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Simple but bold and full of flavor, this buffalo chicken sandwich takes pan-seared chicken cutlets, coats them in buffalo sauce, and sandwiches them on a fluffy bun with plenty of ranch dressing and all your favorite toppings. Perfect for tailgates, family cookouts, or anytime you’re in the mood for something with a little kick.

Side view of a buffalo chicken sandwich with an orange-colored grilled chicken breast, a thick slice of tomato, green lettuce, and a fluffy bun on a blue-grey plate.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

  • This recipe is super simple but packed with flavor! The chicken is seasoned with a simple, totally effective spice mixture, then it’s pan-seared and tossed in tasty buffalo sauce. Finish it off with your favorite toppings and a drizzle of ranch dressing and you’ve got a delicious, bold sandwich that’s perfect for parties or enjoying all on your own.
  • We left off the breading, opting for a lighter sandwich that you typically get with fried chicken. The pan-sear method gives your protein more of a grilled feel, without actually having to fire up the grill. If you’ve got an indoor grill you could totally use it instead!
  • Feeding a group? Set your buffalo chicken sandwiches up buffet-style, letting everyone go down the line to build their own perfect sandwich. It’s fun, you can really dress it up if you want, and everyone gets everything they like on their sandwich without you having to remember each person’s preferences. Offer toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, and pickles, and don’t forget the carrots and celery!

Chef’s Tips

  • Chicken cutlets are nice and thin, which means they cook quickly. Keep an eye on them as they’re cooking, and check them with an internal meat thermometer to be sure they’re not under or overdone. They’ll only need 3-5 minutes per side, so overcooking them is easier than you think!
  • You can pick up pre-packaged chicken cutlets at the store, or you can make your own. To do that, you just need to slice chicken breasts in half horizontally, like you’re slicing a hamburger bun. Whether you buy them or DIY them, make sure the cutlets are all as close in size and thickness as you can get them. If any have exceptionally thick spots, pound them thin with a meat tenderizer or a rolling pin (or even a heavy saucepan). If they’re unevenly thick, they’ll cook unevenly.
Overhead, angled view of a buffalo chicken sandwich on a plate. The top bun and slice of tomato are slightly askew.

Side Ideas For Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Recipe By: Sam Guarnieri

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Tender, perfectly-seasoned chicken cutlets coated in bold buffalo sauce for a fun and tasty handheld entrée.
4 sandwiches

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Paper towels
  • Small bowl
  • whisk or spoon
  • Large skillet
  • Tongs
  • medium mixing bowl
  • serving plates

Ingredients

  • 4 medium chicken cutlets approximately 1 ½ pounds
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup buffalo sauce store-bought or make your own
  • 4 sandwich buns or hamburger buns, any variety
  • butter lettuce leaves
  • 1 large tomatoes cut into ¼-inch thick slices
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing store-bought or make your own

Instructions

  • Place chicken cutlets on cutting board. Pat cutlets completely dry on all sides with paper towels. Set aside.
  • Add paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to small mixing bowl. Whisk or stir to blend spices, then sprinkle mixture over tops of chicken cutlets. Flip cutlets over and season other side with remaining spice blend.
  • Heat large skillet over medium heat. When pan is hot, add oil. Continue warming skillet until oil is hot and shimmering, then add seasoned cutlets.
  • Cook cutlets 4 minutes, then flip cutlets over and cook 4 minutes more or until cutlets are cooked through. Internal temperature should register at least 160° Fahrenheit, not to exceed 165° Fahrenheit.
  • Transfer cooked chicken to medium bowl. Add buffalo sauce to bowl and toss or stir until cutlets are fully coated.
  • When cutlets are coated in buffalo sauce, assemble sandwiches in the following order: bottom bun, ranch dressing, lettuce, chicken, tomato, top bun. Serve immediately.
  • Make it Gluten Free: Use gluten-free buns and make sure your buffalo sauce is gluten free.
  • Make it Whole30: Use a compliant buffalo sauce and a compliant ranch, and replace the sandwich buns with lettuce buns.

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1sandwichCalories: 420calProtein: 41gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 1762mgPotassium: 817mgTotal Carbs: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gNet Carbs: 23gVitamin A: 757IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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