These BBQ Chicken Polenta Pizza Cakes are a tasty bite-sized appetizer recipe. They’re easy to make with barbeque chicken, fresh mozzarella cheese and a touch of cilantro.
BBQ Chicken Polenta Pizza Cakes
Ahhh, finger foods, one of life’s little pleasures. I have a weird thing for grilled polenta, it really is so good if you haven’t tried it before. These little appetizers are perfect for any party or even lunch.
Go find a tube of cooked polenta at your grocery store, it’s usually by the pasta sauces and pasta. Use any left over chicken with BBQ sauce (Click HERE for my recipe for homemade BBQ shredded chicken) for the topping or your grocery store usually has a refrigerated prepared BBQ shredded chicken.
Hope you enjoy!!
How to Make these Chicken Pizza Bites
Simple line up of ingredients, Left: BBQ chicken, fresh mozzarella, polenta and cilantro
Here’s the polenta, I sliced it into 1/2 inch slices to get ready for the grill pan.
About 2 cups of cooked, shredded BBQ chicken. I used a package from Trader Joe’s, however HERE is a simple homemade BBQ Sauce recipe of mine if you wanna go homemade 🙂
Some fresh mozzarella cheese.
I drizzled in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and placed the sliced polenta right into the ol’ grill pan.
After about 4 to 5 minutes, give em’ a flip.
Top with a spoonful of BBQ chicken.
Top with a 1/2 slice mozzarella cheese.
Place under your oven’s broiler for 3 to 4 minutes, until cheese melts….then enjoy!
BBQ Chicken Polenta Pizza Cakes
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb polenta 1 tube
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups cooked barbeque chicken shredded
- 12 slices fresh mozzarella 1-inch each
- 12 individual cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven's broiler with rack places 5 to 6 inches below heat.
- Slice polenta into 1/2 inch slices. Place oil into a grill pan over medium heat. Place polenta slices into hot grill pan and grill for 4 to 5 minutes, until slightly browned.
- Flip and top with a spoonful of BBQ chicken then a slice of mozzarella cheese. Grill for 4 minutes then place under broiler until cheese is melted. Top with a cilantro leaf and serve.
Nutrition
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Have a great rest of your week and come back soon!
Welcome to my online kitchen! Picky Palate is where you’ll find family friendly recipes along with the best Disney eats, tips and copycat recipes! 
I have to be honest, I’ve never cooked with polenta before. I think I was waiting to stumble upon the perfect recipe that just made that crazy food makes sense to me. This is totally it! Bookmarking! Thank you!
These are so cute and fancy! Love ’em!
I made these this weekend for a Graduation BBQ and they were a complete hit! Everyone loved them and asked for the recipe- thanks for sharing!
I LOVE polenta! What an easy and delicious recipe – I am going to add them to my list to make, yummy!!!!
Ooh, what a fun alternative to regular pizza!
Wow, these are genius! They look so good!
Ohhh yes please! me and polenta get along VERY well!
Perfect and delicious! I would like these right now! 🙂
I love polenta! Cute pizza cakes!
hmmm i never warmed up to polenta, but i’ve never had them grilled either. thanks for the idea!
These sound awesome! Are they sturdy enough to pick up with your fingers?
Yes, Debbi, they are sturdy enough to pick right up with your fingers 🙂
Does the polenta get crispy at all, or does it stay fairly mushy?
Hi Amy,
The polenta gets crisped on the outside and stays soft on the inside. Hope this helps!
Those look delicious! I’ve been wanting to make something yummy with polenta and cheese. I think I might create something similar for dinner tonight. You’ve definitely inspired me 😀
So glad I could help Heidi!!
Thanks for the recipe! I was searching for a quick appetizer and this fits the bill. 🙂
This sounds so good! I will have to make this for sure!
These look so delicious! I love polenta and stack that with bbq chicken, I’m sold!
You’re such a genius. I never, ever look at that kind of stuff at the market and think I can combine them to create something fun. I go the more difficult route!! Ugh. I love my grill pan!
What a fun and easy appetizer! I love polenta and can’t wait to try this!
Uh. YES, Please! This sounds delicious Jenny!
These look amazing! I
Looks delish!! Love the grill pan-I want one soooo badly:)
Where did you get that pan?
Hi Stacey,
It actually came in a gift from BlogHer Food a couple weeks ago, but it is by Cuisinart. You can look it up online 🙂 I will be doing a giveaway with one very soon too!
Would you believe I have never had polenta? But with this recipe looking so good, it may be time I try it 🙂
You’ll love it Chris!!
I have never tried grilled polenta, but after drooling over these pics I have to give it a try! Thanks for another great recipe 🙂
What is polenta? It looks really good, but I can’t tell from the picture what it is. Please explain!
Hi Meg,
Polenta is made from ground corn, so they taste like little corn cakes. You’ll have to give it a try 🙂
WOW! I have to make these! They look so good and so easy. Definitely would be a winner in this house! Thank you for the idea.
XO
Jen
When I saw the title, I thought, “Oh that sounds so delicious, but I’m sure it will be too difficult for me to make.” It looks so easy though. I’m so impressed. I’m definitely trying this one!!
They really are a breeze to make Melanie! Hope you enjoy 🙂
This is absolutely amazing!
this looks like such a fun mixture of flavors and textures!
These sound delicious, and simple! I love this idea.
holy delicious! what a cool bite you just made…i love them!
These look delicious. I love how easy they are to assemble.
This looks great! What a different idea. We found Polenta recently and really enjoy it. I’ll have to try this one.
Mmm this sounds awesome. I love polenta!
These do look delicious! What a great little treat as an appetizer or even a meal if you have a few with salad:-)
Yes, perfect with a little salad 🙂
Jenny they look so good and full of great flavor with the bbq chicken. But I LOVE the melted mozzarella action, for sure 🙂