Spice up your weeknights with our irresistible buffalo chicken thighs! Juicy, bold, and ready in 28 minutes with just one pan, they're perfect for game nights, parties, or a quick dinner. Serve with side of celery and blue cheese for a guaranteed hit!
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And if you love chicken thigh recipes, be sure to also check out our Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, Chicken Pomodoro, Baked Chicken and Squash, and Chicken Fajita Tacos!
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👍 Why We Love this Recipe
Fast! Like all of our recipes, our buffalo chicken thighs recipe comes together in 28 minutes or less! Note: This timeframe allows for 15 minutes marinating time. If you'd like to marinate your chicken for longer, allow for extra time.
One Pan- Make this dish in three simple steps and with ONE pan or skillet. Easy cleanup! These chicken thighs make a great dish for game-day!
Crispy and juicy- We chose chicken thighs over chicken breasts for this dish due to chicken thighs' moist texture and juicy flavor. When seared in a skillet they have so much flavor!
🛒 Ingredients
Notes on ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs- They cook fast and are so juicy on in the inside! Be sure to trim away the fat before marinating. Note: If you love cooking with chicken thighs, check out some of our favorite boneless skinless chicken thigh recipes!
- Seasoning- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika to add flavor to the chicken.
- Hot sauce- You can't beat Frank's Hot Sauce but feel free to choose your favorite.
- Oil- We prefer extra virgin olive oil.
👩🍳 Instructions
Step 1: Season and marinate chicken in buffalo sauce. Allow chicken to marinade for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour (if you have the time) in the refrigerator.
Step 2: Cook chicken in skillet for 10-14 minutes, flipping halfway.
Step 3: Drizzle extra sauce over chicken and serve!
🥄 Kids Steps: Let kids help measure out seasoning and buffalo sauce ingredients. You can also show kids how to use a splatter guard while the chicken cooks.
✏️ Expert Tips and Tricks
- Don't skip marinating. To maximize the chicken's zesty flavor, marinate for at least 15 minutes or longer if you have time!
- Trim away excess fat using kitchen shears before cooking chicken thighs.
- For an extra crispy finish, consider popping chicken under the broiler for a few minutes after cooking on the stove.
- Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. We love the Thermapen® by Thermoworks for checking meat temps.
- Instead of pan-searing chicken, cook chicken in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 400°F.
- Serve blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
🍽️ How to Serve
There are tons of ways to enjoy these buffalo chicken thighs, so take your pick!
Game-day appetizer- Your guests will love having these chicken thighs as an appetizer or side while they watch the big game. Pair with celery, a side of blue cheese and any of your other favorite game-day apps, like crescent dogs, roast beef sliders or mini turkey burgers.
Main course- Our buffalo chicken thighs can stand alone as a main dish or paired with a simple side, like baked potatoes, fries, salad, or light pasta. Find more side suggestions below.
Salad topper- Add buffalo chicken to a salad, like mixed greens, a bed of romaine or caesar, or Southwestern salad.
Buffalo chicken sandwich. Why not slather some blue cheese on chicken and tuck it into your favorite roll? Serve witht a side of fries or potato chips and you are good to go!
🥗 Side Suggestions
We serve this dish with a side of ranch or blue cheese for dipping. It would also pair nicely witih a side of sliced veggies, like carrots, cucumbers or celery or a simple green salad. Here are some other side options if you are seeking something more substantial:
- Baked Potato
- Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan and Lemon
- Lemony Garlic Pasta
- Creamy Vegetable Pasta
- Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese
🧊 Storage and Reheating
It's best to serve chicken right away while tender and juicy. Leftover buffalo chicken thighs are also delicious served cold! Slice and serve over a salad or in a wrap or sandwich.
Storing: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Buffalo chicken thighs can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating: This dish can be reheated in the microwave or in the oven or toaster oven at 300°F until warmed through.
❓FAQ
Chicken thighs are considered fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the meat.
Yes, buffalo chicken thighs can be baked in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 400°F.
Absolutely! Just keep in mind that bone-in chicken thighs take longer to cook, so I would allow an extra 5-6 minutes of cooking time to your recipe.
Yes, these chicken thighs can be made in the air fryer. Simply heat your air fryer to 380°F and air fry your marinated chicken for 20 minutes, flipping chicken halfway.
➡️ More Chicken Recipes
🧶 Craft for this Recipe
While you make the chicken dish, your kiddos can make this incredibly Adorable Chicken Craft! All you need is a few basic craft supplies and toilet paper rolls. The coolest part: your cute cardboard chickens can double as napkin rings for your next dinner party!
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Quick Buffalo Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4-6 chicken thighs (boneless & skinless)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ cup buffalo sauce divided
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
- In a large ziplock bag, combine chicken with seasoning and ½ cup of buffalo sauce, stirring until combined. Allow chicken to marinade for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour (if you have the time) in the refrigerator.
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side and until cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°. Cook in batches if your pan is not large enough to hold all chicken thighs at once.
- Drizzle on remaining buffalo sauce and serve!
Notes
-
- Don't skip marinating. To maximize the chicken's zesty flavor, marinate for at least 15 minutes or longer if you have time!
-
- Trim away excess fat using kitchen shears before cooking chicken thighs.
-
- For an extra crispy finish, consider popping chicken under the broiler for a few minutes after cooking on the stove.
-
- Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. We love the Thermapen® by Thermoworks for checking meat temps.
-
- Instead of pan-searing chicken, cook chicken in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 400°F.
- Serve blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
Nutrition
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. While we are not certified nutritionists, we work with a Wordpress-integrated nutrition API to calculate our recipes' ingredient values.
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