Starting August 24, Donatos Pizza is permanently adding two chicken pizzas to its menu — the Buffalo Chicken Dip Pizza and the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza — both anchored by a reformulated housemade ranch that replaces the brand's previous packaged condiment. The Columbus, Ohio-based chain is offering a free ranch sample with every large pizza ordered for a limited time, framing the sauce as the centerpiece of the launch rather than a supporting detail.
The Ranch Reimagined
The new ranch is made fresh in-house with real buttermilk and served in dipping cups instead of single-serve packets — a deliberate operational shift that signals quality positioning. The move aligns with broader restaurant menu premiumization trends seen across the pizza and fast-casual segments, where operators are upgrading foundational condiments and house sauces to differentiate from commodity competitors. Ranch has held the top spot among U.S. salad dressings since 1992, and according to Forbes, 75% of Americans say they like or love it — a consumer attachment Donatos is directly leveraging.
"Ranch isn't just a condiment anymore, it's a craze, and we wanted Donatos Pizza to lead it instead of chase it," said Kevin King, President and CEO of Donatos Pizza. "Our new Ranch gives guests the elevated, house-made version of something they already can't get enough of, paired with two new chicken pizzas built to show it off."
What's on Each Pizza
The Buffalo Chicken Dip Pizza layers Boneless Chicken Wings with Hot Chicken Rub, jalapeños, Gorgonzola crumbles, and a Mariachi spice mix over Alfredo sauce and shredded provolone, finished with a mild wing sauce drizzle — with the new ranch served on the side for dipping and heat relief. The Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza takes a cleaner, more familiar build: sliced chicken breast, freshly cut Roma tomatoes, crispy bacon, and a Romano cheese blend on Donatos' Famous Thin crust, finished with a ranch drizzle. The two pies are engineered to serve different flavor preferences within the same chicken-and-ranch occasion.
"Pairing it with the Buffalo Chicken Dip and the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizzas gives guests two completely different ways to experience the new sauce: savory and creamy on one side, spicy and cooling on the other," said Jodie Conrad, Chief Marketing Officer of Donatos Pizza.
Operator Context
The permanent menu additions reflect a deliberate innovation strategy for a brand operating more than 177 franchise locations plus over 250 non-traditional placements — including select Red Robin restaurants. For franchise operators, permanent menu items carry different margin and training implications than limited-time offers, and the in-house ranch preparation adds a modest but meaningful prep step. Chains across the pizza and fast-casual beverage and food space have increasingly used elevated sauces and dips as a low-cost mechanism to drive perceived value and repeat visits without heavy discounting. The free ranch sample promotion serves a dual purpose: introducing current guests to the reformulation while generating trial data the brand can use to measure uptake ahead of any future sauce menu expansion.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
