Are you tired of the same old boring chicken sandwich? Want to add some kick to your lunch game? Well, buckle up buttercup, because I’m about to take your taste buds on a wild ride through the zesty world of buffalo chicken sandwiches! As someone who’s spent way too much time experimenting with different toppings (and subsequently wiping orange sauce off my shirt), I’m excited to share the perfect combination of ingredients that’ll make your sandwich sing.
The Foundation: Understanding Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Basics
Before we dive into the topping extravaganza, let’s get one thing straight – a buffalo chicken sandwich isn’t just any sandwich with some hot sauce splashed on it. It’s a carefully orchestrated symphony of flavors and textures that balance heat, coolness, and crunch.
At its core you need
- The chicken (duh!)
- The buffalo sauce (double duh!)
- The right bun
- The perfect combination of toppings to balance that fiery buffalo sauce
Let’s break it down piece by piece. shall we?
The Chicken: Your Spicy Foundation
The star of the show deserves special attention. You’ve got options here:
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Fried chicken breast The classic choice for that crispy exterior that complements the sauce If you’re going this route, buttermilk brining your chicken beforehand will give you a more tender and flavorful result
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Grilled chicken breast: A healthier alternative that still delivers on flavor. The smoky notes from grilling actually pair beautifully with buffalo sauce.
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Chicken tenders/nuggets: Perfect for a quick fix or when feeding a crowd. Just make sure they’re high-quality and well-seasoned.
Pro tip: Whatever chicken style you choose, make sure it’s pounded to even thickness. This ensures it cooks evenly and makes the sandwich easier to eat!
The Buffalo Sauce: Bringing the Heat
This ain’t just Frank’s RedHot, people (though that’s a darn good start). The best buffalo sauce has depth:
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Commercial buffalo sauce: Frank’s Wing Sauce (the orange bottle, not the red!) is a solid choice for convenience and consistent flavor.
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Homemade buffalo sauce: If you wanna get fancy, mix hot sauce with melted butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and paprika. Play with the ratios until you find your personal heat sweet spot.
Remember: buffalo sauce isn’t just about heat – it’s about tangy, buttery goodness with a kick. If it’s just burning your face off without flavor, you’re doing it wrong!
The Bun: Often Overlooked, Never Unimportant
Don’t skimp on the bread, folks. Your bun choice can make or break the sandwich:
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Brioche bun: The gold standard. Slightly sweet, buttery, and sturdy enough to hold up to the saucy goodness.
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Potato bun: Light and airy, these buns complement the richness without adding too much heft.
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Pretzel bun: For a unique twist, these add a nice savory, salty element.
Whatever you choose, TOAST THAT BUN! I cannot stress this enough. Toasting prevents sogginess and adds another texture dimension.
The Cool-Down: Essential Creamy Elements
Buffalo sauce brings the heat, so you need something to cool things down and create balance:
Blue Cheese Dressing: The Traditional Choice
Blue cheese and buffalo sauce are like peanut butter and jelly – they just work. The tangy, pungent flavor of blue cheese cuts through the richness and spice beautifully. Spread it on the bun or drizzle it over the chicken.
Ranch Dressing: The People’s Champion
If blue cheese isn’t your jam (it can be an acquired taste), ranch is a more approachable alternative. It still provides that creamy coolness with herbs and garlic notes that complement the buffalo flavor.
For a lighter option, try making your own ranch slaw by mixing:
- 1 cup coleslaw mix
- 2-3 tablespoons light ranch dressing
This adds both coolness AND crunch in one fell swoop!
The Crunch Factor: Textural Elements
A great sandwich needs textural contrast. Here are your best bets:
Lettuce: The Classic Choice
Shredded iceberg or romaine provides a fresh, crisp element that balances the soft bun and tender chicken. It also helps catch any sauce that might try to escape!
Celery: The Buffalo Wing’s Sidekick
Thinly sliced celery brings a refreshing crunch and subtle flavor that traditionally accompanies buffalo wings. It’s like they were meant to be together!
Pickles: Tangy Crunch
Dill pickles offer a sour, tangy counterpoint to the richness. They’re particularly good on a fried buffalo chicken sandwich.
Onion: The Bite Factor
Red onions or thinly sliced scallions add a sharp bite that cuts through the richness. If raw onions are too strong for ya, try soaking them in cold water for 15 minutes first to mellow them out.
Secret Weapons: Unexpected Additions
Wanna take your buffalo chicken sandwich to the next level? Try these unconventional but amazing additions:
Guacamole
The creamy, rich texture works surprisingly well with buffalo sauce, creating a complex flavor profile.
Pineapple
A thin slice adds sweet-tangy contrast to the spicy buffalo sauce. Don’t knock it till ya try it!
Potato Chips
Adding potato chips INSIDE the sandwich provides an extra crunch factor that’s simply divine. Just add them right before eating to prevent sogginess.
Maple Butter
Sweet and spicy is always a winning combo. A thin spread of maple butter on the bun creates an unexpected but delightful flavor profile.
Building the Perfect Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Now that we’ve covered all the components, let’s put it all together in the optimal stacking order:
- Bottom bun (toasted) – spread with a thin layer of blue cheese or ranch dressing
- Shredded lettuce – creates a barrier to prevent the bottom bun from getting soggy
- Sliced pickles or onions (optional)
- Buffalo chicken – whether fried, grilled, or otherwise
- Additional buffalo sauce – a drizzle for the true heat-seekers
- Ranch slaw or celery – for that cooling crunch
- Top bun (toasted) – spread with a thin layer of dressing
FAQs: Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Wisdom
What cheese goes best on a buffalo chicken sandwich?
While not traditional, cheese can be a fantastic addition! Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or even mild cheddar can complement the flavors. Blue cheese crumbles are another option if you want to double down on that flavor profile.
How do I prevent my buffalo chicken sandwich from getting soggy?
- Toast your buns
- Create a barrier with lettuce on the bottom bun
- Pat your chicken dry before adding sauce
- Drain excess sauce from the chicken
- Don’t assemble until ready to eat
What sides pair well with a buffalo chicken sandwich?
Classic options include french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, or coleslaw. For a lighter option, a simple side salad provides refreshing contrast.
Can I make a vegetarian buffalo “chicken” sandwich?
Absolutely! Breaded cauliflower florets or halloumi cheese make excellent substitutes. Just coat them in buffalo sauce and assemble the sandwich as usual.
How can I make my buffalo chicken sandwich healthier?
Opt for grilled chicken instead of fried, use a whole wheat bun, choose a light dressing, and load up on the veggies.
My Personal Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Here’s my go-to buffalo chicken sandwich that never fails to impress:
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper
- 2 tbsp Frank’s Wing Sauce (plus more for coating)
- 1 egg
- Brioche buns
- Blue cheese dressing
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Thinly sliced celery
- Thinly sliced red onion (soaked in cold water)
The Process:
- Bread the chicken using the flour, cornstarch, seasonings, egg, and a bit of the wing sauce
- Air fry at 400°F for 14-20 minutes (or bake/pan-fry if you prefer)
- Brush with additional wing sauce
- Toast the buns
- Assemble in the order I mentioned above
- DEVOUR immediately!
The Bottom Line
The perfect buffalo chicken sandwich is all about balance – spicy, cool, crunchy, and soft elements working together in harmony. You need the heat from the buffalo sauce, coolness from blue cheese or ranch, crunch from fresh veggies, and a sturdy yet soft bun to hold it all together.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations until you find your personal buffalo chicken nirvana. And remember, napkins are not optional with this sandwich – embrace the mess as a sign of deliciousness!
So what are you waiting for? Get in the kitchen and start building your ultimate buffalo chicken sandwich masterpiece. Your taste buds (if not your shirt) will thank you!
Have you found your perfect buffalo chicken sandwich combination? I’d love to hear what toppings you swear by in the comments below!
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A Healthy Approach to Indulgence
This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich is a spicy and tangy twist on my OG “Fried” Chicken Sandwich. A healthy and delicious alternative to the fast food version!
Over the past few months, my recipe for “Fried” Chicken Sandwiches has become one of the most popular on my blog. I’m ecstatic that you all are loving this one as much as we do.
I’ve received a lot of requests for different versions of the original. It serves as a nice base recipe for tons of different flavor profiles. I have a lot of ideas in the works, and this one here is the first I’m sharing!
If you thought it couldn’t get better than a crispy, juicy chicken breast sandwiched between a fluffy bun–all while staying on track–allow me to blow your mind! I added hints of buffalo sauce throughout and then topped it off with a creamy slaw using my Light Ranch Dressing. Divine!
The good news is that if you’ve made my original recipe, this will be super easy for you. We’re just subbing in some Frank’s Wing Sauce for the almond milk to give it a tangy kick.
Make sure you buy the Frank’s actual Wing Sauce in the orange bottle. DON’T get the hot sauce in the red bottle–it’ll be too hot.
Definitely head over to my Instagram page (@litecravings) for a live tutorial of the breading and cooking process for the chicken. You can find it in my food, but I’ll also share it again in my stories today. I know breading recipes can be a bit tricky, so hopefully seeing me do it will help you out.
For a great topper, buy some coleslaw mix and add in a few tablespoons ofLight Ranch Dressing. You could even add in some blue cheese to to the slaw if you like. Such a great combo.
How to Make A Crispy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Pound the chicken breasts out to even thickness. Pat chicken VERY dry with paper towels. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you’re running out of breading it’s mostly likely that you chicken isn’t dry enough. Set aside on a cutting board.
Create your breading station. In one bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, and seasonings. In another bowl, whisk together egg and 2 tbsp wing sauce.
Whisk 1 tbsp of the seasoned flour into the egg/wing sauce mixture.
Coat chicken in seasoned flour mixture, then dust off until you only have a thin coating of flour on chicken. Set chicken aside.
Add1 1/2 tbsp almond milk to the seasoned flour blend. Mix the milk through the flour with a fork or your fingers until you see some small clumps of flour in the mixture.
Dip flour-coated chicken into egg mixture and let all excess drain off. Place chicken into seasoned flour mixture and press the flour into chicken. Gently shake off excess and set on cutting board. Let set for about 5 minutes. Then spray both sides of the chicken with cooking spray–enough to lightly coat the breading.
See all cooking methods in the recipe card
I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! It makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there!
