Pizza is a beloved food for many, offering a tasty combination of dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings. However, it is also commonly known that pizza can be high in calories, especially large pizzas with extra toppings. If you are watching your calorie intake, you may be wondering just how many calories are in a large chicken bacon ranch pizza.
What is Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza?
Chicken bacon ranch pizza is a popular pizza variety that typically consists of the following toppings:
- Chicken – Often grilled or breaded chicken breast chunks
- Bacon – Chopped bacon or bacon bits
- Ranch dressing – Either drizzled over the top or used as a sauce base instead of traditional pizza sauce
- Cheese – Usually a blend of mozzarella and cheddar
In addition to the protein-packed toppings of chicken and bacon, the cool and creamy ranch dressing offers a tangy, flavorful contrast to the melted cheese. You’ll also often find this pizza layered with the usual pizza toppings like a tomato sauce base and sliced onions.
Calories in a Large Pizza
To determine how many calories are in a full large chicken bacon ranch pizza, we first need to know how many calories are in the basic components of a large pizza:
- Pizza dough – The dough base of a 12-14 inch large pizza crust contains around 200-300 calories, depending on the thickness of the crust.
- Pizza sauce – 1/4 cup of pizza sauce or tomato base contains around 60 calories.
- Cheese – A large pizza is typically covered with around 2 cups of shredded cheese blend. 2 cups of a mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend contains roughly 700-800 calories.
This gives us a starting point of around 960-1160 calories for a cheese pizza before any additional toppings.
Calories for Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Toppings
Now let’s factor in the extra toppings that make this a chicken bacon ranch pizza:
- Chicken – A large pizza may contain around 1 cup of diced, breaded chicken. 1 cup of breaded, cooked chicken contains approximately 530 calories.
- Bacon – 4-6 slices of bacon or 1/4 cup bacon bits adds an estimated 180-270 calories.
- Ranch dressing – Drizzled ranch dressing contributes about 200-400 calories depending on amount.
Adding it up, the estimated calorie totals are:
- Pizza dough and sauce: 260-360 calories
- Cheese: 700-800 calories
- Chicken: 530 calories
- Bacon: 180-270 calories
- Ranch: 200-400 calories
In total, a large chicken bacon ranch pizza contains approximately 1,870 – 2,360 calories.
How Many Slices in a Large Pizza?
The number of calories in a full large pizza is quite high, but to determine the calories per slice, we need to know how many slices come in a large pizza. Most large pizzas are cut into 8 slices.
Dividing our total calorie estimates by 8 slices gives us:
- 1 slice of a large chicken bacon ranch pizza has 234-295 calories
So each individual slice of a chicken bacon ranch pizza contains over 200 calories.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
While chicken bacon ranch pizza is a higher calorie food, there are some ways you can adjust the toppings and preparation to reduce the calorie count:
- Use lighter chicken breast pieces rather than breaded chunks.
- Go easy on the bacon or skip it altogether.
- Use a lighter ranch dressing or drizzle sparingly.
- Ask for a thin pizza crust rather than a thick, doughy crust.
- Load up on veggies – onions, tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms can all add flavor without many calories.
- Request half the cheese or replace some cheese with lower-calorie options.
You can also reduce your portion by eating just 1-2 slices of pizza rather than an entire large pie!
Nutrition Facts for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
Here is the full nutrition info in a large chicken bacon ranch pizza based on a standard 8 slice pie:
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 2134 | 106% |
| Carbohydrates | 233g | 78% |
| Protein | 98g | 196% |
| Fat | 108g | 166% |
| Saturated Fat | 42g | 210% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | |
| Cholesterol | 285mg | 95% |
| Sodium | 4928mg | 207% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 233g | 78% |
| Dietary Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugars | 8g |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet of 2,000 calories. A general daily goal is to limit calories, sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and added sugars.
Key Takeaways on Calories in Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
- A full large chicken bacon ranch pizza contains around 1,870 – 2,360 total calories.
- Each slice of a large pizza has 234-295 calories.
- You can reduce calories by using lighter ingredients, loading up on veggies, and limiting portion size.
- Chicken bacon ranch pizza is high in fat, sodium, and cholesterol compared to general nutrition recommendations.
Other Questions about Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza Calories
How many calories in a chicken bacon ranch pizza slice?
One slice of a large chicken bacon ranch pizza contains 234-295 calories on average.
How many calories in a Domino’s chicken bacon ranch pizza?
According to Domino’s nutrition information, one slice (1/8 of a 14″ large chicken bacon ranch pizza) from Domino’s contains around 240 calories, 9g fat, 790mg sodium, and 25g carbs.
What about calories in a Pizza Hut chicken bacon ranch pizza?
Per Pizza Hut, a slice (1/8 of a 14″ large pie) of their Ultimate Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza has 340 calories, 16g fat, 920mg sodium, and 33g carbs.
Can I make a lower calorie chicken bacon ranch pizza at home?
Yes, you can reduce the calorie count of chicken bacon ranch pizza by preparing it at home and adjusting the ingredients. Use light cheese, reduced-fat ranch, plenty of veggies, and thinner crust. Portion size control can also help reduce overall calorie intake.
What is a healthy low calorie alternative to chicken bacon ranch pizza?
Some lower calorie options that have a similar flavor profile to chicken bacon ranch pizza are:
- Veggie pizza with light ranch dressing instead of sauce
- BBQ chicken pizza made with chicken breast, onions, and reduced-fat cheese
- Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil
Loading your pizza up with vegetable toppings instead of higher calorie meats and cheeses can help substantially reduce the calorie count while still offering lots of flavor.
The Bottom Line
Chicken bacon ranch pizza is definitely a higher calorie food, especially if you eat multiple slices or an entire large pie. A full large pizza contains around 2,000 calories while a single slice has over 200 calories. Lightening up on higher calorie ingredients like cheese and bacon and watching your portion size can help reduce the calorie intake from this pizza favorite.
