Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe

When I first tasted Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe during my trip to upstate New York, I instantly fell in love with the bold and fiery flavors.

Buffalo, New York, the birthplace of the iconic buffalo sauce, has a deep-rooted love for spicy, tangy dishes, and this pizza is one of its most beloved creations.

The blend of tender chicken, zesty buffalo sauce, and creamy blue cheese perfectly captures the spirit of American comfort food. It’s a slice of Buffalo’s flavor-packed culture right in your kitchen!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are the key ingredients that make this pizza a standout favorite.

• 1 ½ cups shredded chicken – A rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver here, but any cooked, shredded chicken will do.
• ⅓ cup buffalo sauce – I recommend Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce for that classic, tangy flavor that isn’t overwhelmingly spicy.
• ¼ cup blue cheese dressing – Use a quality, chunky blue cheese dressing. Marie’s, found in the refrigerated produce section, is a great choice.
• 1 lb. pizza dough – You can use store-bought dough for convenience or make your own. Let it sit at room temperature for a bit to make it easier to roll out.
• ½ cup pizza sauce – A thin layer of tomato-based pizza sauce adds a nice contrast to the creamy and tangy toppings. Rao’s or Ragu make good options.
• 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese – For the best melt, buy a block of low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that prevent it from melting smoothly.
• ¼ cup red onions – Thinly sliced red onion adds a sharp, sweet bite that cuts through the richness.
• ¼ cup banana pepper rings – Make sure to pat them dry to avoid adding excess moisture to your pizza.
• 1 tablespoon melted butter – This is for brushing the crust to make it golden and flavorful.
• 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese – Combined with the butter, this creates a delicious garlic butter Parmesan crust.
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder – Adds a savory, aromatic touch to the crust.
• Chives, red pepper flakes, parsley for garnish – These are optional but add a nice pop of color and flavor.

Note: This recipe makes one 12-inch pizza, which serves about 8 slices.

Variations

While this recipe is fantastic as is, you can easily tweak it to fit your preferences.

• Ranch Instead of Blue Cheese: If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, simply substitute it with your favorite ranch dressing. The creamy texture works just as well to balance the buffalo sauce.
• Add Some Bacon: For an extra layer of savory flavor, add some cooked and crumbled bacon as a topping before baking.
• Different Cheeses: Feel free to mix up the cheese. A combination of mozzarella and provolone would be delicious, or add a sprinkle of cheddar for a sharper taste.
• Control the Heat: If you like it extra spicy, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the chicken mixture or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. For less heat, use a mild buffalo sauce.

Cooking Time

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes

Equipment You Need

• Pizza stone or baking sheet: A preheated pizza stone helps create a crispier crust, but a standard baking sheet works well too.
• Rolling pin: This helps you roll out the pizza dough to an even thickness for consistent baking.
• Cheese grater: For shredding the mozzarella cheese from a block, ensuring a perfect melt.
• Small bowl: To mix the chicken with the buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing.
• Pizza cutter: For slicing the finished pizza into perfect portions.

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe?

Making this restaurant-quality pizza at home is simple. Just follow these steps for a delicious and fun pizza night.

Prepare the Toppings

Start by preheating your oven to 450°F. If you’re using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats. In a small bowl, combine the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and one tablespoon of the blue cheese dressing. Stir until the chicken is evenly coated and set it aside to marinate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Assemble the Pizza

Lightly grease your 12-inch pizza pan or stone. Spread the pizza dough evenly across the surface. Using a fork, poke several holes across the dough to prevent large air bubbles from forming while it bakes. Spread the pizza sauce in a thin layer over the dough, followed by most of the mozzarella cheese.

Add the Final Layers and Bake

Evenly distribute the buffalo chicken mixture, thinly sliced red onions, and banana peppers over the cheese. Top with the remaining mozzarella. Drizzle the remaining three tablespoons of blue cheese dressing and another one to two tablespoons of buffalo sauce over the pizza. Bake for 13 minutes.

Create the Perfect Crust

While the pizza is baking, combine the melted butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder in a small bowl. After 13 minutes, carefully remove the pizza from the oven and brush the butter mixture over the crust. Return it to the oven and bake for another 2-3 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Garnish with fresh chives, red pepper flakes, and parsley before slicing and serving.

A Taste of Buffalo, New York 🇺🇸: The Birthplace of Bold Flavors

Buffalo Chicken Pizza finds its roots in Buffalo, New York, the same city famous for inventing the original Buffalo wings. This region is known for its passionate food culture, where spicy and tangy flavors dominate local cuisine. Situated near the Great Lakes, Buffalo’s hearty comfort foods are designed to warm you up during its chilly winters. This pizza captures that same spirit, bold, comforting, and irresistibly flavorful, representing America’s love for fusion-style comfort food.

Additional Tips for Making This Recipe Better

Having made this pizza countless times, I’ve picked up a few tricks that really make a difference.

• I can’t stress this enough: shredding your own mozzarella is a game-changer. The way it melts is so much better than the pre-shredded kind, giving you that perfect cheese pull.
• If your pizza dough is cold and keeps shrinking back when you try to roll it out, just let it rest on the counter for about 15-20 minutes. Room-temperature dough is much more cooperative.
• Don’t skip the garlic butter crust! It’s a small step that adds a huge amount of flavor and makes the pizza feel like it came from a gourmet pizzeria.
• I like to use a rotisserie chicken to save time. It’s already cooked and seasoned, so all I have to do is shred it. It makes this a super quick weeknight meal.

How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe?

If you want to enjoy this pizza like locals from Buffalo do, pair it with crisp celery sticks, carrot sticks, and a side of blue cheese or ranch dressing, the classic combo found in every Buffalo eatery. Add a chilled glass of local craft beer or root beer for that true New York-style pizza night. Whether served at a cozy game-day party or an outdoor summer picnic, it’s a flavorful journey straight to Buffalo, New Yor,k the home of the legendary buffalo flavor.

Nutritional Information

Here is a general look at the nutritional values for one slice of this pizza.

• Calories: 278 kcal
• Protein: 17g
• Carbohydrates: 29g
• Fat: 11g

Make Ahead and Storage

This pizza is great for leftovers, and a little prep can make assembly even faster.

Storing: Store any leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will meld together, and it’s just as delicious the next day.

Freezing: You can freeze leftover slices for up to 3 months. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, or place them in a freezer-safe bag.

Reheating: To restore the pizza’s crispy crust, place cold slices on a baking sheet and cover loosely with foil. Bake in an oven preheated to 275°F for about 25-30 minutes. This slow reheating method prevents the pizza from drying out.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

There are so many reasons to add this buffalo chicken pizza to your regular dinner rotation.

• Incredible Flavor Fusion: The spicy kick from the buffalo sauce is perfectly cooled down by the creamy blue cheese or ranch dressing, creating a balanced and addictive taste.
• Easy to Customize: Whether you prefer ranch over blue cheese, want to add more veggies, or need to adjust the spice level, this recipe is incredibly easy to adapt to your liking.
• Perfect for Any Occasion: It’s quick enough for a weeknight dinner but also special enough for a Friday pizza night or a game-day party with friends.
• Better Than Takeout: This homemade version lets you control the quality of the ingredients, and the result is a fresh, delicious pizza that easily rivals your favorite restaurant’s.