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When I first threw together this Buffalo Chicken Pizza, my family couldn’t get enough. Tangy buffalo’d chicken, either sharp blue cheese or creamy ranch, and eye-catching toppings like red onion and banana peppers make every slice bold and totally comforting. It packs those classic buffalo dip vibes into gooey, crispy bites that vanish in no time.
The first time I tossed buffalo sauce on pizza, my whole family just stared, ate in silence, and immediately wanted more. Now it's a game day staple for us.
Delicious Ingredients
- Parmesan cheese: adds loads of umami A sprinkle of fresh or pre-grated works fine
- Butter for the crust: gives you those craveable golden edges Use real, unsalted if you can
- Red onions: toss on some crunch and sharpness Choose a good, solid onion for easy slices
- Buffalo sauce: brings a spicy kick and tang Use your favorite for best flavor
- Banana pepper rings: a pop of mild zest Dry 'em off so your pizza stays crisp
- Shredded chicken: makes this pizza hearty Pick up a rotisserie bird for speed
- Green onions chives parsley and red pepper flakes for garnish: sprinkle fresh herbs and a bit of heat for color and punch
- Pizza dough: forms the chewy base Letting it sit at room temp makes it much easier to shape
- Blue cheese or ranch dressing: a creamy bite Either one works, but blue cheese (I like Marie’s Chunky) is my favorite
- Mozzarella cheese: all that gooey stretch, balances the spice Grating from a block melts so much better
- Garlic powder: stirs into the crust for that extra savory finish
- Pizza sauce: a zip of tomato flavor Either use your go-to brand or make your own
Simple Step-by-Step
- Finish With Toppings:
- Straight out of the oven, hit it with green onion, chives, parsley, and red pepper for looks and flavor. Cut and eat while it’s steaming hot.
- Final Bake:
- Place the pizza back in so the buttery crust browns up. Watch so it doesn’t burn.
- Make Garlic Butter:
- Stir together melted butter, Parmesan, and garlic powder. Slather onto the pizza edge for a savory bakery touch.
- Bake It First Time:
- Bake hot until the cheese has bubbled up and crust is nicely gold. Takes about thirteen minutes or so.
- Drizzle On Sauces:
- Drop extra ranch or blue cheese plus some buffalo sauce over the top for more tang in every bite.
- Add Chicken and Veggies:
- Toss your buffalo-marinated chicken all over. Add a pile of onions and banana peppers. A little more mozzarella on top helps everything melt together.
- Layer Sauce and Cheese:
- Spread your sauce right to the edge. Most of the mozzarella goes down now to keep everything nice and molten.
- Shape The Dough:
- Pull your dough out to a twelve-inch circle on a prepared pan or stone. Poke it all over with a fork so it won’t puff weirdly. If you use a pizza stone, preheat it with the oven.
- Start With The Chicken:
- Mix shredded chicken with buffalo sauce and a big spoon of your favorite dressing. Give it a few minutes to soak up the flavors while you get the rest ready.
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I swear by marinating the chicken first. It really locks in the buffalo flavors so you get juicy bites from every slice. I’ll never forget my kids bickering over the last piece—it turns dinner into an event!
Storage Tips
Pop any extras in an airtight container and keep in your fridge for up to three days. For crispy slices, use the oven instead of the microwave when warming up. Toppings stay tasty after reheating too.
Ingredient Swaps
No blue cheese? It’ll still taste awesome with ranch. Switch in Pepper Jack if you want something with more heat than mozzarella. Leftover turkey works great instead of chicken and if banana peppers are out, grab a jar of jalapeños.
Serving Ideas
Pair up Buffalo Chicken Pizza with a cold green salad or make it a classic with celery on the side. Extra carrots and a bit more dressing always go over well. For parties, slice smaller squares for easy snacking.
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Fun Backstory
This flavor combo started up in upstate New York where folks first tossed spicy tangy wing sauce on everything. Team it with creamy cheese, and it’s a go-to for anyone who likes big flavor. Now you see this everywhere, especially on pizza!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What's the best chicken option here?
Leftover chicken or shredded rotisserie both soak up buffalo sauce and taste great.
- → Can I swap in ranch for blue cheese?
You sure can. Ranch brings a gentler flavor and still goes great with all the spicy flavors.
- → How do I get the crust nice and crunchy?
Bake on a super hot pizza stone and brush that crust with garlic butter and parmesan for max flavor.
- → How do I avoid a soggy base?
Dry off the banana peppers, keep sauces light, and poke the dough so steam can get out while baking.
- → What are fun toppings after baking?
Toss on some green onions, parsley, and even red pepper flakes to bump up the flavor and color.