Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating. Lightly dust a pizza peel or baking sheet with 1–2 tablespoons flour. Stretch or roll the pizza dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface, leaving a slightly thicker rim for the crust. Brush the top lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil to help browning.

If you prefer a marinara base, spread 1/2 to 3/4 cup marinara sauce evenly over the dough leaving a 1/2-inch border. For a buffalo-style base, omit marinara and reserve marinara to offer on request.

Chicken & sauce

Cook and toss chicken in buffalo sauce

Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook chicken 4–6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and exterior is golden. Remove from pan and let rest 5 minutes, then slice thinly or shred.

In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over low heat, then stir in 3 tablespoons hot sauce until combined. Add the sliced or shredded chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Set aside. Reserve a small amount of plain chicken if guests request no sauce.

Cheese & toppings

Assemble pizza

If using marinara base, make sure sauce is spread. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce or oiled dough. Distribute the buffalo-coated chicken pieces evenly across the cheese. Scatter the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella over the chicken for even melting. Add thinly sliced red onion and dot with crumbled bleu cheese (about 1 ounce) across the pizza.

Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or put the baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 8–12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling and lightly browned. If the crust is browning too quickly, move the pizza to a higher rack or reduce oven temperature to 475°F (245°C) and extend baking time by a couple minutes.

Finish and garnish

Remove pizza from the oven and let rest 2–3 minutes. Sprinkle chopped scallions and parsley over the top. If guests request additional dressings, serve with ranch or extra bleu cheese on the side, or drizzle lightly over slices as desired.

To serve (optional dressings)

Slice pizza into 6–8 slices. Offer marinara, ranch, and bleu cheese dressing on the side so guests can choose. Note: the recipe includes bleu cheese crumbles on the pizza; additional bleu cheese dressing is optional for those who want extra.