There’s something irresistibly tangy and spicy about this Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe that just elevates a casual meal into a party favorite. The way the buffalo glaze clings to tender chicken pieces creates a delicious, finger-licking experience that's easy to customize for your preferred heat level.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe hits all the right notes for me: it’s juicy, packed with flavor, and super versatile. Whenever I bring these skewers to a get-together, they disappear fast — and it’s no wonder why!
- Perfect balance of flavors: The marinade’s blend of spices and tangy hot sauce creates that classic buffalo flavor without overwhelming the chicken.
- Simple to prepare: It doesn’t require complicated ingredients or long cooking times, so you can get these on your table in under an hour including marinating.
- Customizable heat levels: Whether you like just a mild kick or full-on heat, adjusting the glaze amount lets you dial it to your taste.
- Great for gatherings: Skewers are naturally shareable and fun to eat, making them an instant crowd-pleaser or casual weeknight dinner.
Ingredients & Why They Work
What I love about this recipe is how the simple yet bold ingredients come together to coat the chicken in that signature buffalo taste. Using Frank's hot sauce is key—the flavor is iconic and just the right kind of spicy.
- Chicken breasts: Pounding them thin helps chicken cook evenly and absorb all that marinade goodness.
- Olive oil: Keeps the chicken moist during cooking and helps carry the flavors in the marinade.
- Frank’s hot WINGS Sauce / Frank’s ORIGINAL Hot Sauce: The base of that buffalo flavor; pick based on your heat preference.
- Honey: Balances the spice with a touch of sweetness and helps create a glossy glaze.
- Lime juice: Adds a fresh, zesty brightness that lifts the flavors and cuts through richness.
- Garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper: These spices build a layered, smoky, and savory profile that makes the marinade stand out.
Make It Your Way
I’ve found this Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe is wonderfully forgiving, which is why I’m always encouraging friends to tweak it to their liking. Spice it up, tone it down, swap sauces — whatever makes your kitchen happy.
- Variation: I love adding a handful of diced celery or chopped green onions on top when serving for an extra crunch and fresh flavor contrast.
- Less heat option: Use Frank’s ORIGINAL Hot Sauce and reduce the chili powder if you want a milder version perfect for kids or spice-shy friends.
- Extra smoky twist: Try smoked paprika or add a splash of liquid smoke in the marinade for a deeper, campfire vibe.
- Vegetarian alternative: Grill chunks of cauliflower or tofu with the same marinade and glaze – surprisingly satisfying!
Step-by-Step: How I Make Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe
Step 1: Craft the Bold Buffalo Marinade
First things first — whisk together the Frank's hot sauce, honey, lime juice, and all those spices like garlic powder and smoked paprika. This mix is where the magic starts. I always find it helpful to measure out a bit into a separate bowl for glazing later, so you don’t lose any flavor in the process.
Step 2: Marinate the Chicken
Add the thinly pounded chicken breasts to your marinade with olive oil. Toss them well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but overnight if you can. Walking away and letting the chicken soak up those flavors makes a huge difference in the final taste.
Step 3: Grill or Pan-Sear for Maximum Flavor
Let your chicken come to room temperature before cooking — it helps cook evenly. Whether you’re firing up the grill or heating a skillet, cook the chicken undisturbed to get that beautiful sear. I usually do about 5-7 minutes each side on medium heat. Don’t rush this step; a nice crust locks in the juiciness.
Step 4: Rest and Glaze
Once cooked through, set the chicken aside for a few minutes. This little rest helps juices redistribute, keeping the meat moist. Then, brush on as much buffalo glaze as you like—the more glaze, the spicier and stickier the experience. Personal favorite is a generous brush paired with a cool ranch dip on the side.
Top Tip
Through trial and many backyard cookouts, I’ve learned a few tricks that take this Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe from good to unforgettable. These simple tips make all the difference in flavor, texture, and presentation.
- Marinate overnight if possible: The longer the chicken soaks, the more those buffalo flavors penetrate, making every bite pop.
- Don’t skip resting the chicken: Keeping the chicken juicy means patience; rushing this step can dry it out.
- Use a meat thermometer: Aim for internal temp of 160°F; this keeps it safe but juicy.
- Adjust glaze to control heat: Apply glaze gradually and taste as you go — you control the spice adventure!
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe
Garnishes
I swear by a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or cilantro for color and freshness. A few dabs of cooling ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side are essential for balancing the heat — buffalo anything just isn’t complete without it! Sometimes I add sliced green onions too, for a mild onion crunch.
Side Dishes
We usually keep it classic with celery sticks and carrot rounds for dipping, plus crispy oven fries or a fresh garden salad. On a more indulgent night, garlic bread or creamy mac and cheese join the party perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, I’ve served these skewers hollowed in soft rolls as sliders with extra buffalo glaze drizzle. For parties, putting them on a big platter with dipping sauces in cute ramekins makes for a striking display that's super easy for guests to enjoy standing up.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and try to reserve some glaze for reheating. I’ve found that keeping the glaze separate helps keep the chicken from drying out when reheated.
Freezing
You can freeze cooked chicken skewers wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap, then placed in a freezer bag. I recommend freezing without the glaze and adding fresh glaze after thawing to keep that vibrant buffalo flavor fresh.
Reheating
I reheat leftovers gently in a skillet over medium heat or in a 350°F oven, covered loosely with foil. Toss on some extra glaze during reheating to keep things juicy and flavorful, and avoid the microwave if you want to maintain texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The spice level can be adjusted easily by choosing either Frank’s hot WINGS Sauce for more heat or Frank’s ORIGINAL Hot Sauce for milder flavor. You can also control spiciness by how much glaze you brush on after cooking.
Absolutely! Chicken thighs would offer extra juiciness and a rich flavor, but they might need slightly longer cooking time. Just make sure to check that the internal temperature hits 160°F.
Soaking wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling helps prevent burning and sticking. If you’re using metal skewers, just make sure they’re clean and lightly oiled before adding the chicken.
Yes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as you verify the hot sauce and other ingredients don’t contain gluten additives. Frank’s hot sauces are usually gluten-free, but it’s always good to check the label.
Final Thoughts
This Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe has become one of those dishes I always come back to – whether it’s an easy weeknight dinner or an impressive appetizer at get-togethers. I’m confident you’ll appreciate the blend of spicy, sweet, and smoky flavors, combined with juicy, tender chicken that’s fun to eat. Don’t hesitate to experiment with the heat and sides until it feels like your very own signature dish. Trust me, once you try these, they quickly become a go-to favorite!
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Buffalo Chicken Skewers Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Description
A flavorful Buffalo Chicken recipe featuring marinated chicken breasts cooked either on the stovetop or grilled, finished with a spicy-sweet glaze for customizable heat. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, salads, or tacos.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2-3 chicken breasts pounded thin (approx. 1 pound)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Buffalo Marinade
- ¼ cup Frank’s hot WINGS Sauce for more heat OR Frank’s ORIGINAL Hot Sauce for less heat
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Buffalo Glaze
- Reserved marinade (from Buffalo Marinade)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 ½ teaspoons lime juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Buffalo Marinade: Whisk together all of the Buffalo Marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Measure out ¼ cup of this marinade and combine it with 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a shallow dish or freezer bag.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the pounded chicken breasts to the marinade mixture and toss evenly to coat. Refrigerate and marinate for 2 hours up to overnight for best flavor.
- Make the Buffalo Glaze: To the leftover marinade, whisk in 1 tablespoon honey and 1 ½ teaspoons lime juice. Store the glaze in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Bring Chicken to Room Temperature: Remove the marinated chicken from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
- Cook on Stovetop: Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add chicken and cook undisturbed for 3-5 minutes until nicely browned on one side. Flip the chicken, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until cooked through depending on thickness. Remove from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Alternatively - Grill the Chicken: Preheat and grease the grill to medium heat, 375-450°F. Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through and an internal thermometer reads 160°F. Remove and rest for 5 minutes.
- Glaze the Chicken: Brush the cooked, rested chicken with the Buffalo Glaze amount according to your heat preference—more glaze for spicier flavor, less for milder.
- Serve: Slice chicken and use it in sandwiches, wraps, salads, tacos, or enjoy as is.
Notes
- Watch the "how to make" video at the top of the recipe for step-by-step guidance.
- The chicken is flavorful but not very spicy without the glaze; adjust glaze amount to customize heat.
- Try tossing the chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce for a different flavor twist.
- This chicken is versatile and great in sandwiches, wraps, salads, and tacos.
- Total time does not include marinating since marinating duration can vary from 2 hours to overnight.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
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