This all-purpose Grilled Buffalo Chicken recipe is perfect for grilling outside or on a stovetop grill pan and has all the flavor of your favorite chicken wings. You are going to love this easy and versatile chicken recipe.
Suitable for Keto, Paleo, Whole30, Gluten Free and Low Carb diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Buffalo sauce is tangy, spicy, and so addictive. It pairs so well with chicken, and you may find yourself craving that zippy flavor. Buffalo Chicken Wings are a favorite recipe, but they take a long time to prepare and are messy to eat.
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Breasts is easy to prepare and has the flavor of your favorite game day food without the hassle or the mess. There is no need to marinate the chicken in advance, so this recipe comes together quickly, making it a great choice for an easy weeknight dinner.
It’s easy to adjust the heat level (see the variations below), so everyone in your family will love this chicken recipe.
Plus, you can use leftovers to make these loaded Buffalo Chicken Fries or a flavorful Buffalo Chicken Salad.
Table of Contents
Why Make This Recipe
- Easy Prep – Only 5 minutes of prep since you don’t have to marinate the chicken breasts.
- Quick Cooking – Chicken cooks quickly, so you can get dinner on the table fast.
- Versatile – Enjoy this as a stand-alone dish, or enjoy the chicken in other dishes.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken – We’ve selected boneless, skinless chicken breast today because it is so versatile. You can use any chicken cut, including bone-in breasts, chicken thighs, drumsticks, and wings. Just adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Smoked Paprika – If you are familiar with regular paprika, you will love smoked paprika. It has a subtle smoke flavor which is perfect for grilled dishes.
- Onion Powder and Garlic Powder – These aromatic species add so much flavor to the chicken.
- Salt and Pepper – Seasoning food enhances its flavor, and salt and pepper are found in most savory recipes.
- Buffalo Sauce – Look for sauces labeled buffalo sauce rather than regular hot sauce. It’s much thicker than hot sauce and has a rich flavor.
How To Make Grilled Buffalo Chicken
Get the full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Season both sides of the chicken with the dry seasonings and set aside.
- Combine 1 tablespoon of melted butter with the hot sauce. Reserve a third of a cup for later, and brush the rest onto the chicken breasts.
- Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, basting with the sauce as the meat cooks.
- When the chicken is done, use a clean brush and brush the cooked chicken with the remaining buffalo sauce. Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken.
Tips For Success
- Season the chicken before brushing with the sauce.
- Look for buffalo sauce rather than just hot sauce.
- Watch for flare-ups as you grill the meat and the sauce drips onto the flames.
- After the meat has cooked, use a clean brush to add the reserved sauce to avoid salmonella contamination.
- Discard any sauce that touched raw chicken.
- Always cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
- Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken.
Variations
- Top It Off – Top the chicken with sliced green onions, blue cheese, or bacon crumbles. Sliced jalapenos and a drizzle of ranch or blue cheese dressing are also tasty.
- Make It Mild – Use more butter and less buffalo sauce for a mild level of heat.
- Make It Spicier – Eliminate the butter for a slightly spicier sauce. For even more heat, add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper when seasoning the chicken.
Budget-Friendly Tips
- Buy Chicken on Sale – Look for sales on chicken or purchase in bulk and freeze for later.
- Use Other Cuts of Chicken – Thighs are often less expensive than breasts and would taste great in this recipe.
- Leave Out the Butter – Adding butter to the buffalo sauce adds a creamy flavor, but you can leave it out.
- Use Leftovers in Other Recipes – Shred the leftover chicken and use it in other recipes.
- Double Up – Cook a double batch and freeze the leftovers for later use.
Prep Ahead And Storage
- Prep Ahead – To prep in advance, season the chicken, place in a dish or plastic bag, then cover with two-thirds of the buffalo sauce. Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.
- Store – Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze these;
- Shred or slice the chicken and let it cool.
- Transfer into an airtight container or freezer bag.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
Meal Prep
- Make a double batch of chicken to use in meals all week long. This chicken is perfect for easy lunches and can be added to salads or wraps.
- Freeze chicken for easy meal prep later on.
FAQs
We love to cook this chicken on our outdoor grill. If you don’t have a grill or the weather isn’t cooperating, you can cook this chicken in a grill pan on your stove or bake it in the oven. Bake the chicken at 375 degrees F / 190 degrees C for 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
This chicken is perfect as a stand-alone main dish. Add a cooked vegetable or a side salad to make it a complete meal. Top the chicken with crumbles of blue cheese and slices of green onion, and serve with a side of ranch dressing for dipping. You can also make this into a grilled buffalo chicken sandwich, salad, tacos, and many other dishes.
More Recipes You May Like
- Buffalo Chicken Fries.
- Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.
- Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip.
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip.
- Grilled Huli Huli Chicken.
- Baked Ranch Chicken.
Serving Suggestions
Weight Watchers Points
There is just 1 Blue Plan SmartPoint in one serving of this.
Get The Buffalo Chicken Grilling Recipe:
Grilled Buffalo Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 (162g) chicken breasts skinless and boneless
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
- butter
- 1 cup (236ml) buffalo hot sauce divided
- Serving suggestion – ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, and celery sticks.
Instructions
- Combine onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper and season both sides of the chicken breasts.
- Mix together melted butter and buffalo sauce, then use two-thirds to brush both sides of the breasts (reserve the rest for later).
- Preheat grill to medium and oil the grill grates, or heat an oiled grill pan on the stovetop.
- Grill chicken for about 5–7 minutes per side, basting with hot sauce as it cooks, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
- When done, brush the remaining portion of the buffalo sauce over the chicken, and allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Season the chicken before brushing with the sauce.
- Watch for flare-ups as you grill the meat and the sauce drips onto the flames.
- After the meat has cooked, use a clean brush to add the reserved sauce to avoid salmonella contamination.
- Discard any sauce that touched raw chicken.
- Always cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
- Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken.
- Storage – store cooked chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- There is just 1 WW Blue Plan SmartPoint in a serving of this.
Wanda
We love buffalo chicken wings so I know we will love this recipe!
Biana
Such an easy chicken recipe! Love how flavorful it is.
Courtney
We love eating that Buffalo flavour without the fuss of making wings. Our favourite way to eat this is with Caesar salad. Soo good!
Michelle
Such a delicious and tasty recipe, we love having it with tortillas in wraps for lunch!
Michelle
We love a bit of spice, so this recipe is perfect! Can’t wait to make it