crust. The hard part is getting everything to come together at the same time. Learn your pizza oven and practice.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Pulled Pork Pizza: Add jalapeños or hot BBQ sauce
- Carolina Style: Use Carolina-style BBQ sauce
- Hawaiian Twist: Pineapple goes great with pulled pork.
Perfect Pairings
- Serve with a side of ranch dressing or a side of BBQ sauce to dip the crust in.
- Pizza always goes well with crispy, hot wings. Try our smoked chicken wing recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prep this in advance? Absolutely! Prepare the pulled pork, BBQ sauce and pizza dough ahead of time. Better yet, make this recipe a day or two after you make the smoked pulled pork and assemble it all just before baking the pizza.
How do I store leftovers? Refrigerate in an airtight container for 2-3 days. A plastic zipper bag works well. Reheat in a hot oven for best results.
Can I freeze the pizza? Yes, freeze an unbaked pizza for up to a month. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to cooking time.
Serving and Scaling
- This 14” pizza will serve 2-3 people
- Make as many as you need for larger gatherings
- Bake them in advance and warm them up when it is time to eat.
More Delicious BBQ Recipes
- Tri-Tip Sliders
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza (Recipe coming soon)
- Smoked Pig Shots
- Baby Back Ribs
Let me know in the comments if you make this pizza. Hungry for more? Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly recipe inspiration!
Pulled Pork Pizza
Equipment
- Pizza Oven (I am using my Green Mountain Grill Pizza Oven Attachment)
- Pizza Peel
- Infrared Thermometer (I am using the Thermoworks IR)
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Smoked Pulled Pork (I am using leftover pulled pork)
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce (I am using Homemade BBQ sauce, but you can use your favorite BBQ sauce.)
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese Freshly grated
- 1/2 cup Red Onion Thinly sliced
- 1 ball Fresh Pizza Dough (I use dough from my local pizza place. You can also used store bought dough or make your own.)
Instructions
Pizza Cooking Process
- Start by pressing out from the middle and turning to form a puck shape. Do not flatten the edges.
- Stretch the pizza dough with your hands and knuckles. Be careful not to split the dough.
- When the pizza dough is 15” round, place it on a lightly floured surface. This is the perfect size for my pizza oven.
- Spread homemade BBQ sauce. Go a bit lighter in the middle. Don’t get any sauce on the outer half inch.
- Cover with freshly grated mozzarella
- Chop the pulled pork into 1” pieces and add it evenly over the cheese.
- Sprinkle red onion slices
- Use the peel to place the pizza into the pizza oven. I like to add a bit of cornmeal to the bottom of the dough. It helps prevent the pizza peel from sticking.
- Rotate every 2-3 minutes. Total cooking time: This will depend on your pizza oven and the stone temperature. My stone was at 430ºF, and it took about 12 minutes to cook.
- I like my pizza crispy. Look for dark spotted crust and bubbly cheese
- Slice and serve while it is hot.
How can you beat smoky pulled pork and melty cheese on a pizza?
It’s a very good pizza and it’s a great way to use your leftover pulled pork!