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Make this easy grilled buffalo chicken recipe with juicy chicken breasts, buttery buffalo sauce, and simple ingredients. Perfect for grilling season and weeknight dinners.
What Makes This Grilled Buffalo Chicken So Good
This grilled buffalo chicken recipe checks every box for an easy dinner. It is packed with bold buffalo flavor, comes together with very little prep work, and cooks up juicy and smoky right on the grill. It is one of those dependable recipes that disappear fast at the dinner table.
Buffalo wings will always have their place, but sometimes you want those same spicy, buttery flavors without the sticky fingers and pile of napkins. That is exactly why this recipe works so well. Using boneless, skinless chicken breasts keeps things simple while still giving you that classic buffalo flavor with every bite.
The buffalo sauce doubles as the marinade, so the chicken stays flavorful throughout rather than just being coated at the end. Serve it with ranch or blue cheese dressing, pile leftovers into wraps, or slice it over a salad for an easy lunch the next day.
Ingredients and Notes
To make this grilled buffalo chicken, you will need:
For the Buffalo Sauce
- Hot sauce gives the chicken its signature buffalo flavor. Frank’s RedHot works especially well here, though any cayenne-based hot sauce will work.
- Unsalted butter balances the heat and creates the rich, creamy texture of buffalo sauce. If you only have salted butter on hand, that works too.
- Garlic powder adds savory flavor throughout the marinade without overpowering the sauce.
- Paprika adds a little smoky depth and rounds out the heat nicely.
- Cayenne pepper adds extra spice for anyone who likes a hotter buffalo sauce. You can leave it out completely for a milder version.
For the Chicken
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts are easy to grill and soak up the marinade beautifully. Try pounding them to an even thickness so they cook more evenly on the grill.
Serving Options
- Green onions add freshness and a little crunch right before serving.
- Ranch dressing cools down the heat and pairs perfectly with buffalo flavors.
- Blue cheese dressing and crumbled blue cheese are classic buffalo chicken toppings and add a rich, creamy finish.
How To Make Grilled Buffalo Chicken
If you are comfortable using a grill and marinating chicken, this recipe will feel easy and very straightforward.
First, Marinate the Chicken
- Melt the butter in a large bowl.
- Whisk in the hot sauce, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper until smooth.
- Toss the chicken in the buffalo marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Then, Grill the Chicken
- Preheat your grill to 425°F. Set one side of the grill for indirect heat at about 275 to 300°F.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it over direct heat.
- Grill for 5 minutes, then flip and grill for another 3 minutes. Move the chicken to the indirect heat side and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
***You may need to flip the chicken a few extra times while it finishes cooking to get the char exactly how you like it.
Top Recipe Tips
- Marinate the chicken for the full 4 hours if possible for a deeper flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking the chicken breasts.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing so it stays juicy.
Love this grilled buffalo chicken recipe? Save it for your next cookout, weeknight dinner, or meal prep day. If you make it, I would love to hear how you served it. Leave a comment below, and don’t forget to rate the recipe!
Easy Grilled Buffalo Chicken
Equipment
- Grill
- tongs
- meat thermometer
- large mixing bowl
- Medium microwave-safe bowl
- whisk
- measuring cups and spoons
- Large dish or bowl (for marinating)
- Cutting board
- Knife
Ingredients
Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup hot sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional, add more if you like it hot
Chicken
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
For Serving (Optional)
- Green onions, sliced
- Ranch dressing
- Blue cheese dressing
- Crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
Make the Marinade
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.½ cup unsalted butter
- Whisk in the hot sauce, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper until smooth.1 cup hot sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Marinate the Chicken
- Place the chicken breasts in a large dish or bowl.6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Pour the buffalo sauce over the chicken and turn to coat well.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Grill the Chicken
- Preheat the grill to 425°F. Set up one side for indirect heat around 275 to 300°F.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it over direct heat.
- Grill for 5 minutes, flip, and grill for another 3 minutes.
- Move the chicken to the indirect heat side and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, turning as needed for even cooking and light charring.
- Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Serve with sliced green onions, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or crumbled blue cheese (all optional).Green onions, Ranch dressing, Blue cheese dressing, Crumbled blue cheese
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQs
Use a meat thermometer for the best accuracy. The internal temperature should be 165°F.
I love making this Rotini Pasta Salad, Cucumber and Radish Salad, or some grilled veggies to go along with this buffalo chicken.
This is a great make-ahead dish because the chicken needs to marinate for at least 4 hours. However, you can chill it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Yes, use a milder buffalo sauce and skip the cayenne pepper for a more family friendly heat level.
Leftover grilled buffalo chicken is excellent sliced into wraps, salads, grain bowls, or sandwiches.
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