Skip the tomato sauce tonight and try this bold, spicy Buffalo Chicken Pizza instead. It combines all the tangy, buttery satisfaction of hot wings with the cheesy comfort of a homemade pie, ready in just 30 minutes. I have perfected the sauce ratio so you get maximum flavor without a soggy crust.
Why This Recipe Beats the Rest
Most recipes simply dump hot sauce on dough, but that results in a sharp, unbalanced bite. The secret to this Buffalo Chicken Pizza lies in mixing the hot sauce with melted butter and garlic before tossing it with the chicken. This technique mimics an authentic wing coating and ensures every bite is rich rather than just spicy. You get restaurant-quality results using simple ingredients you likely have in your kitchen right now.
Jump to:
- Why This Recipe Beats the Rest
- Key Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- Top Tip
- Variations and Substitutions
- Storage and Reheating Tips
- What to Serve With This Recipe
- The Story Behind This Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Easy Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- Related
- Pairing
Key Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Note: See the Recipe Card below for full ingredient quantities.
Main Ingredients
Pizza Dough Store-bought dough works perfectly for a quick weeknight dinner, or you can use your favorite homemade recipe. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before stretching to ensure a pliable crust that puffs up beautifully.
Cooked Chicken Rotisserie chicken is my go-to time saver here because it stays tender in the high heat of the oven. You can also use leftover grilled chicken breast or poached chicken, provided it is shredded into bite-sized pieces for even distribution.
Buffalo Sauce Choose a cayenne pepper-based hot sauce like Frank’s RedHot for that classic flavor profile. Avoid using pre-made "wing sauce" if possible, as it often contains artificial thickeners that can separate weirdly during baking.
Mozzarella Cheese Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella is essential for this recipe. It melts into that stretchy, golden layer you see in the photos without releasing excess water that could make your Buffalo Chicken Pizza greasy.
Unsalted Butter Melted butter cuts the acidity of the vinegar in the hot sauce. It creates a velvety richness that mimics a true buffalo wing coating and helps the sauce cling to the chicken.
Optional Ingredients
- Blue Cheese Crumbles If you love the funk of blue cheese, scatter a small amount over the mozzarella before baking. It adds a sharp, salty contrast that pairs perfectly with the spicy sauce.
- Ranch Dressing A cool, creamy drizzle of ranch added after baking provides a necessary temperature and flavor contrast. It helps tame the heat and adds a professional visual finish.
- Green Onions Freshly sliced scallions add a crunch and a pop of color. They brighten up the heavy, cheesy flavors and make the final dish look chef-made.
Find Exact Measurements in the Recipe Card Below
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Preheat and Prepare
Crank your oven to 475°F (245°C) at least 20 minutes before you plan to bake. A super-hot oven is non-negotiable for getting that crispy, golden edge on your Buffalo Chicken Pizza while keeping the toppings moist.
Season the Chicken
Whisk the melted butter, garlic powder, and half of the buffalo sauce together in a medium bowl until smooth. Toss the shredded chicken in this mixture until every strand is coated in that glossy, orange-red sauce.
Shape the Dough
Stretch your room-temperature dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza stone. Push gently from the center outward to create a slightly thicker rim that will hold all that melted cheese.
Assemble the Layers
Brush the remaining buffalo sauce directly onto the dough to create a flavorful base layer. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the sauce, ensuring you get cheese all the way to the crust edge.
Add Toppings
Distribute the sauced chicken pieces over the cheese layer. Spread them out so that every slice gets a generous amount of meat without overcrowding the center.
Bake Until Golden
Slide the pizza into the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. You want the crust to be deep golden brown and the cheese to be bubbly and slightly browned in spots.
Finish and Serve
Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle with ranch dressing or blue cheese sauce. Scatter the sliced green onions over the top, slice, and serve while the cheese is still hot and stretchy.
Top Tip
- Avoid cold dough. Trying to stretch cold dough will result in it snapping back like a rubber band. Let it relax on the counter for at least 30 minutes before you start working with it.
- Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. Grating your own block of mozzarella takes two minutes and makes a massive difference in texture.
- Watch the sauce amount. While you want flavor, adding too much liquid sauce to the base can lead to a soggy bottom. The Buffalo Chicken Pizza gets most of its moisture from the cheese and chicken mixture, so keep the base layer thin.
- Use a pizza stone. If you have one, preheat your stone for an hour. This blasts the bottom of the crust with heat instantly, giving you that brick-oven crispness at home.
Variations and Substitutions
Spicy Buffalo Pizza Recipe
Kick the heat up a notch by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the butter mixture. You can also drizzle extra hot sauce over the finished pie for those who really love the burn.
Mild Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe
Mix two tablespoons of cream cheese into the hot sauce mixture before tossing with the chicken. This creates a milder, creamier topping that is great for kids or those who are sensitive to spice.
BBQ-Buffalo Hybrid
Swap half the hot sauce for your favorite BBQ sauce. This adds a smoky sweetness that complements the chicken and cheese beautifully, creating a unique flavor twist.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Refrigerator
Store leftover slices in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in foil for up to 3 days. This Buffalo Chicken Pizza actually tastes fantastic cold, but proper storage prevents the crust from drying out.
Freezer
Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. While fresh is best, this method works well for meal prep or emergency lunches.
Reheating
Reheat slices in a skillet over medium heat or in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 5 minutes. Never use the microwave, as it will turn the crust chewy and rubbery.
What to Serve With This Recipe
Crunchy Celery and Carrots
Serve a side of raw veggie sticks with extra blue cheese dip. The fresh crunch and water content help cool down your palate between spicy bites of Buffalo Chicken Pizza.
Crispy Green Salad
A simple Caesar salad or a garden salad with vinaigrette cuts through the heaviness of the cheese and meat. The acidity in the dressing balances the rich butter in the buffalo sauce.
Garlic Knots
If you have extra dough, make a quick batch of garlic knots. They are perfect for mopping up any extra ranch dressing or buffalo sauce left on your plate.
The Story Behind This Recipe
I created this Buffalo Chicken Pizza because my husband loves wings for game day, but I absolutely hate the sticky mess they leave behind. My goal was to capture that specific vinegar-butter tang of a wing without the hassle of deep frying or a pile of bones. The first time I made this, I made the mistake of using a tomato sauce base, which clashed horribly with the hot sauce and tasted confused.
After three attempts, I realized the key was treating the pizza topping exactly like wing sauce. By eliminating the red sauce entirely and using a butter-hot sauce emulsion, the flavor became authentic and bold. Now, we make this Buffalo Chicken Pizza almost every Friday night. It satisfies that spicy craving perfectly, and the cool ranch drizzle at the end provides that hot-cold contrast that makes restaurant food taste so good.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does pizza sauce go on buffalo chicken pizza?
No, traditional tomato sauce distracts from the buffalo flavor. A mixture of buffalo sauce and melted butter is the best base for a true Buffalo Chicken Pizza experience.
What toppings are on a buffalo chicken pizza?
The classic toppings are buffalo-sauced chicken, mozzarella cheese, and red onions or green onions. Many people also add blue cheese crumbles or a swirl of ranch dressing.
How do I stop my buffalo chicken pizza from being soggy?
Avoid overloading the crust with liquid sauce. Coat the chicken in the sauce first, and use only a thin layer of sauce directly on the dough to keep it crisp.
Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?
Yes, but you must cook it fully before putting it on the pizza. Raw chicken will not cook through in the short baking time and will release dangerous amounts of water onto the dough.
More Recipes You'll Love
If you enjoyed this spicy dinner, you should definitely try my Crispy Bang Bang Salmon Bites for another flavor-packed meal. For a fun party option, the Bang Bang Chicken Sliders Recipe is always a crowd pleaser. And if you are craving ultimate comfort food, check out my take on Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken.
Easy Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C) and set a rack in the center.
- Whisk melted butter, garlic powder, and half the buffalo sauce in a bowl.
- Toss the shredded chicken in the sauce mixture until evenly coated.
- Stretch the dough into a 12-inch circle on a parchment-lined sheet.
- Brush the remaining buffalo sauce lightly over the dough base.
- Top with mozzarella cheese and the sauced chicken pieces.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese bubbles.
- Drizzle with ranch and garnish with green onions before slicing.
Nutrition
Notes
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Pairing
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