Neapolitan Style Chicken Ranch Pizza
About the recipe
This Neapolitan Style Chicken Ranch Pizza is loaded with juicy seasoned chicken, creamy homemade ranch sauce, melted mozzarella, and fresh vegetables on a crispy homemade pizza crust. Made with a soft airy dough and flavourful ranch base, this easy homemade pizza recipe delivers restaurant style flavour with a perfect balance of creamy, cheesy, and savoury goodness. Perfect for pizza nights, family dinners, or weekend comfort food.
Neapolitan Style Chicken Ranch Pizza
Ingredients
For Pizza Dough:
- 240 g All-purpose flour (2 cups)
- 160–165 g Warm water (⅔ cup + 1 tbsp)
- 3.5 g Instant yeast (1 heaped tsp)
- 8 g Sugar (2 tsp)
- 6 g Salt (1 tsp)
- 21 g Olive oil (1 ½ tbsp)
For Ranch Sauce:
- 4 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 4 tbsp Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 Minced garlic clove
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- Fresh or dried dill (optional)
For Chicken Toppings:
- 200–250 g Chicken breast or thigh (cut small)
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- ½–1 tsp Paprika or cayenne
- ½ tsp Black pepper
- ½–1 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
For Other Toppings:
- 1 Sliced capsicum
- 1 Sliced small onion
- 150–200 g Shredded mozzarella
- Flour + fine semolina (for shaping)
Instructions
- Begin by activating the yeast. In a bowl, mix warm water, instant yeast, and sugar together, then let it rest for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly, indicating that the yeast is properly activated.
- Prepare the pizza dough by adding flour, salt, and olive oil into the yeast mixture. Mix until a rough, shaggy dough forms, then cover and let it rest for 30 minutes so the gluten can begin developing.
- While the dough rests, cook the chicken. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the chicken pieces with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt until they are fully cooked and well-seasoned with a rich, savoury flavour.
- Strengthen the dough using the stretch-and-fold method. Lightly oil your hands, stretch the dough gently, and fold it over itself. Rest for 30 minutes, then repeat this process for a total of 3 rounds to build structure and elasticity.
- Prepare the homemade ranch sauce by combining mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, dill, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy, then refrigerate until ready to use so the flavours can deepen.
- Preheat your oven along with a pizza tray or stone to 250°C, ensuring it is extremely hot for a crisp, restaurant-style base.
- Shape the pizza dough on a lightly floured and semolina-dusted surface. Gently stretch it by hand, keeping the center thin while preserving airy, raised edges for a perfect crust.
- Assemble the pizza by spreading a generous layer of ranch sauce over the base, then evenly top with cooked chicken, sliced capsicum, onions, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Carefully transfer the pizza onto the hot tray or stone and bake for 8–12 minutes, or until the crust turns golden and crisp while the cheese melts and becomes bubbly.
- Once baked, drizzle extra ranch sauce over the hot pizza before slicing. Serve immediately for the best flavour, texture, and freshness.
Tips & Tricks
Use a Piping Hot Oven: A fully preheated oven and hot tray or pizza stone help create a crisp pizza base and beautifully browned crust.
Do Not Overwork the Dough: Handle the dough gently during shaping to preserve air bubbles and achieve a light airy crust.
Chill the Ranch Sauce: Allowing the ranch sauce to chill briefly helps the flavours develop and creates a richer taste.
Season the Chicken Well: Properly seasoned chicken adds bold savoury flavour that balances the creamy ranch sauce perfectly.
FAQs
Can I prepare the dough ahead of time? Yes you can refrigerate the dough overnight for even better flavour development.
How do I make the pizza crust crispier? Use a very hot oven, preheated tray or stone, and stretch the dough thin in the center.
Can I make the ranch sauce ahead of time? Yes, the ranch sauce can be made up to 2–3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. In fact, resting it helps the flavours develop and makes it even tastier.
Can I prepare this pizza in advance? You can prepare the dough, chicken, and ranch sauce ahead of time, but assemble and bake the pizza fresh for the best texture and flavour.
