Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender buffalo chicken, tangy blue cheese or ranch dressing, and delicious toppings like banana peppers and red onions. With a crispy garlic butter Parmesan crust, this pizza is perfect for a spicy, cheesy meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups shredded chicken
- ⅓ cup buffalo sauce, plus more to drizzle on top
- ¼ cup blue cheese dressing, divided (can substitute with ranch)
- 1 lb. pizza dough, at room temperature
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup red onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup banana pepper rings, patted dry
Garlic Butter Parmesan Crust
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
To Garnish
- Chives or green onions
- Red pepper flakes
- Parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it inside the oven during preheating to help create a crispier and evenly browned crust.
- Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken with ⅓ cup buffalo sauce and 1 tablespoon of the blue cheese dressing. Let this mixture marinate while you prepare the dough and other ingredients for enhanced flavor.
- Prepare the Dough: Spread the pizza dough out onto a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan or onto the preheated pizza stone. Use a fork to poke holes in the dough to prevent bubbling during baking.
- Assemble the Pizza: Evenly spread the ½ cup pizza sauce over the dough. Sprinkle most of the mozzarella cheese on top, then distribute the buffalo chicken mixture, thinly sliced red onions, and banana pepper rings. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Add Final Sauces: Drizzle 3 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing over the assembled pizza, along with 1 to 2 tablespoons more of buffalo sauce for an extra kick.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 13 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Crust: While the pizza bakes, mix the melted butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
- Brush the Crust: Remove the pizza from the oven and carefully brush the garlic butter Parmesan mixture over the crust edge.
- Finish Baking: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the crust turns a golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and garnish with chopped chives or green onions, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute blue cheese dressing with ranch dressing if preferred.
- Using a pizza stone helps achieve a crispier crust, but a pizza pan works well too.
- Poking holes in the dough prevents air bubbles and ensures an even crust.
- Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce and blue cheese according to your preferred spice level.
- Let the chicken marinate for at least 10 minutes before assembling for better flavor infusion.
