Spicy Chicken Ranch Pizza

This is a crowd-pleasing pizza recipe. I’ve been making this pizza dough recipe for years and it is easy to make and fail proof. There is something about ranch sauce and spicy chicken that makes this such a winning combo. A bake along that includes this on the menu is hit in my kitchen 🙂

Pizza Dough

3.5 cups flour 

2 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 1/3 cup warm water

11g ( 2 tsp) active yeast (1 sachet instant yeast works too)

Add the yeast to warm water and set it aside for about 3 minutes. If you’re using instant yeast, you may add it directly to the flour.

In the bowl of a standing mixer or, fitted with a dough attachment, mix together the flour, salt, sugar and olive oil. Stir the yeast in the water to make sure it is all dissolved and add it to the flour mixture.

With the speed on medium, mix until everything is combined. Reduce the speed to low and mix for 10 minutes.

Oil a large bowl or you may use the same bowl that you knead the dough with olive oil and set aside. Place the ball of dough into the oiled bowl, seam side down and brush the tops of the dough with a little oil to stop them from drying out. Place a piece of plastic wrap on top of each bowl and place the dough into a warm place. Inside a microwave or an oven (oven turned off) works best.

During the summer, you may keep the bowl out in a warm not sunny spot to fasten the rise. Make sure you cover it tight to seal it and place a cloth over it so no air/dust gets in.

For the Toppings 

1 cup pickled jalapenos

1 cup cubed or shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 cup Ranch Sauce 

For the chicken:

2 large chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces

2 Tablespoons of your choice of chilli powder

½ tsp cumin powder

¼ tsp coriander powder

¼ tsp paprika

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp oregano and basil each

1/4 teaspoon salt

freshly ground pepper

1 Tablespoon olive oil

For the garlic-oil sauce:

4 Tablespoon olive oil

4 garlic cloves minced

a pinch of salt

To make the garlic oil sauce, finely mince 2 garlic cloves and add 2 Tablespoons olive oil along with a pinch of salt. Smoosh the garlic into the oil using the back of a spoon and set aside.

Chop a single chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and combine with the listed seasoning ingredients (which makes it a dry rub) in a bowl.

Sauté the chicken in a drizzle of oil over medium-high heat until slightly undercooked yet charred. Set aside until needed.

Preheat your oven on the highest heat. Place two baking pans in the oven and use that as your pizza stone. Get that heating in the oven. 

Punch the risen dough down and knead until smooth. Divide the dough into equal-sized dough balls and get the rolling out started.

Rolling the dough on parchment paper can be easier as it won’t stick as much. You can also bake the pizza directly on the parchment paper. Roll out into the desired thickness, thin crust is best.

Brush a thin layer of the garlic-oil sauce, topped with the chicken, cheese, and pickled jalapenos. Drizzle the ranch sauce in a zig-zag pattern. Place the ready-to-bake pizza on the hot baking pan. Be careful not to burn yourself. (an adult can do this)

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.

Serve immediately.

You can add mushrooms or olives as toppings too. But make sure you add only a max of 3 toppings.