Description
This Buffalo Chicken recipe features tender, boneless chicken breasts coated in a spicy and buttery buffalo sauce. The chicken is first seared for a golden crust, then baked to juicy perfection in the flavorful sauce, making it a perfect dish for game day, weeknight dinners, or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
Sauce & Seasoning
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the chicken in buffalo sauce.
- Season Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts evenly with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to flavor the meat.
- Sear Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until they develop a golden brown crust. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this stage.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Move the seared chicken breasts from the skillet into a baking dish, setting them up for the baking process.
- Prepare Buffalo Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the buffalo sauce to the melted butter and stir until combined to create a rich, spicy sauce.
- Coat Chicken: Pour the buffalo sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the baking dish, ensuring they are fully coated to lock in flavor during baking.
- Bake Chicken: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), ensuring it is safely cooked through.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes to retain juices. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired, then serve hot and enjoy your spicy buffalo chicken.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer dark meat; cooking time may vary slightly.
- For a homemade buffalo sauce, combine hot sauce and melted butter in a ratio of 2:1 for a classic taste.
- Ensure the chicken reaches the proper internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- Serve with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing for a traditional buffalo chicken experience.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently to avoid drying out.
