Here’s my take on buffalo chicken pizza pinwheels, with all the flavors you love from buffalo wings rolled into an easy-to-make appetizer using pizza dough, shredded chicken, cheese, and that classic spicy buffalo sauce.
These pinwheels are always a hit at our game day parties. I usually make a double batch because they disappear so quickly. Nothing beats watching everyone’s faces light up when I bring these to the table, especially when served with some cool ranch dipping sauce on the side.
Why You’ll Love These Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
- Quick party food – These pinwheels come together in just 30-40 minutes, making them perfect for last-minute gatherings or game day celebrations.
- Crowd-pleasing flavor combo – The classic buffalo chicken taste wrapped in pizza dough is always a hit – it combines everyone’s favorite foods into one amazing bite.
- Easy preparation – With just a handful of simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you can create these impressive-looking appetizers without any fancy techniques.
- Make-ahead friendly – You can prepare these pinwheels in advance and simply warm them up when guests arrive, making your hosting duties much easier.
What Kind of Ground Chicken Should I Use?
For these pizza pinwheels, you’ll want to pay attention to which ground chicken you grab at the store. Regular ground chicken (made from a mix of white and dark meat) tends to work better than lean ground chicken breast alone, since the little bit of extra fat helps keep the filling moist and flavorful. If you can only find ground chicken breast, that’s okay too – just be careful not to overcook it. When shopping, look for packages that are pink in color without any gray spots, and try to use the ground chicken within a day or two of purchasing for the freshest results. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even ask your butcher to grind chicken thighs for you, which will give you the juiciest results.
Options for Substitutions
Need to switch things up with this recipe? Here are some handy substitutions you can try:
- Ground chicken: You can easily swap ground chicken with ground turkey, or even shredded rotisserie chicken. If using rotisserie chicken, just skip the cooking step and mix it directly with the buffalo sauce.
- Buffalo sauce: If buffalo sauce is too spicy, try mixing equal parts hot sauce with melted butter for a milder kick. You can also use BBQ sauce or a mix of hot sauce and ranch dressing for a different flavor profile.
- Pizza dough: Store-bought crescent roll dough or puff pastry works great here. Just remember that puff pastry will give you a flakier texture and might need different baking times.
- Mozzarella cheese: Feel free to use monterey jack or a Mexican cheese blend. For extra tang, try mixing in some crumbled blue cheese with any of these options.
- Blue cheese dressing: Not everyone loves blue cheese – ranch dressing makes a perfect alternative for dipping. You could also try honey mustard or even extra buffalo sauce.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest challenge when making buffalo chicken pinwheels is managing the moisture content – cooking the ground chicken thoroughly and draining any excess liquid is crucial to prevent soggy pinwheels that fall apart. Another common mistake is overloading the pizza dough with filling, which can make rolling difficult and cause the ingredients to spill out during baking – stick to an even, thin layer leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. When it comes to the buffalo sauce, start with less and add more gradually, as too much sauce can make the dough wet and hard to work with – you can always serve extra sauce on the side. For the best results, chill the rolled pinwheel log for 15-20 minutes before slicing, which helps maintain clean, neat spirals and prevents the filling from squishing out when you cut it.
What to Serve With Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels?
Since these buffalo chicken pinwheels pack some heat, it’s nice to serve them with cooling side dishes that balance out the spicy kick. A crisp celery and carrot stick platter is perfect, especially with extra blue cheese dressing for dipping (just like classic buffalo wings!). If you’re serving these at a party, add a fresh ranch pasta salad or a simple coleslaw to round out the spread. For a complete game day spread, put out some cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes to add some fresh crunch that helps cool down the buffalo sauce.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These tasty pinwheels stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to place a paper towel in the container to absorb any extra moisture and keep them from getting soggy. They make great leftovers for lunch boxes or quick snacks!
Freeze: Want to make these ahead? You can freeze the assembled but unbaked pinwheels for up to 2 months. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge before baking according to the recipe.
Warm Up: To perk up leftover pinwheels, pop them in the oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes or until they’re warm through. The microwave works too, but the texture won’t be as nice. I suggest serving any extra blue cheese dressing on the side rather than storing it with the pinwheels.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-25 minutes |
| Total Time | 30-40 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2000-2200
- Protein: 140-160 g
- Fat: 100-120 g
- Carbohydrates: 180-200 g
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken (16 oz)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 pizza base or dough (approximately 13-14 oz)
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- Blue cheese dressing for dipping
Step 1: Prepare the Buffalo Chicken Filling
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a medium-sized skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
Add in the chicken and sauté for about 5-8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, crumbling it as you go for even cooking.
Once the chicken is ready, add in the garlic, salt, pepper, and buffalo sauce, sautéing for a few more minutes until the mixture is well combined.
Remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside to cool slightly.
Step 2: Prepare the Pizza Dough
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
Make sure the dough is even to ensure uniform cooking.
Step 3: Assemble the Pinwheels
Evenly spread the cooled buffalo chicken mixture across the top of the pizza dough.
Ensure an even distribution for consistent flavor in every bite.
Layer the cheese on top of the buffalo chicken mix.
Step 4: Roll and Cut the Pinwheels
Start at one end of the rectangle and carefully roll it towards the other end, keeping the roll as tight and even as possible.
Once rolled, use a sharp knife to cut the roll into 1-inch thick pinwheels.
Place the pinwheels face-side up on a greased baking sheet, spacing them a couple of inches apart to allow for even baking.
Step 5: Bake the Pinwheels
Bake the pinwheels in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and bubbly.
Don’t worry if some of the cheese melts out during baking; it will become crunchy and add extra deliciousness.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Once baked to perfection, remove the pinwheels from the oven and serve them warm.
Pair these delightful bites with bleu cheese dressing for dipping and enjoy your flavorful creation!