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
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups shredded chicken
- 1/3 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
