Chicken Cheese Bun Pizzas

These Chicken Cheese Bun Pizzas are a quick, cheesy, and delicious snack made with soft burger buns, seasoned chicken, pizza sauce, and plenty of melted cheese. They’re perfect for breakfast, lunch, kids’ snacks, parties, or an easy weeknight meal.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Filling

• 1½ cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
• ½ small onion, finely chopped
• ½ small bell pepper, finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon chili flakes, optional
• 2 tablespoons pizza sauce

For the Bun Pizzas

• 6 burger buns or soft dinner rolls
• ½ cup pizza sauce
• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ small bell pepper, finely chopped
• ¼ cup sliced black olives, optional
• ¼ cup sweet corn, optional
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions

1. Prepare the chicken filling

Heat the butter or olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Add the chopped onion and bell pepper.

Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

Add the shredded chicken, salt, black pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes.

Stir everything together and cook for 2–3 minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce and mix well.

Remove from the heat and set aside.

2. Prepare the buns

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Carefully cut the burger buns in half horizontally.

Place the bun halves cut-side up on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

For a slightly crispier base, lightly brush the cut side of each bun with melted butter.

3. Add the pizza sauce

Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce over each bun half.

Don’t use too much sauce because the buns can become soggy.

4. Add the chicken

Divide the prepared chicken mixture evenly among the buns.

Spread it gently so each bite gets plenty of chicken.

5. Add the toppings

Sprinkle the chopped bell pepper, sweet corn, and black olives over the chicken if using.

You can also add mushrooms, jalapeños, onions, or cooked turkey bacon.

6. Add plenty of cheese

Cover each bun generously with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

The mozzarella gives you that classic stretchy pizza texture, while cheddar adds extra flavor.

Sprinkle a little Italian seasoning over the cheese.

7. Bake

Place the tray in the preheated oven.

Bake for approximately 10–15 minutes, or until:

• The cheese is completely melted
• The edges of the buns are lightly golden
• The toppings are heated through

For a beautifully browned cheese topping, switch the oven to broil/grill for 1–2 minutes at the end.

Watch carefully because the cheese can brown very quickly.

8. Cool slightly and serve

Remove the bun pizzas from the oven and allow them to cool for 2–3 minutes.

Garnish with fresh parsley or chopped green onions if desired.

Serve warm with ketchup, garlic sauce, ranch dressing, or your favorite pizza dipping sauce.

Air Fryer Method

These are especially quick in an air fryer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
2. Assemble the bun pizzas as directed.
3. Place them carefully in the air-fryer basket in a single layer.
4. Air fry for 5–8 minutes.
5. Check after 5 minutes because cooking times vary between air fryers.
6. Remove when the cheese is melted and lightly golden.

Tips for the Best Bun Pizzas

• Use slightly firm buns so they don’t become soggy.
• Don’t overload the buns with pizza sauce.
• Make sure the chicken filling isn’t watery.
• For extra crispy bases, toast the buns for 2–3 minutes before adding the toppings.
• Mozzarella works best for melting, while cheddar adds a richer flavor.
• Add a pinch of garlic powder to the melted butter for a delicious garlic-bread-style crust.

Easy Variations

Spicy Chicken Bun Pizza: Add jalapeños, chili flakes, and a drizzle of hot sauce.

BBQ Chicken Bun Pizza: Replace pizza sauce with BBQ sauce and use mozzarella with red onion.

Creamy Chicken Pizza: Mix the cooked chicken with 2 tablespoons of cream cheese before adding it to the buns.

Loaded Chicken Bun Pizza: Add mushrooms, olives, corn, peppers, onions, and extra cheese.

Cheesy Garlic Bun Pizza: Brush the buns with garlic butter before adding the sauce and toppings.

Serve these hot and fresh, while the cheese is still melted and stretchy and the bun edges are golden and crispy.