Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza Delight
This Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza Delight is a tantalizing take on traditional buffalo chicken pizza, crafted from scratch to elevate your pizza night. With a tangy, homemade sauce blending the flavors of tangy ranch, spicy hot pepper sauce, and roasted garlic, your taste buds will dance with delight. The combination of tender pulled chicken, sweet shallots, and three kinds of gooey cheese creates a symphony of flavors that harmonize beautifully. It's far superior to delivery options and perfect for weeknights when you crave something delicious yet simple to prepare. So roll up your sleeves, gather your loved ones, and experience pizza perfection in just a few enticing steps!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
23
Ingredients
Ingredients
Pillsbury thin pizza crust
1 (11 ounce) package (unrolled)
Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning Mix
1 teaspoon
garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon
olive oil
1 teaspoon (for brushing and drizzling)
parchment paper
1 sheet
tomato sauce
8 ounces
unsalted butter
3 tablespoons (cubed)
Louisiana hot pepper sauce
3 tablespoons (such as Frank's)
garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon
grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup (divided)
boneless chicken breasts
8 ounces
salt
to taste
pepper
to taste
reserved pizza sauce
1/4 cup (from the sauce mixture)
slivered shallot
1 cup (raw)
whole bulbs of garlic
2 (roasted)
olive oil
1-2 teaspoons
sliced Vermont white cheddar cheese
5-6 ounces
sliced provolone cheese
5-6 ounces
grated mozzarella cheese
5-6 ounces
grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons
Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing
1/4 cup
red pepper flakes
to taste (optional)
Instructions
1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) with the pizza stone or baking stone placed in the center of the oven to heat from a cold start.
2
Prepare the garlic by cutting off the tops of the garlic bulbs, drizzling them with a little olive oil, wrapping them in foil, and baking for one hour. Once baked, allow the garlic to cool and squeeze the roasted cloves from their skins.
3
On a sheet of parchment paper, unroll the pizza crust. Sprinkle it with Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning Mix and garlic powder. Fold the dough in half to distribute the seasonings evenly, then work it into a ball and let it rest in a warm, draft-free area.
4
In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the tomato sauce, unsalted butter, Louisiana hot pepper sauce, and additional garlic powder. Stir frequently for about 15 minutes to enhance the flavor.
5
Flatten the boneless chicken breasts between plastic wrap with a meat mallet, season both sides with salt and pepper, then coat with 1/4 cup of the prepared pizza sauce.
6
Cook the chicken in a skillet over moderate heat for about 15 minutes or until fully cooked. Let it rest for 5 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces. Sauté the slivered shallots in the same pan until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
7
Stir the remaining 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the leftover pizza sauce.
8
Once the pizza dough is warm, begin stretching it gently from the center outward. Form it into a 12-inch round by pressing and rolling it on the parchment paper. If it resists stretching, allow it to rest longer in a warm place.
9
Slide the parchment with the dough onto your preheated pizza stone and parbake for about 5 minutes, until gently puffed and blistered.
10
Remove the pizza crust and brush it lightly with olive oil to prevent sogginess. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the crust, leaving about an inch around the edge.
11
Layer the white cheddar and provolone slices over the sauce, then evenly distribute the chopped chicken, sautéed shallots, and squeezed roasted garlic cloves. Finish with a generous layer of shredded mozzarella and a dusting of extra Parmesan.
12
Carefully transfer the pizza back onto the baking stone and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
13
Once cooked, drizzle with Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing and sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired. Slice and serve hot, sharing the love with family and friends!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza Delight?
It is a homemade pizza featuring a tangy sauce made from ranch seasoning, spicy hot sauce, and roasted garlic, topped with pulled chicken, shallots, and three types of cheese.
What type of crust is used for this recipe?
The recipe calls for one 11-ounce package of Pillsbury thin pizza crust.
How do you season the pizza dough?
Unroll the crust on parchment paper and sprinkle it with Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning Mix and garlic powder. Fold the dough to distribute the seasonings and let it rest.
How do I roast the garlic for the pizza?
Cut the tops off two garlic bulbs, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and bake at 400°F for one hour. Squeeze the cloves out once cooled.
What are the ingredients for the buffalo pizza sauce?
The sauce consists of tomato sauce, unsalted butter, Louisiana hot pepper sauce, garlic powder, and grated Parmesan cheese.
How long should the pizza sauce simmer?
Combine the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat and stir frequently for about 15 minutes to enhance the flavor.
How is the chicken prepared for the pizza?
Flatten boneless chicken breasts with a meat mallet, season with salt and pepper, coat with sauce, and cook in a skillet for 15 minutes before chopping.
What kind of hot sauce is recommended?
The recipe suggests using Louisiana hot pepper sauce, such as Frank's RedHot.
How should I cook the shallots?
Sliver the shallots and sauté them in a skillet until softened, which takes about 3 to 4 minutes.
What three cheeses are used on this pizza?
The pizza is layered with Vermont white cheddar slices, provolone slices, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
How do I stretch the dough into a 12-inch round?
Gently stretch the dough from the center outward on parchment paper. If it resists, let it rest longer in a warm place.
What is the purpose of parbaking the crust?
Parbaking the dough for 5 minutes helps it puff and blister, ensuring a sturdy base for the heavy toppings.
How do I prevent the pizza crust from getting soggy?
After parbaking, brush the crust lightly with olive oil before spreading the sauce to create a moisture barrier.
What oven temperature is required for baking?
The oven should be preheated to 400°F (200°C).
Should I use a pizza stone?
Yes, a pizza stone or baking stone is recommended. Place it in the center of the oven and let it heat from a cold start.
How long does the final pizza take to bake?
Once the toppings are added, bake the pizza for approximately 15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
What should I drizzle on the pizza after it is cooked?
Drizzle the finished pizza with Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing.
Can I add spice to the finished pizza?
Yes, you can sprinkle red pepper flakes over the pizza if desired.
How much chicken is needed for this recipe?
The recipe requires 8 ounces of boneless chicken breasts.
How many shallots are needed?
You will need approximately 1 cup of slivered raw shallots.
Do I need to grease the pizza stone?
No, the recipe suggests using a sheet of parchment paper to slide the dough onto the stone.
How much Parmesan cheese is used in total?
The recipe uses 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan divided into the sauce and an additional 2 tablespoons for dusting the top.
What makes this pizza 'Ultimate'?
Its 'ultimate' status comes from the combination of a scratch-made buffalo-ranch sauce, roasted garlic cloves, and three different melted cheeses.
Is this recipe suitable for a weeknight?
Yes, it is designed to be simple to prepare while offering a flavor profile superior to standard delivery options.
What is the serving size for this pizza?
While specific nutritional servings aren't listed, it makes one 12-inch round pizza suitable for sharing.
Can I use different ranch seasoning?
The recipe specifically recommends Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning Mix for the best flavor match.
How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?
Cook the chicken in a skillet for about 15 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature where it is no longer pink.
What is the first step in the instructions?
The first step is to preheat the oven to 400°F with the pizza stone placed inside from a cold start.
How long does it take to roast the garlic bulbs?
The garlic bulbs need to bake for one hour in the oven to become soft and roasted.
How should the pizza be served?
Slice the pizza and serve it hot immediately after drizzling with ranch dressing and red pepper flakes.