These Buffalo chicken breast burgers are not your average chicken sandwich. Tender, juicy, and pleasantly spicy, they’re loaded with flavor and finished with cooling ranch or blue cheese dressing. They’re just as at home on Game Day as they are at a summer BBQ.
I love finding new ways to use Buffalo wing sauce, and when I couldn’t decide between wings and burgers for Super Bowl Sunday, combining both felt like the obvious choice.
Many recipes use ground chicken for patties, but I prefer a whole chicken breast for a juicy, satisfying burger texture. Ground chicken can be off-putting to some, while a well-prepared chicken breast delivers great flavor and a meaty bite. These Buffalo chicken breast burgers quickly became a favorite.
How to make Buffalo Chicken Breast Burgers
Begin by evening out the thickness of the chicken breasts. Use a meat mallet or heavy rolling pin to gently pound the thicker ends so each breast cooks evenly. This helps the chicken stay juicy and prevents overcooking.
Season the breasts with salt and pepper, then dredge them lightly in flour and shake off the excess. The flour creates a thin crust that helps the Buffalo sauce cling to the meat instead of sliding off during baking.
Make a quick Buffalo wing sauce by whisking hot sauce with melted butter. You can use a store-bought wing sauce if you prefer; Frank’s RedHot is a classic and works beautifully here.
Sear the chicken breasts in a hot, oven-safe skillet for a couple of minutes per side until golden. Pour the Buffalo sauce over the seared breasts, then transfer the pan to a preheated oven to finish cooking. If your skillet isn’t oven safe, move the chicken to a baking dish before adding the sauce and baking.
Bake until the breasts are just cooked through, roughly 20–25 minutes depending on thickness. Top each breast with a slice of provolone or mozzarella and return to the oven briefly until the cheese melts.
Assemble the burgers by placing a cheesy Buffalo chicken breast on a toasted bun, then add ranch or blue cheese dressing to balance the heat. Lettuce, tomato, and red onion are great optional toppings. On my scale, these burgers are medium-spicy and very, very delicious.
Enjoy!
If you make these Buffalo chicken breast burgers, I’d love to see a photo—tag @ourhappymess on Instagram.
Or pin for later!
If you love Buffalo flavor, also try a lighter Buffalo Chicken Salad or an indulgent Buffalo Chicken Pizza. For another great chicken sandwich option, a grilled chicken sandwich with sun-dried tomato aioli is delicious.
Buffalo Chicken Breast Burgers
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Ingredients
- 4 small skinless boneless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup cayenne pepper hot sauce such as Frank’s RedHot
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 4 burger buns
- ranch or blue cheese to taste
- 4 slices provolone or mozzarella
- optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, red onion
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pound the chicken breasts lightly to even out the thickness.
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Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe pan over medium-high heat.
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Spread the flour on a plate. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour and shake off excess.
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Sear the chicken in the hot pan for about 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.
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Whisk the hot sauce and melted butter together. Pour the sauce over the chicken and transfer the pan to the oven. If your pan isn’t oven-safe, move the chicken to a baking dish first.
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Bake 20–25 minutes, until just cooked through. Add cheese slices and return to the oven until melted.
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Place each chicken breast on a bun, top with ranch or blue cheese, and add any optional toppings.