Trader Joe’s BBQ Chicken Pizza Review

Trader Joe’s BBQ Chicken Pizza Review – If feels like I’m doing a continuing series on products that have been in Trader Joe’s for many years, but somehow I never reviewed them. I think these fall into two categories, stuff I eat all the time, like Chicken Fried Rice and just never got around to a review. Then there are things I would never buy for myself of the family, and BBQ Chicken Pizza falls into this category.

I think Trader Joe’s has been carrying this pizza as long as I’ve been shopping there. They must sell a lot of them. Don’t get me wrong, I pretty much like all pizza (well except Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and ham), but BBQ pizza is not my first choice (or 2nd or 3rd) I’ve eaten my fair share of BBQ chicken pizza because there always seems to be somebody at a party of when I got out with friends that wants one. This is purely an Americanization of pizza (just like the Hawaiian one) and I doubt you find it anywhere else in the world. I am a traditionalist when it comes to pizza. Plain cheese maybe with some basil. Pepperoni or even a pizza with mushrooms and prosciutto. KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) is my motto.

Having said that, I know there are people that love BBQ pizza. I’ve been to California pizza kitchen and I’ve had Kung Pao pizza before. Almost anything goes here in this country. One of the most popular nontraditional pizzas is BBQ. Not sure how BBQ chicken pizza became a thing. This pizza is made with BBQ sauce, chicken, red onions, and Gouda cheese. It’s pretty similar in size and calorie count to many of their other frozen pizzas. Just pop it in the oven at 425 for about 12 minutes until it’s cooked through.

First I want to mention that the pizza-making machine was a little off-center on this pizza. It didn’t affect the flavor in any way, just looks lopsided. The crust is the typical Trader Joe’s frozen pizza crust, kind of thin and crunchy. Not what you’d expect from anything from a pizzeria or even a home pizza, but I kind of like a crackery type crust. It’s got a nice crunch to it.

The toppings I thoroughly enjoyed. There was plenty of chicken and it was nice and tender. There was plenty of BBQ sauce and it was tangy and full of flavor with a slight smokiness and slightly sweet. I really liked it. I’m not a fan of red onions, but there weren’t that many to distract but I couldn’t pick them off. They weren’t too offensive, but that’s just me. As for the cheese, I’m a cheese lover, there is never too much. I really liked the Gouda here. It has a more creamy texture and buttery flavor than mozzarella. It works as a nice counter balance to the tangy BBQ sauce.

I probably wouldn’t ever buy this again, unless I had a specific request from someone, but I am glad I tried it and if you are a lover of BBQ Chicken pizza, buy this pizza. I really liked it!

INGREDIENTS:

CRUST: Wheat Flour, Water, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Yeast. TOPPING: BBQ Chicken (Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast with Rib Meat, Water, Seasoning (Sugar, Tomato Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Spices, Chili Powder, Beet Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder), Modified Potato Starch, Salt Natural Smoke Flavor), Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Rennet, Enzymes), BBQ Sauce (Water, Tomato Paste, Vinegar, Tomato Puree, Sugar, Modified Cornstarch, Molasses, Crystalline Fructose, Glucose Syrup, Salt, Dextrose, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Caramel Color, Acetic Acid, Spice Extract, Spices [Cumin, Allspice, Cinnamon, Cardamom), Natural Smoke Flavor) Smoked Gouda (Pasteurized Milk, Cultures, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto [color), Red Onion, Cilantro.

CONTAINS WHEAT&MILK.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1/3 pizza (123g)
Amount Per Serving Calories 340

% Daily Values*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 670mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 1g Protein 19g