Position an oven rack in the lowest third of the oven and preheat to 500°F (260°C) for at least 30 minutes with a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet inside. If using a home oven that won't reach 500°F, preheat to the highest setting available.

Lightly dust a pizza peel or the back of a baking sheet with cornmeal or semolina. Brush the pizza dough all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil to help brown the crust and prevent sticking.

Stretch or roll the pizza dough to a 12–13 inch round (or desired shape) about 1/4 inch thick, leaving a slightly thicker edge for the crust.

Buffalo Chicken Topping

Cook and shred the chicken

Place the chicken breast in a small saucepan and add 2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, reduce heat to low, cover, and poach for 10–12 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove from liquid and let rest 5 minutes, then shred finely with two forks or chop into bite-sized pieces.

Make buffalo sauce

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/2 cup hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon light brown sugar (optional). Stir until butter is melted and sauce is glossy and slightly thickened, about 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Toss the shredded chicken in the warm buffalo sauce until evenly coated. Taste and adjust: add a pinch more salt or a few extra drops of hot sauce if desired.

Sauce & Cheese

Assemble the pizza

Spread the ranch dressing in an even, thin layer over the stretched dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border for the crust. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the ranch layer. Distribute the buffalo-coated shredded chicken evenly across the cheese. Sprinkle 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese over the top if using, and scatter thin slices of red onion if desired.

Brush the exposed dough edge with a little olive oil for extra browning.

Baking & Finishing

Bake the pizza

Slide the assembled pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet. Bake at 500°F (260°C) for 8–12 minutes until the crust is golden and blistered and the cheese is melted and bubbling. Baking time will vary with oven temperature and dough thickness—start checking at 7 minutes.

Remove the pizza from the oven and let rest 2–3 minutes. Finish with a light drizzle of extra hot sauce if desired and sprinkle chopped cilantro or parsley for color.

Slice into 6–8 slices and serve immediately with extra ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side.