This might be one of the most irresistible pizza recipes you’ll ever try. With the perfect tangy heat of buffalo sauce paired with tender chicken and melty cheese, my Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe is an absolute game changer for pizza night.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I remember the first time I made this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe—it instantly became a staple in our house. The combo of spicy, cheesy, and savory is just unbeatable, and it’s surprisingly simple to pull together, even on a busy weeknight.
- Bold Flavor Punch: Buffalo sauce gives this pizza a tangy, spicy kick that’s balanced perfectly with creamy blue cheese and mozzarella.
- Simple Prep: You don’t need fancy ingredients or hours of prep—this recipe uses easy-to-find items and comes together quickly.
- Customizable Toppings: Whether you love banana peppers, red onions, or extra cheese, this pizza can be tailored to your taste buds.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Great for game days, casual dinners, or impressing friends with something a little different.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe plays a role to create that familiar spicy yet creamy flavor profile we’re all craving. It’s about balance—wheat-based dough for structure, spicy buffalo sauce for heat, creamy cheeses for richness, and bright toppings for freshness.
- Shredded chicken: Use cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken for tender, easy-to-shred meat that soaks up buffalo sauce beautifully.
- Buffalo sauce: I swear by Frank's Buffalo Sauce—it's the classic for a reason. It adds the perfect tang and spice level.
- Blue cheese dressing: The creamy dressing cools the heat and adds that iconic buffalo wing flavor; ranch works if you prefer something milder.
- Pizza dough: Choose a good-quality store-bought dough or make your own for the freshest crust. Room temp dough stretches better and crisps nicely.
- Pizza sauce: A thin layer adds a subtle tomato base without competing with the buffalo flavors.
- Mozzarella cheese: Low moisture, shredded mozzarella melts evenly and gives that classic pizza stretch—skip fresh mozzarella here.
- Red onions: Thin slices add crunch and a mild sharpness that contrasts the richness.
- Banana peppers: These bring a gentle tang and a little acidity to cut through the richness. Make sure to pat them dry to avoid soggy crust!
- Garlic butter parmesan crust: This finishing touch amps up the flavor, adding a garlicky, cheesy edge that’s downright addictive.
Make It Your Way
I love mixing it up depending on my mood and what I have on hand, and you should too. This Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe is super forgiving and welcomes your own twists and tweaks.
- Variation: Sometimes, I swap blue cheese dressing for ranch, especially if I’m serving picky eaters or kids—they still get the creamy goodness with a milder flavor.
- Extra Veggies: Adding some freshly sliced celery on top after baking gives a nice crunch and brings that classic buffalo wing vibe.
- Ground chicken: If you prefer, finely cooked ground chicken can be used instead of shredded for a different texture.
- Spicy boost: Drizzle a little extra buffalo sauce or sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes before serving for those who like an extra kick.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Step 1: Get the oven and dough ready
Preheat your oven to 450°F. If you’ve got a pizza stone, pop it in to heat up—it helps get that beautiful, crispy crust we all want. While that’s warming up, take your pizza dough out of the fridge so it can come to room temperature. This makes it way easier to stretch out without bouncing back.
Step 2: Marinate your chicken
In a bowl, toss your shredded chicken with buffalo sauce and one tablespoon of blue cheese dressing. I find letting this sit for a bit really lets those flavors meld—like a mini marinade for ultimate spicy goodness. You can prep this ahead to save time!
Step 3: Assemble the pizza
Roll out your dough on a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan or onto your pizza stone prep surface. Don’t forget to poke holes in the dough with a fork—this little trick keeps the crust from puffing up weirdly while baking. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough, then sprinkle most of your mozzarella cheese evenly on top. Next, evenly distribute the buffalo chicken, onions, and banana pepper rings before topping with the rest of your mozzarella. Finally, drizzle with more blue cheese and buffalo sauce before sliding it into the oven.
Step 4: Bake and add buttery garlic crust
Bake your pie for about 13 minutes until the cheese melts and the crust starts to look set. While it bakes, mix melted butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. When the pizza comes out, brush that flavorful mixture all around the crust edges, then pop it back in for another 2-3 minutes so it can brown beautifully.
Step 5: Garnish and enjoy!
The final step is my favorite—sprinkle chopped chives or green onions, red pepper flakes, and parsley on top. The fresh herbs brighten up every bite, and the red pepper flakes add a little extra heat boost if you want it. Slice it up and serve immediately for best results.
Top Tip
From my experience making this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe dozens of times, a few small tweaks make a world of difference. These tips will help you nail the perfect balance every time.
- Room Temperature Dough: Letting your dough rest before stretching prevents it from snapping back and makes for an evenly cooked crust.
- Pat Dry Banana Peppers: This simple step avoids soggy pizza and keeps your crust crispy.
- Layer Cheese Strategically: Put cheese both under and over your toppings so it sticks everything together and creates a gooey, delicious bite.
- Brush Garlic Parmesan Last: Adding garlic butter after initial baking locks in flavor and gives the crust a golden, addictive finish.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping my buffalo chicken pizza with fresh chopped green onions or chives—they add a subtle bite and fresh color. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes is a great way to dial up the heat, plus a light dusting of fresh parsley adds color and earthy notes. Fresh celery sticks on the side make a fun, crunchy contrast too.
Side Dishes
When I serve this pizza, I usually pair it with crunchy carrot and celery sticks alongside some ranch or blue cheese dip to balance the heat. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette also works beautifully to refresh the palate between bites.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I’ve rolled this recipe out on smaller individual pizzas or cut it into appetizer-sized squares. You can also make it on a flatbread crust for a lighter option—these little variations make a big impression!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Buffalo Chicken Pizza keeps well wrapped in the fridge for up to 3 days. I store slices individually wrapped or in an airtight container with parchment paper between slices to prevent sticking. Just remember, fresh toppings like green onions are best added just before serving again.
Freezing
I’ve frozen this pizza once or twice by wrapping slices tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat—it’s a great option for meal prep or busy nights. Just note the crust might be a bit softer after thawing.
Reheating
To reheat leftovers, I pop slices in a preheated skillet or oven instead of the microwave. This brings back crispness to the crust and melts the cheese nicely without turning the pizza soggy. A quick 5 minutes at 375°F usually does the trick.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Fresh mozzarella is too wet for this recipe and can make the crust soggy. I recommend using low-moisture shredded mozzarella for the best melt and texture.
Frank's Buffalo Sauce is my top pick—it has just the right tang and heat. Avoid pre-mixed or flavored hot sauces that might alter the classic buffalo flavor.
Absolutely! Use your favorite gluten-free pizza dough as a base. Just note the baking time might vary slightly depending on the dough you choose.
This Buffalo Chicken Pizza has a nice medium heat from the buffalo sauce. If you prefer it milder, use less sauce or substitute ranch dressing instead of blue cheese. For more heat, add extra buffalo sauce or red pepper flakes!
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been craving something bold, cheesy, and packed with flavor, this Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe is worth every minute you spend making it. It’s one of those dishes that never gets old in my kitchen, and I hope it becomes a favorite in yours, too. So grab your ingredients, turn on some good music, and let’s make pizza night unforgettable!
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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
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
This delicious Buffalo Chicken Pizza combines tender shredded chicken tossed in spicy buffalo sauce, melted mozzarella, and tangy blue cheese dressing on a crispy pizza crust with a garlic butter Parmesan rim. Topped with red onions, banana peppers, and fresh herbs, this homemade pizza is perfect for game day or a flavorful dinner.
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 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 grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
To Garnish
- Chives or green onions
- Red pepper flakes
- Parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it heats to ensure a crispier crust with even browning.
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and 1 tablespoon of blue cheese dressing. Let it marinate while you prepare the dough and toppings.
- Prepare Dough: Spread the pizza dough evenly onto a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan or preheated stone. Use a fork to poke holes in the dough to prevent bubbles during baking.
- Add Toppings: Spread the pizza sauce over the dough, then sprinkle most of the mozzarella cheese on top. Add the buffalo chicken mixture, red onions, and banana pepper rings. Finish with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Drizzle Sauces: Drizzle 3 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing and 1 to 2 tablespoons of buffalo sauce evenly over the pizza for extra flavor.
- Bake Pizza: Bake in the preheated oven for 13 minutes, then remove from the oven briefly.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Crust: Mix together the melted butter, grated Parmesan, and garlic powder. Brush this mixture onto the pizza crust edges.
- Finish Baking: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 3 minutes or until the crust edges are golden and crispy.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped chives or green onions, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use Marie's Chunky Blue Cheese dressing for authentic flavor; Ranch dressing can be substituted if preferred.
- Frank's Buffalo Sauce is recommended for the spicy buffalo flavor.
- Opt for low moisture whole milk shredded mozzarella for best melting; avoid fresh mozzarella as it is too wet.
- Store-bought refrigerated pizza dough works well for convenience, or use homemade pizza dough for a scratch-made option.
- The pizza can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best results.
- Try this recipe with other toppings like a Hawaiian pizza for variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
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