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About This Recipe
Enjoy all the tastes of your favorite buffalo chicken without all the mess and extra calories from deep frying! This Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken is super easy, high protein and extremely flavorful! It’s perfect for weekly meal prep and is super versatile! Use for sandwiches, wraps, salads, with your favorite sides and more!
You all know I’m all about easy recipes that you can enjoy all week and this chicken is no exception! The best part is it’s made with just 4 simple ingredients and taste out of this world! The combination of the buffalo sauce and honey gives it just the right amount of kick without being too spicy and you’ll love adding this chicken to just about anything!
Plus, you’ll never believe how crispy and juicy this chicken is without needing any type of flour mixture or panko breadcrumbs! It’s low carb, low fat and packed with tons of protein!
I’ve also included two different cooking options for this easy recipe depending on what you prefer! It’s seriously great in both the air fryer or on the grill so cook it however is the easiest way for you.
My favorite way to enjoy this chicken is in my Buffalo Chicken Ranch Wrap. I also love throwing it on top of my favorite Cobb Salad or serving with my favorite sides like these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, Macaroni Salad, Rainbow Corn Salad, Air Fryer Broccoli, etc for an easy dinner!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken
- A simple recipe that is great for meal prep and super versatile!
- Perfect for salads, sandwiches, wraps and more!
- Low carb, low fat and high in protein! 31 grams per serving!
- Two cooking methods included! Air fryer and grill option!
- A healthier alternative to your favorite crispy chicken wings!
- Chicken – I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. You could also use chicken tenderloin or thighs if you prefer.
- Buffalo sauce – I used Frank’s buffalo wing sauce. I think the wing sauce combined with the honey gives just the perfect amount of kick but if you’re worried about spice you can always use a mild buffalo sauce. Be sure to note that the wing sauce is different from Frank’s red hot sauce (this will be much spicier!).
- Honey
- Olive oil – can also use avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil.
- Seasonings: salt, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder
- Switch up the sauce! Use your favorite bbq sauce, spicy hot sauce, classic buffalo sauce, mild sauce or your favorite dry rub seasonings.
- Use chicken thighs! You can also use chicken thighs. Just decrease the cooking time by 2 minutes and ensure the centers reach 165°F before enjoying.
- Dipping sauce! Pair buffalo chicken with your favorite dipping sauce like ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing!
- Make your own homemade buffalo sauce! Just combine your favorite hot sauce, butter and paprika in a small saucepan to make a quick, at-home version of your favorite wing sauce.
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Pound the chicken to an even thickness if needed. Then go to butterfly chicken, but cut in half completely down the middle to make two thinner breasts from each breast (i.e. my 3 large breasts made 6 breasts).
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, honey, oil, and all the salt and seasonings.
3. Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (no more than 12 hours).
4. Preheat the air fryer to 350F. Once preheated, add chicken in a single layer (make sure it’s not touching) to the air fryer basket and air fry for 4-5 minutes.
5. Then flip the chicken and brush the top generously with buffalo sauce. Air fry for another 4-5 minutes or internal temperature reaches at least 155 degrees F (carryover cooking will ensure chicken reaches 165F without over cooking). Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your breast.
6. Let chicken rest on a plate or cutting board for at least 5 minutes before cutting (this will help keep it juicy). Add to your favorite wrap, salad or sandwich and enjoy!
Favorite Serving Ideas!
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wrap – this air fryer buffalo chicken is perfect for my favorite low carb wrap!
- Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad – add buffalo chicken to a bed of mixed greens and top with chopped hard boiled egg, sliced cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers and diced avocado.
- Cookout Style – serve with your favorite fixings! Like Rainbow Corn Salad, any side salad, fruit salad, pasta salad or your favorite veggies like celery sticks and carrots!
For the Best Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken
- Allow chicken to come to room temperature – allowing chicken to come to room temperature helps you to cook the chicken faster which helps it not to overcook. When you put cold raw chicken in the air fryer, it can take longer for the middle to heat all the way through, potentially leading to overcooking and drying the chicken out.
- Don’t overcrowd or overlap chicken – air fryers can dramatically range in size and overcrowding the chicken can lead to uneven cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer (if you have a smaller air fryer), make sure to do a couple of batches so that you don’t have to overlap your chicken.
- Pound chicken to an even thickness – if you’re using large chicken breasts, be sure to pound them to an even thickness. This will help cook them evenly through and also ensure they all cook at the same speed
- Don’t overcook! – be sure to pull your chicken out at 155F. Yes, that’s right! Carryover cooking while the chicken rests will ensure that the chicken reaches 165F and keep the chicken juicy and moist. Be sure to note that cook time may need to be adjusted based on individual air fryers. That’s why checking the internal temperature is a great way to make sure not to overcook.
Check out how to avoid these 7 common mistakes while cooking chicken to ensure you get the best result every time!
How do I prevent the chicken from drying out in the air fryer?
My biggest tip to ensure that your chicken doesn’t dry out in the air fryer is to make sure you don’t over cook! Be sure to place your chicken in a single layer (do not overlap) and cook until the chicken reaches 155F (carryover cooking will ensure internal temp reaches 165F).
Why do I need to flip my chicken in the air fryer?
Flipping the chicken halfway through cooking helps the chicken pieces cook more evenly.
How do I store leftover air fryer buffalo chicken breasts?
Store leftover buffalo chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Can I use chicken tenderloins or chicken thighs?
Of course! This air fryer buffalo chicken recipe works great with any type of chicken. You can use tenderloins, breasts, drumsticks or thighs. Just be sure to adjust cooking time if needed depending on type of chicken you’re using. For large breasts or drumsticks, I recommend about 15-20 minutes. For smaller pieces such as butterflied breasts, tenderloins or skinless boneless thighs you can use the cooking instructions above (they will need less time than larger meat pieces). You can confirm your chicken is done by using a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature has reached 155F (carryover cooking will ensure chicken reaches 165F).
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken (with Grill Option!)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts about 3 large breasts
- 1/3 cup Frank's buffalo wing sauce (80g) plus more for brushing
- 2 Tbsp honey (42g)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (30g)
- 2 tsp each: salt, paprika, garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
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Instructions
Marinate the Chicken:
- Pound the chicken to an even thickness if needed. Then go to butterfly chicken, but cut in half completely down the middle to make two thinner breasts from each breast (i.e. my 3 large breasts made 6 breasts).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, honey, oil, and all the salt and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (no more than 12 hours).
To Air Fry:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F. Once preheated, add chicken in a single layer (make sure it’s not touching) and air fry for 4-5 minutes.
- Then flip the chicken and brush the top generously with buffalo sauce. Air fry for another 4-5 minutes or internal temperature reaches at least 155F (carryover cooking will ensure chicken reaches 165F without over cooking). Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your breast.
- Let chicken rest on a plate or cutting board for at least 5 minutes before cutting (this will help keep it juicy).
To Grill:
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. If using an outdoor grill, make sure to clean and oil the grill grates really well. If you're using an indoor grill pan, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of high-heat oil (not extra virgin olive oil but light olive oil works).
- Grill the chicken for 5 minutes on the first side, flip, and brush the top generously with buffalo sauce. Cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 155F (carryover cooking will ensure internal temp reaches 165F). Then transfer chicken to a plate or cutting board to prevent further cooking.
- Let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing (this will help keep it juicy).
Notes
- Allow chicken to come to room temperature – allowing chicken to come to room temperature helps you to cook the chicken faster which helps it not to overcook. When you put cold raw chicken in the air fryer, it can take longer for the middle to heat all the way through, potentially leading to overcooking and drying the chicken out.
- Don’t overcrowd or overlap chicken – air fryers can dramatically range in size and overcrowding the chicken can lead to uneven cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer (if you have a smaller air fryer), make sure to do a couple of batches so that you don’t have to overlap your chicken.
- Pound chicken to an even thickness – if you’re using large chicken breasts, be sure to pound them to an even thickness. This will help cook them evenly through and also ensure they all cook at the same speed
- Don’t overcook! – be sure to pull your chicken out at 155F. Yes, that’s right! Carryover cooking while the chicken rests will ensure that the chicken reaches 165F and keep the chicken juicy and moist. Be sure to note that cook time may need to be adjusted based on individual air fryers. That’s why checking the internal temperature is a great way to make sure not to overcook.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
