Ah, pizza. that glorious Italian dish that has been adopted by cultures around the world. There are endless possibilities when it comes to topping a pizza, but one of the most popular variations in recent years has been spicy chicken pizza. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the history of this dish, as well as explore why it’s become so popular. We’ll also provide a recipe so you can make your own spicy chicken pizza at home!
The origins of spicy chicken pizza are a bit murky, but most food historians believe that the dish originated in the United States in the 1980s. The first recorded instance of spicy chicken pizza dates back to 1981, when Dominic Di Giacomo of Giacomo’s Pizzeria in Boston, MA added hot sauce to his chicken pizza recipe. The dish quickly became a hit with customers, who loved the combination of spice and chicken. While the exact origins may never be known, one thing is for sure: spicy chicken pizza is here to stay! Today, it can be found on menus all across the country.
So, what is it about this dish that has made it so popular? Well, for starters, it’s incredibly versatile. You can use any kind of hot sauce on a spicy chicken pizza, which means that there’s something for everyone. Additionally, the spice from the chicken can help to balance out the sweetness of the sauce and the saltiness of the cheese. And last but not least, it’s just plain delicious!
Why Do People Like Putting Spicy Chicken on Their Pizza?
There are two main reasons why people love spicy chicken pizza: the flavor and the heat. The spice from the hot sauce complements the flavors of the chicken and cheese perfectly, creating a delicious and addictive dish. And for those who like a little bit of heat with their food, spicy chicken pizza delivers every time.
What hot sauce do we prefer on our pizza?
As we said before, hot sauce on pizza is a natural combination. And the choice is very versatile. Honestly, we can’t pick just one. We make too many good hot sauces that work perfectly on pizza. But we will throw out our top three to make the perfect spicy chicken pizza:
The Bronx Hot Sauce Red – This one works because of the natural sweetness of the red peppers, which are more vine ripened than The Bronx Hot Sauce Green variety. As a result, the sweetness of the red sauce sits perfectly on the saltiness of the cheese. Definitely a top combination.
The Detroit Hot Sauce – We made the Detroit Hot Sauce inspired by the smokiness of the motor city. Our Chef put smoked chipotle peppers into the ghost pepper mix in order to bring out some of that smoky savoriness that ghost peppers by themselves wouldn’t have. The smokiness works perfectly on the pizza as well, especially if you get the crust nice and crispy.
The Oakland Hot Sauce – The raisins in this hot sauce add a really unique type of dried fruit sugar to the spiciness of this hot sauce. As a result, we like to think of it as almost a spicy balsamic vinegar, which for obvious regions, pairs perfectly with the italian ingredients in this homemade pizza.
How Do You Make Spicy Chicken Pizza at Home?
If you’re feeling inspired and want to try making your own spicy chicken pizza at home, you can get started with this recipe:
Ingredients:
-1 store-bought or homemade pizza crust
-1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
-1/2 cup tomato sauce
-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
-1/2 cup chopped cooked chicken
-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
-1/4 teaspoon onion powder
-1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
-1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
-1/4 teaspoon dried basil
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Step-by step instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, cayenne pepper, and olive oil. Set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Spread tomato sauce over dough. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Bake until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes. If desired, garnish with parsley leaves before serving. Enjoy!
Home-cooked pizzas are not only delicious but also fun to make! With this recipe for spicy chicken pizza, you can have a piping hot pie on your table in no time flat. So preheat your oven and get ready to enjoy a slice (or two) of homemade heaven!