There’s just something about the tangy kick and juicy tenderness that makes my Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe a total crowd-pleaser in my kitchen. It’s simple, fast, and packed with bold flavors that get everyone asking for seconds—trust me, this one’s worth the fuss.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
From my first attempt, this Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe impressed me with how quickly it comes together without sacrificing flavor. Plus, it hits that perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and smoky you’ll crave again and again.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just about 15 minutes of active cooking, great for weeknight dinners.
- Customizable Heat: You control how spicy it gets by adjusting the amount of glaze you add—perfect for all heat tolerances.
- Versatile Meal: It’s just as amazing on its own as it is in sandwiches, wraps, or salads.
- Built-in Flavor Layers: The marinade and glaze bring a combination of zesty, sweet, and smoky notes that keep things interesting.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient plays a role in making the Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe shine. The marinade works its magic to tenderize and infuse the chicken, while the glaze adds that signature punch you expect from buffalo-style dishes. When shopping, I recommend picking fresh, high-quality chicken breasts and grabbing Frank’s hot sauce for that genuine buffalo flavor.
- Chicken breasts: Pounding them thin ensures they cook evenly and stay juicy—no nasty dry spots here.
- Olive oil: Helps keep the chicken moist and keeps the skillet cooking smooth.
- Frank’s hot wings sauce: This is the star buffalo flavor; you can pick the original if you want milder heat.
- Honey: Balances out the heat and adds a lovely glaze shine that’s irresistible.
- Lime juice: Gives a fresh, tangy brightness that cuts through the richness beautifully.
- Spices (garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper): These provide a smoky, savory backdrop that turns simple chicken into a flavor-packed dinner.
Make It Your Way
I’m all about mixing things up depending on my mood or what’s in the fridge. This Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe really shines when you add your own twist—maybe more honey if you’re craving sweetness, or extra hot sauce if today calls for a serious kick.
- Variation: I once swapped the chicken breasts for thighs just to see how the extra fat would change things. The result? Even juicier, more flavorful bites that everyone loved.
- Dietary Modification: You can easily make this low carb by serving it over cauliflower rice or your favorite greens instead of bread or wraps.
- Seasonal Change: Try adding sautéed bell peppers or onions to the skillet for a colorful, veggie-packed version that’s just as delicious.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe
Step 1: Whisk and Marinate
Start by whisking up the buffalo marinade—hot sauce, honey, lime, and those beautiful spices that build layers of flavor. Reserve a little of this marinade for the glaze later! Toss your thinly pounded chicken breasts in the marinade and olive oil, then pop it in the fridge for at least 2 hours. From experience, overnight marination amps up the depth of flavor, but even a couple of hours works wonders.
Step 2: Prepare the Buffalo Glaze
Mix the reserved marinade with a touch more honey and lime juice to create your glaze. This glaze is the secret weapon that brings everything together at the end with that perfect sticky, spicy finish.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken on the Stovetop
Let the chicken sit out to lose the chill for about 15-30 minutes to help it cook evenly. Heat a non-stick skillet on medium-high until very hot, then add the chicken. Don’t poke or prod—just let it sear undisturbed for 3 to 5 minutes until it’s got that gorgeous golden crust. Flip the chicken, cover, and turn down the heat to medium. Cook for 5 to 7 more minutes until it’s cooked through. Let it rest before slicing—this keeps all those juicy flavors locked in.
Step 4: Glaze and Serve
Brush your chicken with the buffalo glaze to coat it generously or lightly, depending on your heat preference. This final touch gives your dish that show-stopping buffalo zing.
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve learned the magic really is in how you let the chicken rest after cooking and before slicing. This little pause locks in juiciness and makes the buffalo glaze stick even better.
- Marinate Longer: The deeper the marinade absorption, the bolder the chicken’s flavor—overnight if you can swing it.
- Don’t Rush Searing: Give the chicken time to develop a golden crust before flipping for that irresistible texture.
- Resting is Key: Let the chicken relax 5 minutes after cooking so juices redistribute and the glaze adheres beautifully.
- Adjust Glaze to Taste: Start with less glaze and add more if you want more heat—it's easy to customize.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe
Garnishes
I’m a sucker for fresh garnishes to brighten every bite. A sprinkle of chopped celery or green onions adds a fresh crunch, and a handful of crumbled blue cheese? That’s the buffalo chicken soulmate right there. Sometimes I throw on a little cilantro for a vibrant herbal kick too.
Side Dishes
I love pairing thisBuffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe with creamy mashed potatoes or buttery corn on the cob to balance the heat. For something lighter, a crisp kale salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette works wonderfully and adds a nice texture contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun dinner party twist, I’ve layered sliced buffalo chicken on toasted naan bread with a dollop of ranch, shredded lettuce, and thinly sliced radishes. It’s colorful, impressive, and super tasty—big hit every time!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover buffalo chicken stores beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. I usually slice it before storing to save time when reheating or packing lunches.
Freezing
I’ve frozen this recipe a few times, usually after cooking and glazing. Wrap the chicken tightly in foil and then a freezer bag to protect it. It keeps well up to 2 months and thaws quickly in the fridge overnight.
Reheating
To keep the chicken juicy when reheating, I pop it in a covered skillet over low heat just until warmed through. You can brush on a little extra glaze to rejuvenate that spicy-sweet kick before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can use frozen chicken breasts if you thaw them completely before marinating and cooking. Thawing ensures even cooking and helps the marinade penetrate properly.
The recipe starts with a flavorful but mild marinade; the heat level is easily adjusted by how much buffalo glaze you brush on at the end. So, you can make it as mild or spicy as you prefer.
Absolutely! Grilling adds a fantastic smoky flavor. Just preheat your grill to medium heat and cook the chicken 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through. Don’t forget to rest and glaze after grilling.
Classic sides like celery sticks, blue cheese dressing, and crispy potatoes are crowd favorites. You can also get creative with a fresh salad, roasted veggies, or tortillas for wraps—all complement the buffalo flavor wonderfully.
Final Thoughts
I really can’t recommend this Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe enough—it’s my go-to when I want big flavor without a big fuss. The balance of spice, sweetness, and smoky depth really lifts ordinary chicken into something special. Give it a try and I bet you’ll find it quickly becoming a weeknight staple or your secret weapon for casual get-togethers.
Print
Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Description
This Buffalo Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts marinated in a flavorful buffalo sauce made with Frank’s hot sauce, honey, and spices, then cooked on the stovetop or grill. It's perfect for sandwiches, wraps, salads, or tacos and allows you to customize the heat with a delicious honey-lime glaze.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2-3 chicken breasts pounded thin (approx. 1 pound)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Buffalo Marinade
- ¼ cup Frank’s hot WINGS Sauce for more heat OR Frank’s ORIGINAL Hot Sauce for less heat
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Buffalo Glaze
- Reserved marinade
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 ½ teaspoons lime juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Whisk together all the Buffalo Marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Measure out ¼ cup and add this portion to a shallow dish or freezer bag along with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the marinade mixture and toss evenly to coat. Refrigerate and marinate for 2 hours to overnight for best flavor.
- Make the Buffalo Glaze: To the remaining marinade, whisk in 1 tablespoon honey and 1 ½ teaspoons lime juice. Store the glaze in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Bring Chicken to Room Temperature: Before cooking, let the marinated chicken sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes, if time allows.
- Cook on Stovetop: Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the chicken and cook undisturbed for 3-5 minutes until nicely browned. Flip the chicken, cover the skillet, reduce heat to medium, and cook 5-7 more minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken and let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Brush with desired amount of glaze.
- Alternative Grilling Method: Preheat and grease the grill to medium heat, 375-450°F. Grill chicken undisturbed for 5-7 minutes per side until fully cooked (internal temperature 160°F). Remove, let rest 5 minutes, then brush with glaze.
Notes
- Watch the “how to make” recipe video at the top of the post for visual guidance.
- The chicken itself is flavorful but not very spicy without the glaze, so customize the heat by adding more or less glaze.
- Try tossing the cooked chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce for a different flavor twist.
- Buffalo chicken is great for sandwiches, wraps, salads, and tacos.
- Total time does not include marinating time, which can vary greatly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Leave a Reply