This might just become your new favorite go-to because the perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and cheesy comes together effortlessly in this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe. Seriously, it’s the kind of pizza that makes weeknights exciting without eating up all your time.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Believe me, this Buffalo Chicken Pizza recipe hits all the right notes: spice, creamy cheese, and a crust that’s garlic buttery perfection. I make it whenever friends come over and it’s always the star of the night.
- Bold Flavor Combination: The mix of tangy buffalo sauce and creamy blue cheese dressing is exactly what makes this pizza unforgettable.
- Easy & Quick: Using pre-shredded chicken and pizza dough from the store saves loads of prep time without skimping on taste.
- Customizable Toppings: You can add or swap out ingredients like banana peppers or ranch to suit your mood or pantry.
- Perfect Crust Finish: The garlic butter parmesan crust brush-up elevates the whole pizza to a restaurant-quality level.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Buffalo Chicken Pizza recipe plays its part, creating a harmony of textures and flavors — spicy chicken, creamy cheese, tangy peppers, and that golden crust everyone loves. Shopping tip: opt for low-moisture mozzarella for the best melt.
- Shredded chicken: Using pre-cooked shredded chicken makes everything faster, plus it soaks up the buffalo sauce beautifully.
- Buffalo sauce: I go for Frank’s—it’s the gold standard for that authentic spicy kick.
- Blue cheese dressing: The chunkier the better—Marie's adds real depth, but ranch works if you want milder.
- Pizza dough: Store-bought dough is fine here, but homemade will take it from great to next-level.
- Pizza sauce: A simple tomato base balances the spicy toppings perfectly.
- Mozzarella cheese: Low moisture shredded cheese melts evenly and keeps this pizza from getting soggy.
- Red onions: Thin slices bring a little sweetness and crunch to each bite.
- Banana pepper rings: These add tang and a subtle zing that contrasts nicely with the buffalo heat.
- Butter, Parmesan, and garlic powder: This combo brushed on crust makes it irresistibly golden and flavorful.
- Garnishes (chives, red pepper flakes, parsley): Fresh herbs and extra heat round out the finishing touches beautifully.
Make It Your Way
I love mixing things up with this Buffalo Chicken Pizza recipe, especially when I'm craving a little extra heat or want to try a different cheese combination. You can easily tailor it to your tastes or dietary needs.
- Variation: I've swapped banana peppers for jalapeños when I wanted more kick, and it was amazing—just be sure to remove seeds if you like less heat.
- Cheese Swap: Trying ranch instead of blue cheese works well if you’re serving guests who prefer milder flavors.
- Diet-Friendly: Use a cauliflower or gluten-free crust for a lighter or gluten-sensitive option without losing that pizza vibe.
- Veggie Boost: Adding fresh spinach or diced tomatoes on top freshens it up and adds color.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Marinate the Chicken
First, toss your shredded chicken with that vibrant buffalo sauce and about a tablespoon of blue cheese dressing. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes if you can—this really helps the flavors meld. I usually do this while the oven preheats, so it’s all ready to go at assembly time.
Step 2: Get the Dough Ready
Roll the pizza dough out onto a greased 12-inch pizza pan or stone. Poke little holes in the dough with a fork to stop air bubbles from puffing up your crust unevenly. I learned this the hard way—no one likes a crust mountain in the middle!
Step 3: Layer On the Good Stuff
Spread the pizza sauce evenly over your dough. Sprinkle most of the mozzarella first, then add the buffalo chicken, sliced red onions, and banana peppers. Top it off with the rest of the mozzarella, and drizzle on the remaining blue cheese dressing and a few tablespoons of buffalo sauce to dial up the flavor.
Step 4: Bake and Brush the Crust
Bake the pizza at 450°F for about 13 minutes. Once it comes out, mix melted butter with Parmesan and garlic powder and brush it generously over the crust. Then pop it back in the oven for another 2 to 3 minutes until the crust turns that gorgeous golden brown.
Step 5: Garnish & Serve
Finish by sprinkling fresh chives, parsley, and red pepper flakes over the top. Slice it up and get ready to dig in. You’ll want seconds, trust me!
Top Tip
After making this Buffalo Chicken Pizza recipe dozens of times, I realized a few tricks make all the difference for perfect results every time.
- Preheat Your Pizza Stone: If you have one, place your pizza stone in the oven during preheat. It helps the crust cook evenly and get that crispy bottom I always crave.
- Don't Skip Docking the Dough: Poking holes in the dough is the secret to avoiding a bumpy crust. I learned this after my first soggy attempt!
- Use Low-Moisture Mozzarella: It melts beautifully without making your pizza soggy, which fresh mozzarella tends to do in this recipe.
- Brush Butter Mix While Hot: Applying the garlic butter parmesan mix right after the initial bake helps the crust soak up more flavor and crisp up just right during the second bake.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Garnishes
I always stick to fresh chives or green onions because they add a subtle onion punch that complements the buffalo sauce without overpowering it. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes gives an extra kick if you really like heat, and parsley adds that fresh green touch making it look as good as it tastes.
Side Dishes
Serve this pizza with crunchy celery sticks and carrot batons alongside a creamy ranch or blue cheese dip — an easy classic combo that echoes those buffalo wing vibes perfectly. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette also balances the richness beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
For game day or parties, I like to slice the pizza smaller into bite-sized squares and serve it on a rustic wooden board with a scattering of chopped herbs and drizzles of extra buffalo sauce for dipping. It’s casual, fun, and totally shareable.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover pizza wrapped tightly in foil or placed in an airtight container keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days. I usually store slices flat to keep the crust from getting soggy and to make reheating easier.
Freezing
This pizza freezes pretty well. I flash freeze slices on a tray first, then transfer to freezer bags so they don’t stick together. When you're ready for a quick meal, you can reheat slices straight from the freezer.
Reheating
To keep the crust crisp, I pop leftovers in a hot skillet on medium heat with a lid for a few minutes, or reheat in an oven at 375°F wrapped in foil. Avoid microwaving unless you're in a serious rush—it tends to make pizza chewy and the crust soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Fresh mozzarella contains more moisture, which can make the pizza soggy when baking. For the best texture and melt, I recommend using low-moisture shredded mozzarella in this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe.
The spice level depends on the buffalo sauce you use. If you prefer milder heat, you can reduce the buffalo sauce or substitute with mild sauce, and even swap blue cheese dressing for ranch to tone it down.
You can prepare the chicken mixture and pizza dough ahead to save time on the day you want to bake. However, assembling and baking just before serving ensures the best crust texture and cheese melt.
Reheating leftovers in a skillet over medium heat or in a 375°F oven helps keep the crust crispy and cheese melty. Avoid microwaving to prevent a soggy crust.
Final Thoughts
This Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe is one of those dishes that makes me so happy every time I bake it—really, it’s like comfort and excitement all wrapped into one slice. Whether you're craving a casual dinner or feeding a crowd, this recipe delivers big on flavor and satisfaction. I’d say, don’t wait for a special occasion, try it tonight and enjoy every spicy, cheesy bite!
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Delicious Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pizza combines tender shredded chicken tossed in spicy buffalo sauce and tangy blue cheese dressing with melted mozzarella on a crispy pizza crust. Topped with red onions, banana peppers, and a garlic Parmesan butter crust, it's a perfect spicy and savory twist on classic pizza, ideal for a crowd-pleasing main course.
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 oven - Heat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven during preheating to achieve a crispier, more evenly cooked crust.
- Marinate chicken - In a bowl, combine shredded chicken with buffalo sauce and 1 tablespoon of blue cheese dressing. Set aside to let the flavors meld while preparing the other ingredients.
- Prepare pizza base - Lightly grease a 12-inch pizza pan or use the pizza stone. Stretch or roll out the pizza dough to fit and poke holes with a fork to prevent bubbling.
- Assemble pizza - Spread pizza sauce evenly over the dough. Sprinkle most of the mozzarella cheese first, then layer the buffalo chicken, red onions, and banana peppers. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Add drizzles - Drizzle 3 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing and 1 to 2 tablespoons of buffalo sauce over the top for extra flavor and heat.
- Bake pizza - Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 13 minutes until the cheese melts and the crust starts to set.
- Prepare garlic butter crust - Mix melted butter with grated Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Brush this mixture generously on the exposed edges of the crust.
- Finish baking - Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the crust edges turn golden brown and crisp.
- Garnish and serve - Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Slice into 8 pieces and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use Marie's Chunky Blue Cheese dressing for authentic flavor; Ranch dressing is a good substitute.
- Frank's Buffalo Sauce provides the ideal spicy kick.
- Opt for low-moisture whole milk mozzarella shredded from a block for the best melt; avoid fresh mozzarella as it adds too much moisture.
- Store-bought refrigerated pizza dough works well for convenience, or make homemade dough for extra freshness.
- Preheating a pizza stone enhances crust crispiness and even cooking.
- For storage, keep leftover pizza refrigerated and reheat in the oven for best texture.
- Try pairing this recipe alongside a fresh salad or classic Hawaiian pizza for variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
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