Ingredients

Alright, let’s start with what you’ll need to make this glorious pizza. Gather these ingredients, and trust me, you’re about to have one seriously tasty dinner.

For the pizza dough:

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (yup, that little packet is all you need to get the dough going)
1 teaspoon sugar (just a tiny sweet touch to help the yeast rise)
¾ cup warm water (think bath water warm, like 110°F—not too hot or too cold)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin, if you’ve got it)
1 teaspoon salt
A pinch of garlic powder (optional, but adds flavor to the dough)

The chicken topping:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs if you’re feeling fancy)
1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing the chicken)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (don’t skip this—it adds so much flavor)
1 teaspoon paprika (just a touch for that smoky kick)
Salt and pepper to taste (you know the drill)
1 tablespoon butter (for that buttery richness, duh)

For the pizza toppings:

1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled (freshly cooked bacon is always better than pre-made, trust me)
1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded, because that’s how you make a pizza)
½ cup cheddar cheese (shredded for extra melty goodness)
½ cup ranch dressing (you can use store-bought, or homemade if you’re feeling adventurous)
1 tablespoon fresh parsley (for garnish, totally optional but makes it pop)

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Okay, before anything, you’ve gotta get the dough going. I know, I know, waiting for dough to rise sounds like a hassle, but trust me, it’s totally worth it.

Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Stir it a bit, and let it sit for about 5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it gets all bubbly and frothy. If it doesn’t foam, your yeast might be dead, and you’ll need to get fresh stuff. No biggie—just try again.
Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine your flour, olive oil, and salt. Slowly pour in the yeast mixture and stir it together until a dough starts to form. You might need to use your hands at this point—go for it, get messy!
Knead the dough: Dump the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for about 5-7 minutes. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a splash of water. The goal is a smooth, elastic dough.
Let it rise: Form the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let it rise for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size. Go ahead, take a nap while it does its thing. You’ve earned it!

Step 2: Prepare the Chicken and Bacon

Now that the dough’s doing its thing, let’s focus on the chicken and bacon. Honestly, this is the part where things start smelling amazing in the kitchen.

Cook the chicken: Heat up the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season both sides of your chicken breasts with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Once the pan is hot, add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. When it’s done, remove it from the pan, and let it rest for a minute or two. Then, chop it into bite-sized pieces. Pro tip: If you’ve got leftovers from last night’s chicken dinner, even better!
Cook the bacon: While the chicken’s cooking, grab another skillet and cook up your bacon until it’s crispy and golden brown (about 5-7 minutes). Drain it on a paper towel to soak up the grease. Once it’s cooled down, crumble it into smaller bits. Honestly, bacon makes everything better, so feel free to go a little overboard here.

Step 3: Assemble the Pizza

Okay, the fun part! All the components are ready, and now it’s time to put it all together. Let’s face it, assembling a pizza is the most satisfying part of the process.

Preheat your oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F. You want it super hot to get that crispy crust.
Shape the dough: Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air bubbles. Then, roll it out on a floured surface to your desired size—round, square, doesn’t matter. The key here is to get it thin enough that it’ll cook up crispy, but thick enough to hold all those toppings. Go ahead, toss it in the air like a pizza pro if you’re feeling fancy!
Add the ranch dressing: Spread a generous layer of ranch dressing over the dough. Don’t be shy with this, folks. Ranch is the MVP of this pizza, so slather it on like you mean it. You’ll want it to cover the dough completely.
Add the chicken and bacon: Layer your cooked chicken pieces and crumbled bacon evenly on top of the ranch dressing. You want every bite to have that perfect balance of flavors, so distribute it nice and even.
Add the cheese: Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top. Honestly, the more cheese, the better, right? You’ll be thanking me when it’s all bubbly and melted.

Step 4: Bake and Enjoy

Time to let the oven do its magic. Your pizza’s about to get crispy, cheesy, and completely irresistible.

Bake the pizza: Slide your pizza onto a baking sheet or pizza stone, and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is all bubbly and slightly browned. Keep an eye on it—no one likes burnt pizza (unless you’re into that, but let’s not get weird).
Garnish and serve: Once your pizza’s out of the oven, let it cool for a minute or two. Sprinkle some fresh parsley on top for a pop of color (totally optional but looks so good). Slice it up, grab a cold drink, and get ready to dig in.

Why You’re Gonna Love This Pizza

Okay, let’s talk about why this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is a total winner:

Comfort food at its finest: Bacon. Chicken. Cheese. Ranch. It’s like all your favorite comfort foods on one crispy crust. Honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with that combo.
Super easy to make: Even if you’re not a pizza pro, this recipe is foolproof. From the dough to the toppings, it all comes together pretty quickly. The hardest part is waiting for the dough to rise (which you can totally multitask around—hello, Netflix!).
Customizable: Not feeling chicken? You can totally swap it out for sausage or even steak. Or if you want to skip meat altogether, load it up with veggies. The ranch and bacon combo will still be bomb.
Leftovers are even better: If you’ve got any pizza left over (which, let’s face it, is rare), it tastes even better the next day. Just pop it in the oven for a few minutes to crisp it up, and you’ve got yourself a tasty lunch.

A Few Tips for Making It Quicker (Without Skimping on Flavor)

If you’re short on time, no worries. Here are a few tips to speed things up without losing any of that mouthwatering goodness:

Use store-bought dough: Not ashamed to admit it—I love a good shortcut. If you don’t have time to make dough from scratch, buy some premade pizza dough from the store. It works just fine, and no one will judge you.
Cook chicken ahead of time: You can cook the chicken earlier in the day (or even the night before) and store it in the fridge. That’ll shave off a good 10 minutes from your prep time.
Pre-cooked bacon is a thing: If you’re in a real rush, grab pre-cooked bacon. It’s not quite as crispy as fresh, but it’ll still add all that delicious flavor.

FAQs About Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

What toppings are on Domino’s chicken bacon ranch pizza?

Domino’s Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is pretty similar to the homemade version we just made (but hey, it’s Domino’s, so they’ve got their own twist). Their pizza typically comes topped with grilled chicken, crispy bacon, mozzarella cheese, and, of course, a drizzle of creamy ranch dressing. It’s a perfect combo of savory, smoky, and cheesy, with the ranch dressing bringing it all together in the most delightful way. It’s the kind of pizza that makes you go, “Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”

Do you put ranch on pizza before or after cooking?

Great question! You’ll want to put the ranch on before cooking—just like how you spread pizza sauce on your dough. The ranch dressing helps give the pizza that creamy, tangy flavor that makes Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza stand out. When you bake it, the ranch gets all melty and infused into the crust, making each bite a perfect balance of cheesy, bacon-y, and ranch goodness. Just make sure you don’t go overboard (unless you really love ranch, then I say go for it!).

What does the chicken and bacon ranch melt have?

If you’re talking about the Chicken Bacon Ranch Melt (like the one you can grab from Subway), it’s a super simple yet mouthwatering sandwich. Typically, it’s made with tender grilled chicken, crispy bacon, melted mozzarella cheese, and ranch dressing, all tucked into a warm, toasted hoagie roll. It’s a sandwich that screams comfort food, packed with smoky bacon, juicy chicken, and that rich ranch sauce. It’s basically the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza…but, you know, in sandwich form.

Can I use ranch instead of pizza sauce?

Yep, you can totally swap ranch for traditional pizza sauce! In fact, ranch is the star of Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza, giving it that creamy, tangy kick that’s perfect with the chicken and bacon. It’s a fun twist on the classic, and it works so well. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even experiment with a combo of ranch and marinara sauce for a unique flavor fusion! But if you’re all about the ranch vibes, go ahead and spread that goodness all over your dough—you won’t regret it!

Wrapping It Up

And there you have it! Your very own Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza, homemade and totally worth the effort. Seriously, if you make this, I promise your taste buds will be doing a happy dance. It’s crispy, cheesy, and packed with all the flavors you love.

So, grab your ingredients, get cooking, and let me know how it goes! I’m sure you’ll be making this one again and again—trust me, it’s that good. And hey, if you want to change it up, just have fun with the toppings. The sky’s the limit when it comes to pizza!

Looking for More Delicious Recipes?

If you’re loving the vibe of this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza, you’re in for a treat! I’ve got a bunch of other mouthwatering recipes that’ll have you coming back for seconds (and thirds, no shame!). For a spicy twist, check out my Cajun Shrimp Pasta—it’s got just the right kick to make your taste buds dance. Or, if you’re in the mood for something creamy and indulgent, give my Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta a try—it’s loaded with garlic goodness and cheesy perfection. Looking for a light and fresh option? You can’t go wrong with this Chicken Salad Chick recipe—it’s the perfect balance of crunchy and creamy. And if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, don’t miss out on this Salmon Sushi Bake—a sushi-inspired dish that’ll have you hooked in no time. Seriously, there’s something for everyone here!

Bon appétit!