This might just be the ultimate comfort food mashup: spicy, tangy, cheesy. If you’re craving a bold twist on pizza night, this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe is an absolute game-changer. Let me walk you through how to nail it perfectly the first time.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Buffalo chicken on pizza might sound daring, but trust me, it’s brilliance on a crust. I absolutely love how the spicy buffalo sauce pairs with creamy blue cheese and crispy crust for a flavor explosion every slice. Once I started making this at home, it quickly became a crowd favorite.
- Bold Flavor Combo: The spicy buffalo sauce balanced with creamy blue cheese dressing elevates classic pizza into a bold, mouthwatering treat.
- Simple and Quick: You can have this pizza on the table in about 30 minutes, using store-bought dough to save time without skimping on taste.
- Customizable Toppings: From onion slices to banana peppers, you can easily tweak the toppings to make this your perfect fiery pizza.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s game day or a family dinner, this pizza recipe hits that sweet spot everyone loves.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe plays a crucial role in delivering those savory, spicy notes against that crispy backdrop. Here’s why I choose them:
- Shredded chicken: Pre-cooked and shredded chicken easily absorbs the buffalo sauce, giving you that signature spicy bite without drying out.
- Buffalo sauce: The star of the show – I use Frank’s Buffalo Sauce for the perfect balance of heat and tang.
- Blue cheese dressing: A creamy counterpoint to the spicy sauce; my go-to is Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese from the refrigerated aisle.
- Pizza dough: Store-bought refrigerated dough is a lifesaver here, stretching easily for a homemade feel without the fuss.
- Pizza sauce: Adds a familiar layer of flavor beneath the cheese—nothing fancy, just classic.
- Mozzarella cheese: Low moisture whole milk mozzarella melts beautifully, creating that gorgeous gooey texture. Avoid fresh mozzarella here, as it’s too wet and can make the crust soggy.
- Red onions and banana peppers: The slight crunch and tang from these toppings complement the rich buffalo and blue cheese flavor perfectly.
- Garlic butter parmesan crust: This finishing touch takes the crust from good to unforgettable with buttery, garlicky goodness.
Make It Your Way
What I love most about the Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe is how easy it is to tweak based on what you love. Whether you’re team blue cheese or ranch, or want to add extra heat, this recipe is super forgiving.
- Variation: I sometimes swap banana peppers for jalapeños when I want an extra kick—just slice thinly and scatter over the pizza before baking.
- Ranch swap: If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, ranch dressing works brilliantly and mellows the spice slightly, perfect if you’re feeding picky eaters.
- Gluten-free option: Use your favorite pre-made gluten-free pizza crust, watching baking times carefully as they often bake faster.
- Double chicken toss: For serious protein lovers, mix buffalo sauce into twice the chicken amount and pile it on thick.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Step 1: Prep the Chicken and Sauce
First, toss your shredded chicken with the buffalo sauce and a tablespoon of blue cheese dressing. This marinates the chicken, infusing those layers of flavor. I usually let it sit while preparing the dough and chopping the veggies—it really makes a difference.
Step 2: Shape Your Dough
Roll or stretch your dough out onto a greased 12-inch pizza pan or pizza stone. Use a fork to poke holes evenly across the crust to avoid bubbling. Pro tip: If you have a pizza stone, warm it in the oven upfront for that extra crispy base.
Step 3: Layer the Goodness
Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the crust, then sprinkle most of your mozzarella. Dollop on your buffalo chicken mixture, followed by red onions and banana pepper rings. Top with the remaining mozzarella so that everything melts together perfectly.
Step 4: Blue Cheese and Buffalo Drizzle
Drizzle on about 3 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing and an extra 1-2 tablespoons of buffalo sauce for that signature tang. This gets baked into every bite and keeps things juicy and delicious.
Step 5: Bake and Finish the Crust
Bake your pizza at 450°F for 13 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and crust is mostly cooked. Then, mix melted butter, Parmesan, and garlic powder and brush this onto the crust edges. Pop it back in the oven for another 2-3 minutes to get that addictive golden, garlicky finish.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Once out of the oven, sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions, red pepper flakes, and a little parsley for freshness and a pop of color. Slice it up and get ready to enjoy the melty, spicy magic!
Top Tip
This recipe has been one of my go-to crowd-pleasers, and a few little tricks make all the difference in getting that perfect balance of spicy flavor and crisp crust.
- Pre-mix chicken well: Make sure the chicken is evenly coated with buffalo sauce to keep every bite consistently flavorful and moist.
- Don’t skip poking the dough: Those fork holes prevent annoying bubbles and help the crust cook evenly.
- Brush the crust late: Apply the garlic butter parmesan mix near the end so the crust crisps without burning.
- Go easy on fresh mozzarella: Its high moisture content can sog the crust, so stick to low-moisture mozzarella for the best melt and texture.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Garnishes
I’m a sucker for a sprinkling of chopped green onions and fresh parsley on top—it adds a fresh zip that cuts through the richness. Red pepper flakes are an absolute must for me; they bump up the heat and make it visually stunning too.
Side Dishes
I love pairing this pizza with a crisp green salad or some cooling cucumber slices to balance the heat. Sometimes, I’ll serve celery sticks with ranch or blue cheese dip on the side—the classic buffalo wing vibe but pizza style!
Creative Ways to Present
When hosting game day, I’ve arranged mini versions as individual bites using small pita rounds or cut the pizza into small squares for easy finger food. A drizzle of extra blue cheese dressing and buffalo sauce on the side keeps guests coming back for more!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover pizza? I store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To keep the crust from getting soggy, I place a paper towel underneath the slices to absorb moisture.
Freezing
I’ve frozen fully baked slices wrapped tightly in foil and placed in zip-top bags. When ready to eat, I thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat for best results. Freezing works well if you want to prep ahead for busy days.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop leftover slices into a hot oven or toaster oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. This revives the crust’s crispness while melting the cheese again. Microwave is tempting but can leave things rubbery—oven’s the way to go here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Fresh mozzarella tends to have higher moisture content, which can make your crust soggy. For the best melty texture and crisp crust, go with low-moisture shredded mozzarella.
While blue cheese dressing adds a classic tang that pairs well with buffalo sauce, you can substitute ranch dressing if blue cheese isn’t your thing. Both work but give slightly different flavor profiles.
Absolutely! You can make your own pizza dough at home for an extra fresh touch. Using store-bought dough is a great shortcut, especially on busy nights. Either way, the pizza tastes fantastic.
It has a pleasant kick thanks to the buffalo sauce and red pepper flakes, but it’s not overwhelming. You can always adjust the heat by adding more or less buffalo sauce and toppings like jalapeños.
Final Thoughts
Making this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe at home brings all my favorite flavors into one delicious bite—and it’s never failed me for game days or casual dinners. If you love that perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and cheesy, I really think you’ll enjoy this as much as I do. Give it a go, have fun with the toppings, and watch it disappear slice by slice!
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Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
Delicious Buffalo Chicken Pizza with a crispy garlic butter parmesan crust, topped with shredded buffalo chicken, mozzarella, red onions, and banana peppers, finished with blue cheese dressing and flavorful garnishes. Perfect for a spicy, savory main course that satisfies pizza and buffalo wing cravings alike.
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 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it heats to ensure even cooking and a crispier crust.
- Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and 1 tablespoon of blue cheese dressing. Let this mixture marinate while you prepare the remaining ingredients to infuse flavor.
- Prepare the dough: Lightly grease a 12-inch pizza pan or pizza stone. Spread the pizza dough evenly onto the pan. Use a fork to poke holes in the dough to prevent bubbles from forming during baking.
- Add toppings: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough. Sprinkle most of the mozzarella cheese on top. Distribute the buffalo chicken mixture evenly, followed by the sliced red onions and banana pepper rings. Finish by sprinkling the remaining mozzarella cheese over the toppings.
- Add final drizzles: Drizzle 3 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing and 1 to 2 tablespoons of buffalo sauce over the toppings for extra flavor and spice.
- Bake the pizza: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 13 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Prepare garlic butter parmesan crust: Mix together the melted butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Remove the pizza from the oven and brush this mixture over the crust edges.
- Finish baking: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and crispy.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions or chives, red pepper flakes, and parsley. Slice into 8 pieces and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use Marie's Chunky Blue Cheese dressing for authentic flavor, or substitute with Ranch if preferred.
- Frank's Buffalo Sauce is highly recommended for the best spicy buffalo flavor.
- Use low moisture whole milk mozzarella shredded from a block to ensure proper melting; avoid fresh mozzarella as it adds too much moisture.
- Store-bought refrigerated pizza dough is a convenient shortcut if you don’t want to make homemade dough.
- For best texture and flavor, use a pizza stone when baking if available.
- Leftover pizza can be refrigerated and reheated; reheating in the oven or air fryer helps retain crispiness.
- Try pairing this recipe with the Hawaiian Pizza for more variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
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