Crispy Buffalo Chicken Breast (3 Ways)

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Breast (3 Ways)

A versatile, spicy chicken dish perfect for quick dinners or game day.

Key Info

• Prep Time: 10 minutes (+ optional 30-min marinade)
• Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
• Total Time: 25-50 minutes
• Servings: 4
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dietary: Can be gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly

Equipment Needed

• Baking sheet OR Air fryer OR Large skillet
• Kitchen tongs
• Meat mallet
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Instant-read thermometer

Alternative: Use rolling pin instead of meat mallet.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 4 chicken breasts (about 6 oz/170g each)
• 1 cup (240ml) buffalo sauce
• 2 tablespoons (30g) butter, melted
• 1 cup (120g) panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon (5g) garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon (1g) black pepper

For Serving (Optional):

• Blue cheese crumbles
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing
• Celery and carrot sticks

Method

1. Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create two thinner cutlets.
2. Place chicken between plastic wrap and pound to even 1/2-inch thickness.

Marinade (Optional but Recommended):

• Mix buffalo sauce with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
• Coat chicken thoroughly.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes to 4 hours.

Choose Your Cooking Method:

Oven-Baked Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C.
2. Mix breadcrumbs with seasonings in shallow dish.
3. Dip marinated chicken in remaining butter, then coat with seasoned breadcrumbs.
4. Place on lined baking sheet.
5. Bake 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C.

Air Fryer Method:

1. Preheat air fryer to 360°F/182°C.
2. Follow coating steps as above.
3. Air fry 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway.
4. Check temperature reaches 165°F/74°C.

Pan-Fried Method:

1. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add 1 tablespoon oil.
3. Cook breaded chicken 5-7 minutes per side.
4. Check temperature reaches 165°F/74°C.

Crucial Tips

• Pat chicken completely dry before coating.
• Don’t overcrowd cooking vessel.
• Let rest 5 minutes before cutting.
• Visual doneness: Golden brown exterior, no pink inside.

Storage & Variations

Storage:

• Refrigerate up to 4 days.
• Reheat in air fryer or oven for best results.

Common Mistakes:

• Skipping the pounding step.
• Overcrowding while cooking.
• Not checking internal temperature.

Variations:

• Keto: Use crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs.
• Gluten-free: Use GF breadcrumbs.
• Extra spicy: Add cayenne to breadcrumb mixture.

This recipe delivers restaurant-quality buffalo chicken that’s crispy outside, juicy inside, with that perfect spicy kick. The three cooking methods let you choose what works best for your kitchen setup, while keeping the same great taste.

Related Recipes:

• Crispy Tuna Patties
• Crispy Cauliflower Buffalo Bites
• Creamy Buffalo Cauliflower Dip
• Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Crispy Buffalo Chicken Thighs
• Crispy Keto Buffalo Wings
• Cold Buffalo Chicken Dip