Buffalo and Ranch Chicken Pizza
Buffalo and Ranch Chicken Pizza is one of our favorite fall dinners. I start this dinner by making homemade pizza dough. Then, I top the dough with Buffalo sauce and chicken, fresh mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese and bake the pizza. Finally, I top the pizza with blue cheese, onions, tomato, chives, and Herby Ranch Sauce. We like this pizza for several reasons. First of all, I like that the components of this pizza can be made ahead of time. In fact, I often make the day up to two days ahead of time, because the dough flavor improves over time. Secondly, I like that this recipe makes enough for two pizzas. Thirdly, I like that this recipe makes extra Herby Ranch Sauce, that I can use as salad dressing. That means, it really feeds a crowd. And, lastly, we all love the spicy chicken, the crispy crust, and the creamy ranch sauce.
The Equipment I Used
- A Bread Machine- I used my bread machine to make the pizza dough. But I’ve also attached a recipe for hand kneaded dough below.
- A Food Processor- Use this to make the Herby Ranch Sauce. If you don’t have a food processor, you could just stir this sauce well in a bowl.
- Pizza Stones – I like to bake my pizzas on pizza stones, but you can also bake them on sheet pans.
- A Food Scale- For perfect dough results, be sure to weigh your flour.
The Ingredients Needed for Buffalo Chicken and Ranch Pizza
- Chicken- I always use Bell and Evans chicken, because it’s the tenderest.
- Yeast- Be sure to use active dry yeast, not quick rising yeast.
- Hot Sauce- I like to use Frank’s hot sauce to make the Buffalo sauce.
How I Made my Pizza
- First, I made the dough. It’s really important to measure the ingredients accurately.
- Next, I roasted the chicken. Take care to not overcook the chicken.
- Finally, I added all the toppings to the pizza and baked it off.
If you like Buffalo chicken, you need to try this spicy and delicious Buffalo Chicken and Ranch Pizza.
Buffalo and Ranch Chicken Pizza
Homemade pizza dough topped with Buffalo chicken and sauce, blue cheese, and herby ranch dressing.
Equipment
- Bread Machine
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese, shre
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp. each extra virgin olive oil and unsalted butter
- 4 whole garlic cloves
- ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 cup chopped red onion
- 1½ cups chopped tomatoes, with seeds and juice removed
- ¼ cup minced chives
- ⅔ cup crumbled blue cheese
For the Bread Machine Pizza Dough:
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cups all purpose flour (360g)
- ¼ cup fine cornmeal (30g)
- 1 tsp. each honey and salt
- 2 tsp. active dry yeast
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp. honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp. hot sauce
For the Herby Ranch Sauce:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp. each minced dill, parsley, and chives
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic
Instructions
- Begin by making the pizza dough: In your bread machine, add all the ingredients in the order suggested by your bread machine. Select the dough cycle, and let it run the full cycle.
- While the dough rises, bake the chicken: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the breasts in a small baking dish and top with the garlic, butter, oil, salt and pepper. Bake for twenty minutes. With a fork, crush the garlic and rub it all over the chicken. Cut the chicken in bite size pieces, and set aside..
- While the chicken bakes, make the Herby Ranch Sauce: Simply combine all the ingredients in the food processor and process until smooth.
- Next, make the Buffalo Sauce: In a three-quart saucepan melt the butter on low heat. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until combined. Stir in the chopped chicken.
- When the dough cycle ends, preheat the oven to 425 degrees, and add the pizza stones if you're using them. On a floured board, divide the dough into two balls.
- Line your pizza peels or baking sheets with parchment paper, and using your fingers press each ball of dough into a 12-inch circle on the papers. Brush each circle with olive oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise for thirty minutes.
- Spread the pizza with the Buffalo Sauce and chicken, and then add the cheeses. Bake for fifteen minutes. Sprinkle on the chives, tomato, and red onion. Drizzle with as much of the Herby Ranch Dressing as you like.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Hand Kneaded Pizza Dough
Pizza dough mixed with a wooden spoon and kneaded by hand.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (110 degrees)
- 1 tsp. honey
- 2¼ tsp. active dry yeast
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a measuring cup, stir together the water and honey. Stir in the yeast. Let this mixture sit for five minutes.
- In a large bowl, stir together the bread flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and the oil, and stir until it's all combined. Dump it on to a floured board, and knead it for 8 minutes.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl, and turn the dough until it's all covered in oil. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place for one hour.
- Divide the dough in half and roll into two circles. Place on two pizza pans, or pizza peels. Brush with olive oil and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for thirty minutes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
