Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Fresh pizza dough topped with ranch, extra saucy buffalo chicken, three kinds of cheese, including my favourite, smokey cheddar! and a house style “pizza seasoning”. The key to this pizza is baking it on a sheet pan at a high temp until the crust becomes just a little crisp and the cheese is melty. As soon as the pizza comes out of the oven, top it with more buffalo sauce, slice, eat, and ENJOY. Trust me, every last bite of this pizza is delicious and will leave you wanting more. It’s both savory and a touch spicy…the cheesy, saucy pizza that’s just perfect for a New Zealand winters night.
Ingredients
For the dough
2 cups high-grade flour
1½ teaspoons instant dried yeast
1½ teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon caster sugar
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon olive oil
For the toppings
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
1/2 cup buffalo sauce (homemade sauce in notes)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried dill
1/2 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, grated
1/2-1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1/3 cup ranch dressing (homemade sauce in notes)
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (optional)
1 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella
1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan
Instructions
TO MAKE THE DOUGH: Combine the flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Tip in the combined water and oil and bring together to make a soft shaggy dough. Tip onto a lightly floured bench and bring together with your hands. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
1. Position the oven rack in the upper 1/3 portion of your oven. Preheat the oven to 500° F. for at least 30 minutes before baking, preferably 1-2 hours ahead. If you have a baking stone, start preheating it.
2. Place the pizza dough on a lightly oiled quarter sheet pan. Gently press the dough until it covers most of the sheet pan. Cover and let sit while you prep the pizza.
3. In a bowl, combine the chicken, buffalo sauce, chives, parsley, and dill.
4. To make the herb seasoning. In a bowl, combine the cilantro/parsley, 1-2 cloves grated garlic, fennel seeds, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
5. To assemble. Grab the dough and spread on the ranch, you may not need it all. Add a drizzle of buffalo sauce if you'd like, then layer on the chicken and cheeses. Sprinkle the herb seasoning over top.
6. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, rotate the pizza, and bake another 3-5 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese has melted. Top the pizza with fresh cilantro, additional buffalo sauce and/or ranch. ENJOY!
Notes
Buffalo Sauce: Mix 1/2 cup hot sauce, 1/2 cup olive oil or melted butter, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon smoked, paprika, and a 1/2 teaspoon each onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a glass jar or measuring cup.
Ranch: Mix 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt or sour cream, 2 tablespoons buttermilk, 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and a pinch each of kosher salt and black pepper in a glass jar or measuring cup.
