# Limited-Edition BBQ-Inspired Chicken Pizzas Lou Malnati's Boasts Its Flavorful BBQ Chicken Pizza By Kalin Ned | Published 2026-06-17 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bbq-chicken-pizza References: [ca.finance.yahoo](https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/lou-malnatis-launches-bbq-chicken-170000756.html)  [Lou Malnati's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buffalou-chicken-pizza) is a Chicago-based pizzeria renowned for its deep-dish offerings, and now, the brand is introducing a limited-time BBQ Chicken Pizza available at all its physical locations and through nationwide shipping starting June 18. This launch is part of the company's broader summer menu platform, which also includes the Chicken BBQ Club Salad and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza. Lou Malnati's latest BBQ Chicken Pizza is offered in both [deep-dish and thin-crust varieties](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maxwell-polish-sausage-deep-dish-pizza). It features grilled chicken, red onions, and the brand's proprietary [Bar-B-Lou sauce](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smokin-hot-honey-bbq) layered with mozzarella on its signature crust. The dish is finished with cheddar cheese and fresh parsley. The pizza pairs well with the accompanying salad, which combines grilled chicken, Roma tomatoes, salami, tortilla chips, and a house dressing over romaine lettuce. Image Credit: Lou Malnati's ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 68% | Freshness: 77% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Limited-time Flavor Platforms:** Seasonal menu ecosystems create space for restaurants to test demand, build urgency, and extend a single flavor theme across multiple meal occasions. - **Bbq-fusion Pizza:** Regional barbecue cues applied to familiar pizza formats reveal potential for hybrid comfort foods that refresh legacy menus without alienating core customers. - **Nationwide Restaurant Shipping:** Direct-to-consumer delivery of location-based specialties transforms local restaurant brands into scalable retail experiences beyond their physical footprints. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fast-casual Dining:** Menu drops tied to summer occasions provide differentiated traffic drivers for restaurant operators competing against value meals and delivery-first concepts. - **Frozen and Shipped Foods:** Premium prepared meals from recognizable restaurant brands blur the line between dine-in experiences and at-home convenience. - **Specialty Pizza:** Ingredient-forward limited editions signal new opportunities for pizza brands to modernize traditional crust formats through sauce innovation and cross-category pairings. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Social Good Valentine's Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lou-malnatis-pizzeria.md) - [Delectable Beefy Pizza Combos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/italian-combo.md) - [Limited-Time Asian BBQ Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asian-bbq-menu.md) - [Hearty Fried Chicken Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-hut-crispy-chicken-pizzas.md) - [limited-time white-sauce pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whitesauce-pizza.md) - [Mozzarella Cheese-Inspired QSR Offerings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-mozz.md) - [Spicy Specialty Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spicy-chicken-bacon-ranch.md) - [Triple-Pepperoni Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trippple-peppp-pizza.md) - [Creamy Flavor-Rich Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-kickn-chicken-bacon-ranch-pizza.md)