Grilled Buffalo Chicken

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of all things buffalo-flavored in this house. I’ve proudly perfected the best crispy baked buffalo wings over the years, bacon blue cheese buffalo dip can be found at almost any party in our home, and buffalo chicken sandwiches are a regular weeknight dinner. Not to mention the buffalo ranch that gets drizzled on…well, pretty much everything.

As we transition into summer, I knew I had to come up with a buffalo chicken recipe that was quick and easy to whip up on the grill. Enter these grilled buffalo chicken breasts. They’re tender, juicy, and packed with that incredible buffalo flavor. Pop in int the marinade in the morning, then at dinnertime, it’s ready in under 20 minutes. This chicken is amazing in salads, wraps, and meal prep lunches. I definitely foresee it making a regular appearance on our dinner table this summer.

Prefer BBQ to buffalo? Try my BBQ grilled chicken breasts instead!

Why This Grilled Buffalo Chicken Recipe Is So Good

• Cooks in 20 minutes. Okay, technically, the chicken does need to marinate for an hour or more, but that can be done ahead of time. The actual hands-on prep and cook time to get this grilled buffalo chicken on the table is just 20 minutes!
• Sweet, smoky, and spicy. This buffalo chicken really has it all. It has the heat you’d expect from buffalo-flavored anything, but a bit of honey adds a touch of sweetness to balance it out, and the grill adds a light smoky aspect. So good!
• Versatile & great for meal prep. There are so many ways to use this chicken! It works great as an entree with a couple of sides, but it’s also great in wraps, salads, and sandwiches. I love to use it for meal prep lunches throughout the week.

Key Ingredients

• Buffalo hot sauce – Frank’s Red Hot is my favorite for this chicken, but any preferred buffalo sauce will do. Just be sure to check the label and ensure it’s gluten free, if needed.
• Olive oil
• Maple syrup – Helps to balance out the spiciness from the hot sauce and adds a sticky texture. Be sure to use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup. You can also use honey.
• Spices – Kosher salt & garlic powder season the chicken.
• Chicken breasts – I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. It will work on other cuts of chicken, too, but the cooking time would need to be adjusted.
• Garnishes – I love to garnish my buffalo chicken with crumbled blue cheese and fresh parsley.

One thing I love about this recipe is how quick and easy it is to make, especially if you marinate it in the morning. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Make the sauce. Combine the hot sauce, olive oil, maple syrup, and seasonings in a bowl or shallow dish.
• Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken and ensure it’s all thoroughly coated. Marinate in the fridge for at least one hour and up to 8 hours.

• Grill. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side. The internal temperature should be 165°F.
• Rest & serve. Let the grilled chicken rest on a plate for 5 minutes. Then, add any desired blue cheese and parsley garnishes, and serve.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few things I’ve found helpful to ensure this grilled buffalo chicken recipe ends up juicy and flavorful every time.

• Pound the chicken. If the chicken breasts are super thick, pound them slightly so they cook evenly.
• Use a thermometer. Chicken breasts vary in thickness, so the exact cooking time can vary. A thermometer helps prevent dry chicken. It’s ready when it reaches 165°F.
• Reserve some sauce. Save a little extra sauce aside before adding the raw chicken for drizzling after slicing. Do NOT use the sauce the raw chicken marinates in on cooked chicken.
• Prevent sticking. If you’re worried about sticking, make sure the grill is hot and the grates are clean.
• Marinate for the best flavor. Be sure to let the chicken marinate in the buffalo chicken for at least an hour to really ensure the best flavor. I like to marinate it in the morning for dinner.
• Rest before slicing. Before slicing into the grilled chicken, give it 5 minutes or so to rest on a plate. This lets the juices redistribute evenly and helps ensure juicy, tender slices of chicken.

Easy Variations

Here are a few easy ways to customize this recipe and make it perfect for your taste buds!

• Make it hotter. Use a hot buffalo sauce and skip the maple syrup (or use less).
• Make it milder. Use a mild buffalo sauce and keep the maple syrup.
• Swap the cut. You can use boneless chicken thighs, too.
• Add a smoky twist. A tiny pinch of smoked paprika is so good with buffalo flavor.

Can I Grill Buffalo Chicken Ahead of Time?

Yes! This recipe is great for meal prep. Grill it, cool it, store it, then slice it for salads and wraps all week.

Storage + Reheating

• To store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• To reheat: Microwave gently in short bursts so it doesn’t dry out. Or warm in a skillet with a splash of water and a little extra buffalo sauce
• To freeze: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Make It A Meal

There are so many ways to serve this grilled buffalo chicken! I love it when we have extras that I can repurpose for a completely different meal the following day. Here are a few ideas:

• In a wrap: For a quick, easy meal, add the sliced buffalo chicken to a gluten free wrap with some lettuce, tomato, and a little ranch.
• Over a salad: I love to serve it over a salad with cucumber, red onion, blue cheese dressing, and some blue cheese crumbles.
• In a sandwich: Serve the chicken in a sandwich on gluten free hamburger buns or sliders on gluten free Hawaiian rolls with extra buffalo sauce and crunchy slaw. The sliders make a great appetizer for game day!
• With simple sides: For dinner, I love to serve the grilled buffalo chicken breasts with a couple of simple sides, like rice, roasted potatoes, grilled or air fryer corn, or steamed broccoli

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Chicken Enchilada Skillet
• Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
• Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts
• Chicken Caesar Salad