Description
This Garlic-Ranch Chicken Pizza is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish combining homemade garlic-ranch sauce, tender shredded chicken, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and gooey mozzarella on a perfectly baked pizza crust. Whether baked in the oven or grilled for a smoky finish, it offers a delicious twist on classic pizza night, serving up to 8 people in just 17 minutes of cook time.
Ingredients
Pizza Base
- Dough for one large pizza
Cheese & Toppings
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
- 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
Garlic-Ranch Sauce
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 1/2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/8 teaspoon dill weed
- 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- Dash of onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Garlic-Ranch Sauce: In a bowl, thoroughly mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, garlic salt, dill weed, dried parsley flakes, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Spread Sauce on Dough: Evenly spread the prepared garlic-ranch sauce over the entire surface of the pizza dough, creating a flavorful base layer.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauced dough. Next, evenly distribute the shredded cooked chicken, crumbled bacon, and thinly sliced tomatoes on top. Finally, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over all toppings.
- Bake the Pizza: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Prepare Grill for Grilled Pizza Option: If grilling, oil the grill grates and preheat the grill to medium-low heat. Shape the pizza dough into long, slipper-shaped pieces suitable for the grill surface.
- Grill Pizza Crust - First Side: Brush one side of the shaped dough with olive oil and place it oil-side down on the grill. Cover the grill and cook for 2 minutes.
- Grill Pizza Crust - Second Side: Flip the dough, brush the newly exposed side with olive oil, and cook covered for another 2 minutes.
- Add Toppings to Grilled Crust: Remove the partially cooked crust from the grill, place it on a plate, and add the garlic-ranch sauce and all toppings as described before.
- Finish Grilling the Topped Pizza: Return the assembled pizza to the grill and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cheese melts and toppings are heated through.
Notes
- You can use store-bought pizza dough or homemade for this recipe.
- For a spicier kick, add crushed red pepper flakes to the garlic-ranch sauce.
- Make sure bacon is fully cooked and crispy before adding it to the pizza.
- If baking, placing the pizza on a preheated pizza stone may result in a crispier crust.
- When grilling, monitor heat closely to avoid burning the crust.
- This recipe can be adapted to smaller portions by halving ingredients.
