Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pizza Instant Pot

Buffalo chicken pizza is full of flavors from spicy and creamy buffalo sauce, spicy chicken, and homemade pizza dough. Make the delicious buffalo chicken in just 5 minutes cook time. Using the Instant Pot cook the buffalo chicken, then layer the prepared sauce, cooked chicken, toppings, and cheese on the homemade pizza crust. Bake until brown and bubbly, outcome is a gourmet topping pizza the whole family will definitely enjoy. Recipe includes cooking the chicken in the Instant Pot with stepwise pictures, tips and stove top method given, recipe for homemade pizza dough link from the blog with easy proofing tips using Instant Pot and counter top method given.

This creamy buffalo chicken pizza is one of my signature pizza recipe, and it is a winning meal with my family, and friend. I’ve been making homemade pizza for many years now, and this buffalo chicken pizza in particular has amazing taste, and flavors, very different taste from the regular topping pizza, I am sure you’ll love it too!

The pizza dough recipe is very easy and quick to make at home, proofing the dough using Instant pot is a bliss, recipe link to pizza dough can be found below. I usually make the dough when ever I have time or on the weekend, and refrigerate the dough, and bake the pizza for weeknight dinner in no time. Cooking the chicken takes only five minutes in Instant Pot, so topping can also be prepared in few minutes, then why wait to make this yummy topping?

Pre cut the chicken strips, freeze it, cook later, and save preparation time

Having pre-measured cut chicken strips in the freezer to easily grab for recipes like this is a time saver. Pre cut the chicken and freeze it in a zip lock, thaw for 30 minutes and use it in the recipe. If you don’t have time, then microwave for few minutes until slightly thawed.

Cook the chicken ahead of time and use it later and storing suggestions

Completely cook the chicken as mentioned in the recipe below, and cool down completely. Store the chicken in a freezer safe zip lock and freeze it. Thaw the frozen chicken for 3o minutes or microwave until the chicken is slightly thawed and add it directly on your pizza with other toppings ( make sure to remove the ice from the frozen chicken before using it, else pizza might become soggy from the water in the chicken). This way the buffalo chicken topping is ready to be used on the pie in no time.

What can I make with this cooked buffalo chicken other than making pizza?

Buffalo chicken can be used in many recipes in different ways, It is one of the most delicious flavor you can eat. Use the cooked buffalo chicken in the following dishes ,

• buffalo chicken lasagna
• Pulled buffalo chicken sandwiches or wraps
• Simply add them in your favorite pasta, soups, salads, rolls
• Buffalo chickens flatbreads
• Buffalo chicken enchiladas, taquitos, burritos, quesadillas, rice bowls, and the list goes on.

How to make the base buffalo sauce and the chicken more spicy?

Adjust the spice to your desired amount of heat, add more sauce than the mentioned quantity in the recipe. I used Frank’s RedHot Sauce in this recipe, but you may use other buffalo/ hot sauce that will match your taste. For added spiciness add red chili flakes, and thinly sliced jalapenos on your toppings. This sauce can be used in any recipe which calls for buffalo / hot sauce, or simply drizzle over spicy dishes to enhance the overall flavor.

What can I use instead of uncooked chicken?

You can use the rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, shred the chicken and add use it instead of chicken strips. Add the shredded chicken in the butter and hot sauce in a pan, and sauté until the chicken is coated with sauce ( note – you don’t have to pressure cook the chicken).

Customize the toppings

• You can add blue cheese crumbles with mozzarella cheese used in this recipe, or add any one cheese you prefer. Both the cheese tastes equally good. Other cheese like provolone or fetta cheese can also be used.
• Add toppings: tomatoes slices, scallions, onion, parsley, spinach, mushrooms or add any other toppings you prefer.

How to make the creamy buffalo base sauce for the pizza?

Mix together one tablespoon of ranch, and two tablespoons of hot sauce. Add the sauce to the pizza base, make sure to smear the sauce till the edge of the folding (see below picture for reference). This ratio of sauce is perfect for us, you may add more or less depending on your taste and spice.

What to do if you don’t have red hot sauce or ranch?

Buffalo sauce can be replaced with tomato sauce or pizza sauce on this pie. Skip the buffalo sauce making step and add traditional pizza sauce / tomato sauce to the base of the pizza. I highly recommend to use Frank’s red hot sauce to make the buffalo chicken and the sauce, gives the best taste on the pizza.

Bakeware I use to bake my pizza in the oven

I used Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware, Pizza Pan, 16-inch ( in the picture above). Recommend this bakeware because , it is heavy – gauge steel ( doesn’t lift up while baking in temperatures), Nonstick ( the dough doesn’t stick to the pan after the pizza is baked), and most importantly the pan is perforated ( “Perforation circulates air to give homemade pizzas a perfectly cooked / browned crust”). Note – if you’re not having this pan, use a baking pan similar to this. Highly recommend using pan with holes ( like the one in the picture above)

Do I need to pre bake my pizza ?

I do not Pre bake my crust , before adding the topping ( Crust comes out perfectly browned , and great texture even without pre baking it ). It is not mandatory to cook the pizza dough first in most cases. With a correct recipe, correct oven temperature, and by not overloading the pizza, the dough will cook perfectly fine without having to cook it first.

How to prevent the pizza from getting soggy ?

• Make sure to add the right quantity of sauce and not overload it, it will become soggy then. Evenly spread sauce over the pizza base just until the base is covered with sauce ( don’t pour the sauce over). Use a spoon / spatula to spread the sauce, start by adding 2 to 3 tablespoons depending upon the pizza size and add more if required.
• Try adding less wet ingredients like pineapple, tomatoes, sauces, spreads, any fruits or anything that is pulpy and juicy.
• Adding right amount of cheese also matters, make sure to thinly shred the cheese. If using store brought shredded cheese buy the thinly shredded cheese. Start by adding 1/2 cup to 1 cup depending upon the size of the pizza and add more if required. Spread the cheese evenly on the toppings, just until it is covered ( don’t overload). I usually add both mozzarella and parmesan cheese on my pizzas.
• Make sure to bake at the right temperature ( use the external oven thermometer to check the accurate temperature readings).

What temperature to bake the pizza and for how many minutes?

Add your favorite toppings, and bake at 450 degree F / 235 C for 9 to 10 minutes or until the crust turns brown (few minutes extra) , and until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly (cheese will start to get light brown – then remove pizza from oven). Use an external oven thermometer to find the exact oven temperatures – I highly recommend using one for perfect baking. Bake the pizza in the middle rack of the oven so the heat is evenly distributed.

How to make homemade pizza dough?

This homemade pizza dough is an easy NO FAIL recipe, made with basic pantry ingredients. Freshly baked pizza crust with this dough will take your crust to the next level, the texture and taste is so delicious! Proofing the dough using the Instant Pot speeds up the process, without needing to wait hours for the dough to double in size. Enjoy your pizza nights sooner than ever before! Please read the recipe all the way through for a complete guide which includes different baking options, stepwise pictures, how to proof the dough using the Instant Pot in various possible modes, and counter top method given ( how to proof without the Instant Pot). Please check the link below.

• Easy Pizza Dough Recipe Using Instant Pot & Counter Top Method

How to store a baked pizza, leftovers and how to reheating it ?

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in a zip lock or air tight box . Stack the slices inside the zip lock, make sure to completely cool down the pizza to room temperature before stacking / refrigerating it. Pizza stays good up to two to three days in the fridge or more if if each slice is packed separately instead of stacking it.

Best way to reheat pizza without getting soggy is to use a air fryer and reheat . Secondly, heat a griddle / tawa,  microwave the refrigerated pizza slices for 10 to 15 seconds if it is still cold ( if the pizza is at room temperature, then you can skip microwaving and directly heat on the griddle) , then place the microwaved pizza on the hot griddle , cover and heat for few seconds and remove immediately. This way taste and texture of the crust will remain the same as freshly made pizza.

Other Baking Recipes ,  I’ve listed few below, all recipe has stepwise picture’s and video given,

• French Macarons With Mango Buttercream – complete tips , with FAQs and step by step picture explanation given to make the perfect macarons.
• Easy Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies Recipe
• Eggless Black Forest Cake
• Eggless Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

How to cook the chicken on the stove top? ( Please scroll down for the Instant Pot version)

• Cut chicken breast into thin one inch strips and 1/2 inch thickness. Ingredients and quantity remains the same as mentioned below in the recipe card.
• Heat pan or a wok in medium flame, add butter, once the butter is melted, add chicken and sauté for two minute and cover the pan with lid and cook for two minutes or until the the chicken is not pink in color. Cooking time will vary depending on the quantity of chicken.
• Now add hot sauce and sauté for a minute or until the sauce coats the chicken. Switch off the flame, remove the pan from the stove to prevent the sauce from getting burnt.

Note – I suggest to use Instant Pot for cooking the chicken than stove top. By pressure cooking the chicken in hot sauce enhances the flavor, and the texture of the chicken is perfect and juicy. Also cooking time on the Instant pot will remain the same even if you double/ triple the recipe.

Step by step pictures of how to make the buffalo chicken pizza using the Instant Pot

For making the buffalo chicken – Cut the chicken into one inch strips and 1/2 inch thickness, butter, Frank’s RedHot Sauce , and salt. Toppings and sauces to make the pizza – prepared homemade pizza dough , ranch , Frank’s RedHot Sauce , chop carrots into juliennes , chop celery into 1/8th to 1/4-inch half-moons crosswise , and Shredded Mozzarella Cheese.

Cook the chicken in the Instant Pot

I used Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 8 Quart for cooking. Place the inner vessel into the Instant Pot. Press SAUTE mode on LOW power. In CUSTOM settings, SET Timer for TWO minutes. Now Press START. Once it is ready and preheating is done. Add butter, once the butter melts add chicken , sauté for ONE minute, Press CANCEL . Now add salt and hot sauce, mix well.

Close the LID of the Instant Pot . Press the PRESSURE COOK mode on HIGH power, and SET CUSTOM TIMER to ONLY “ONE” minutes ( or ZERO minutes in Other instant pot model ). SEAL the Pressure Valve. Switch off the KEEP WARM MODE ( light should not be on in the keep warm mode). Now press START. After the pressure cooking is done. Press CANCEL . Then do QPR (quick pressure release) by moving quick release switch from SEAL TO VENT (By pressure cooking the chicken in hot sauce enhances the flavor, and the texture of the chicken is perfect and juicy. Also cooking time on the Instant pot will remain the same even if you double/ triple the recipe).

After the steam is released, open the lid, Now Press SAUTE mode on “LOW” power. In CUSTOM settings, SET Timer to ONE minute. Now Press START, sauté until the sauce reduces ( make sure to keep stirring to prevent the sauce from getting burnt). Press CANCEL , and remove the chicken pieces from the pot. Split the chicken into two equal portions ( if you are making two pizzas).

Make Two 11″ round – Medium Regular Crust Pizzas

Preheat the oven first to 450 degree F / 235 C ( Use an external oven thermometer to find the exact oven temperatures – I highly recommend using one). Start working with one dough – Flour the surface , place the dough on the floured surface, and sprinkle some flour on the dough as well. Use a long rolling pin ( smear some flour on the pin too , to prevent the dough from sticking) , and WITHOUT GIVING MUCH PRESSURE on the dough , roll it out to form round shape and to your desired thickness. Transfer the rolled dough to the baking pizza pan.

This is optional – To give the pizzeria look to your pizza , then apply very little water to the edges of the rolled pizza using your fingers, gently stretch the edge of dough and fold little (approximately 1/4 inch) to give that puffed edge look. Fold the entire edges (see below picture for reference) , then press the edges gently to seal it.

Then use a fork to gently prick on the entire base of the dough (see the picture below for reference). Pricking holes in the rolled-out pie dough allows the steam to escape while it’s baking , and helps to cook the dough evenly.

For making the base buffalo sauce

Mix together one tablespoon of ranch, and two tablespoons of hot sauce. Add the sauce to the pizza base, make sure to smear the sauce till the edge of the folding (see below picture for reference). This ratio of sauce is perfect for us, you may add more or less depending on your taste and spice.

Add the toppings and sauces to the pizza

Arrange one portion of the cooked chicken pieces evenly on the sauce, then add 25 grams of sliced carrots , followed by 25 grams of celery. Finally cover the toppings with 150 grams of cheese. ( Optional – you can retain few pieces of chicken, carrots, celery, and add it at the end, after adding the cheese – will look colorful on the top after the pizza is baked ). Repeat the process with the second dough, and add the remaining toppings, chicken, and sauces on the second pizza.

Bake the Pie

Bake one pizza at a time. Place the pan in the preheated oven ( on the middle rack of the oven) , and bake for 9 minutes ( keep an eye from 8 minutes) or until the crust turns brown on the sides / edges , and top of the cheese melts (cheese will start to get light brown – then remove pizza from the oven).

Let the pizza sit for 5 minutes , then transfer the whole pizza to a cutting board . Use a pizza cutter and slice pizza into 6 six slices ( as shown in the picture below). Serve the pizza , you can drizzle some ranch or hot sauce on the top before serving (optional) .