This Cast Iron Buffalo Chicken Pizza is loaded with cheese, chicken, and Buffalo sauce goodness all piled on top of a chewy crispy crust. It’s easy to make and packs a ton of flavor, what more could you want? Serve it with ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

Buffalo chicken pizza in a cast iron skillet with celery, ranch, and blue cheese crumbles in the background.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The soft pillowy crust with a crispy bottom provides the perfect chewy bite.
The Buffalo sauce and chicken topping packs a ton of flavor! And, the freshly grated mozzarella cheese adds all that yummy cheesiness you want in a pizza.
Baking it in a cast iron pan not only helps to crisp the crust but also makes the whole pizza-making process much easier.

Recipe Ingredients

Pizza Dough – This recipe calls for my homemade pizza dough. It’s the perfect partner to the loaded toppings you’ll be adding on top. But, if you want to use premade storebought that will work too.

Chicken – I use boneless skinless chicken breast in this recipe but thighs would work too. If you have the time, season the chicken with the seasoning blend earlier in the day so it can more fully penetrate the chicken.

Hot Sauce – I recommend using Frank’s Hot Sauce for that traditional Buffalo taste but you can substitute with your favorite hot sauce.

Mozzarella – As always, I highly recommend that you grate your cheese rather than buying pre-shredded. Bagged cheese is coated to prevent it from sticking together which also hinders how well it melts.

How To Make Cast Iron Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Note: Full list of ingredients, their amounts, and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Step 1:

First, you’ll need to prepare the pizza dough about 2 hours before making the pizza.

Step 2:

Place the bottom rack on the lowest level in the oven and the second rack high enough for the cast iron pan to fit between them. You want the pizza to be as close to the heat at the bottom as possible. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Step 3:

Oil the cast iron pan making sure to spread the oil all over the bottom and up the sides. You want the entire pan to be coated in a thin layer of oil.

Step 4:

Flip the dough out into the cast iron pan so that the oily side is up. Spread it out so that the dough is an even layer all the way out to the edges. Cover and place the pan on one of the turned-off burners on the stove while you make the buffalo chicken topping.

Pizza dough spread out in the bottom of a cast iron pan.

Step 5:

Mix together the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss the diced chicken in the seasoning mixture and set aside.

Diced chicken pieces topped with a seasoning mixture of garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 6:

In a pan, melt the butter. Add in the chicken pieces and cook until mostly cooked through. Then add the rest of the butter and hot sauce. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Diced chicken cooking in a pot with buffalo sauce.

Step 7:

Remove the chicken and set it aside. Spoon the sauce over the crust taking it almost completely to the edge.

Buffalo sauce on a pizza crust in a cast iron pan.

Step 8:

Sprinkle with two-thirds of the cheese. Top with the chicken pieces. Then, finish with the rest of the cheese.

Buffalo chicken pizza assembled in a cast iron pan and ready for the oven.

Step 9:

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through and bubbling. If you want the top to be more browned cook the pizza under the broiler for 2 minutes.

Items You May Need

12 Inch Cast Iron Pan

Tips & Tricks

Oiling the pan will make removing the pizza easier but you don’t want to add too much because it can make the crust soggy. Give the pan a light coating and remove any excess.
As always, I suggest shredding your own cheese for the best results.
Baking in the lowest part of the oven gives a nice crisp to the crust but it can leave the top with minimal browning. When the pizza is done baking, turn on the broiler and broil for about 2 minutes or until the top is as browned as you like. Just make sure to keep an eye on it!