BBQ Brisket Pizza
Kansas City is the BBQ capital of the world, and this pizza pays homage to that heritage. Tender, smoky burnt ends bathed in thick, sweet KC-style BBQ sauce, topped with pickled onions and fresh cilantro on a crispy crust.
Equipment Needed
Instructions
Make the dough: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand 5-10 minutes until foamy. Combine flour and salt, add yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead 8-10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise 1 hour.
Make KC BBQ sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. KC-style is thick, sweet, and tomato-based.
Prep the burnt ends: If using leftover brisket, cut into 1-inch cubes. Toss with 1/4 cup BBQ sauce to coat. If cold, warm in a skillet over medium heat.
Preheat oven: Place pizza stone on the lowest rack and preheat to 500°F (260°C) for at least 30 minutes.
Shape the pizza: Punch down dough and stretch or roll into a 14-inch round. Transfer to a cornmeal-dusted pizza peel.
Assemble: Spread BBQ sauce over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with mozzarella and smoked Gouda. Arrange sauced burnt ends evenly over the cheese.
Bake: Slide pizza onto the hot stone and bake 10-12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly with some charred spots.
Finish: Remove from oven and drizzle with additional BBQ sauce. Top with pickled red onions and fresh cilantro.
Serve: Let rest 2-3 minutes, then slice and serve. The pickled onions provide essential brightness to cut through the rich, smoky meat.
💡 Pro Tips & Variations
- KC BBQ heritage: Kansas City is home to over 100 BBQ restaurants and is known for its thick, sweet, tomato-based sauce.
- Burnt ends: True burnt ends are the point end of the brisket, cubed and smoked until caramelized. Use leftovers from a local BBQ joint.
- Quick pickled onions: Slice red onion, cover with equal parts water and apple cider vinegar plus salt and sugar. Let sit 30 minutes.
- Use Gates or Joe's: For ultimate authenticity, use Gates, Joe's Kansas City, or Arthur Bryant's BBQ sauce.
- Add jalapenos: Pickled jalapenos add a nice heat that complements the sweet sauce.
- White onion option: Some KC joints use diced raw white onion as a topping instead of pickled.