Think about everything you love about Buffalo chicken wings, and the things you love to dip them in. All this, slathered in melted mozzarella and sat atop a crusty pizza base you can make faster and better than anything DoorDash can bring!
Oh, boy. I get to tell you about my favorite of all the pizzas: Buffalo Chicken Pizza.
I mean, what’s not to love here? Tender, juicy chicken drenched in zesty Buffalo sauce generously spread all atop a crisp, flavorful pizza crust brushed with olive oil, garlic, and black pepper. This is then topped with your favorite ranch dressing sauce, that almost sweet blanket of mozzarella cheese, thinly shaved, tangy red onions, and a sprinkle of salty, umami-rich blue cheese (that is the capper that sets all these toppings ablaze with flavor). And, ta-da you have the wonder that is Buffalo Chicken Pizza.
And all this can be yours in much less time than it takes for that frenzied process of debating which place to order pizza from, the kids asking 1,000 times if they’re ever going to arrive, then, finally, when your phone announces it’s been left on your doorstep, the burning question of did they bring the ding dang sauces? I mean, some delivery services don’t even do sauces and, if they do, don’t they just love to forget your kids’ favorite ones? To kids, the dipping sauces are half the point!
If I order a pizza for me and the little ones I cook for and they bring garlic butter, pepper rings, and NO RANCH SAUCE?!?!? … then we have a problem – a problem that sometimes brings big teardrops on little lashes.
So, avoid all that hoo-ha (this nerd votes “hoo-ha” makes a comeback) and make your own delicious homemade pizza. This divine pizza takes only 35 minutes from prep to the pressing question of “Okay, now whadja-all-do-with-the-remote?” (which, here in Indiana is all one word).
What You and the Kids Will Love About This Buffalo Chicken Pizza…
So, as we begin our work, I ask my trio of little elf helpers, “just how big is a buffalo chicken? does it have wings? moose antlers?” and making Buffalo Chicken Pizza with kids is a fun time. When I’m cooking for Jillian and her three little ones, her daughter Harper loves to help with this particular meal because she loves all things art and, especially, painting.
So, she gets to do two artsy things. First, she’s in charge of brushing the olive oil all over the crust with my silicone basting brush. “Hey, chief,” I ask her since she’s the boss, always, “can you get the whole thing glossy like Shrinky Dinks all over?” and with that kind of directive, she does the job like a master chef. And, you can keep all your “littles” busy decorating this pizza and see if they can make it look just like the Step 7 photo below, all red and abstract-artsy atop that ranch dressing. It’s easy. “Scatter and cover,” I tell Harper, “‘cause you’re already so gifted it’s going to look like a billion-dollar Jackson Pollock painting.”
Sage Advice From the Sage Chef (Who Has to Sit on Her Hands Not to Eat Ms. Harper’s Pizza)
This pizza makes eight slices, I can eat ______ (‘ahem’) of them, so it might be wise to make two pizzas because… well, it might be smart for the kids to have their own… I mean, their own kid-friendly pizza. Well, their own pizza period. I have a hard time not helping them eat their pizza if I don’t make two… just to be transparent here. And, no matter how you serve this up, all will be beyond good.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
Refrigerate any leftovers wrapped tightly in foil (for easy warming in a 350 oven for ten or so minutes). You can also freeze individual portions in freezer-safe bags or more with crusts back-to-back, so they don’t stick together. In the freezer, they’re good for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave for 30-second bursts until bubbly and hot.
Serving Suggestions
To keep the Buffalo flavor going, try these two very popular recipes that I think are currently breaking the internet: Potato and Buffalo Chicken Casserole and Buffalo Sliders.
If dessert is on your mind though, try this Pumpkin Roll with ice cream, or for something more fruity and fresh, give this New York-Style Fresh Peach Cheesecake a go!
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough room temperature
- 1 cup cooked chicken shredded
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 475°F. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat.
- In a medium bowl, mix the shredded chicken with buffalo wing sauce until well coated.
- On a floured surface, stretch the pizza dough into a 12-inch circle or rectangle, depending on your preference.
- Transfer the dough to a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal or parchment paper if using a pizza stone, or to a greased baking sheet.
- Brush the dough lightly with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder and black pepper.
- Spread ranch dressing over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
- Top the dressing with the buffalo chicken mixture, spreading it evenly.
- Sprinkle the sliced red onion and shredded mozzarella cheese over the chicken, as well as the blue cheese crumbles if using.
- Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven (or onto the pizza stone) and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, let it cool for a couple of minutes, then slice and serve.
This was absolutely delicious! My oh–so-picky son asked for more! My oldest told me it goes into the rotation and my hubby gave it the thumbs up and nod (high praise from him)
Awesome! Thanks for the comment Shawn