Spice up your next dinner or appetizer night with Baked Buffalo Chicken Bites. Add a drippy ranch sauce for the perfect pairing of hot and spicy with the creaminess of ranch dressing. It is an ideal recipe for boneless buffalo wings without the deep fryer.
The best part is that the crispy coating absorbs the buffalo sauce while it bakes. Use homemade buffalo sauce to customize the spice to your preferred heat level. It is a great way to enjoy the buffalo flavor without the heat. On the flip side, if you want an even hotter spice level, that is another option.
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Ingredients For Buffalo Chicken
Chicken - Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Buffalo Sauce - Homemade or a bottled option from the store. Use your favorite.
Apple Cider Vinegar - Adds more of a vinegar bite to the buffalo sauce.
Worcestershire Sauce - Just a little bit to add a great umami flavor to the sauce.
Cornstarch - Naturally gluten free, and great for that crispy crust.
Eggs - Another vital part of that battered chicken. The eggs stick to the cornstarch to build the batter.
Salt and Pepper - Another layer of seasoning.
Avocado Oil - Or another high-heat oil option. We love avocado oil, but we have also used canola oil or vegetable oil in the past.
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions. Selected ingredients are based on current serving sizes measured by the Monash App at the time of publishing. As always, follow your gut and modify as needed.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Dice the chicken into big bite-sized pieces.
Place the cornstarch in a shallow pie plate. Add the salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
Place half the diced chicken into the cornstarch. Stir the chicken pieces until coated.
Crack the eggs into another shallow pie plate. Whisk until combined.
Using tongs, place the cornstarch-coated chicken into the eggs. Flip until coated.
Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot and rippling, add the coated chicken pieces. Do not overcrowd the pan.
Flip the chicken pieces in the hot oil once golden brown on all sides.
Remove the chicken from the oil and place it in a 9x13-inch pan. Continue cooking the chicken until all the pieces are done.
In a small bowl, mix ½ cup buffalo sauce, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce together.
Pour the flavorful sauce over the chicken pieces. Gently stir. Place the chicken in a preheated 325 degree F oven.
Cook for thirty minutes, stir, and cook for another thirty minutes. While the chicken is baking, make the homemade ranch dressing.
Remove from the oven and pour the remaining buffalo sauce over the chicken. Serve immediately.
Chicken Bite Ingredient Substitutions
- Chicken - Swap the chicken breasts for chicken tenders. Use homemade chicken nuggets and top with buffalo sauce.
- Buffalo Sauce - Homemade is my favorite option, but Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce will work.
Chicken Bites Variations
Spicy Boneless Chicken Wings: Add cayenne pepper and hot sauce when mixing up the spicy buffalo sauce.
BBQ Boneless Chicken Wings: Swap the buffalo sauce for homemade BBQ sauce or your favorite bottled BBQ sauce.
Blue Cheese Dressing: Add blue cheese crumbles to the ranch dressing.
Storing And Reheating
To Store: Keep any leftover bites in an airtight container for up to four days.
To Reheat: Place a few chicken bites on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until warm. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees F.
To Freeze: Freezing leftover chicken bites is an option; however, the crispy batter won't be as crisp, and the defrosting and reheating process is not great for chicken bites.
Special Diet Modifications
Gluten Free: This recipe is already gluten free. Just be sure to check the ingredients used to ensure there isn't any sneaky gluten, especially if celiac or cross-contamination is a concern.
Dairy Free: Swap out the ranch dressing in the recipe for Dairy Free Ranch Dressing.
Low FODMAP: Keep this recipe low FODMAP by using Low FODMAP Buffalo Sauce and Low FODMAP Ranch Dressing. Doing this will help avoid any possible triggers with garlic, onion, or lactose. Modify based on personal tolerances.
Meal Planning
I like serving chicken bites with celery sticks, carrots, and lots of ranch dressing. These are the perfect Super Bowl party food! Serve them on a platter with toothpicks for easy, hands-free dipping!
Another option is to use leftover boneless wings in a buffalo chicken rice bowl. The crispy chicken is placed on a bed of cilantro lime rice with roasted sweet potatoes, carrot ribbons, and diced celery. It is topped with ranch dressing.
If you need another quick lunch option, wrap the spicy chicken bites in a tortilla to create buffalo chicken wraps. Add shredded carrots, lettuce, and ranch dressing.
Additional Buffalo Recipes
Recipe
Baked Boneless Buffalo Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 pounds)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 3 large eggs beaten
- ¼ cup canola, vegetable or avocado oil
Buffalo Sauce Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup buffalo wing sauce or homemade divided
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Ranch Dressing Ingredients:
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1½ teaspoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch or slightly larger pieces.
- Place the cornstarch in a shallow pie plate. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper and stir. Add half of the diced chicken to the dish with the cornstarch, coating it with it.
- Whisk the eggs together in a pie plate or a shallow dish.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Dip the cornstarch-coated chicken pieces in the egg and place them carefully in a single layer in the hot skillet.
- Cook for 45-60 seconds on each side until the crust is golden brown. The chicken will not be cooked all the way through. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in a 9X13-inch baking dish. Repeat this process until all the chicken is cooked.
- In a small bowl, mix a ½ cup buffalo wing sauce, apple cider vinegar, and worcestershire sauce together and pour over the chicken. Bake for 30 minutes in a 325 degree F oven, stir and cook for another thirty minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F.
- While the chicken is baking, mix the ranch dressing ingredients in a mason jar or a small bowl. Whisk until combined.
- Once the chicken is done baking, add the remaining buffalo sauce to the chicken. Stir.
- Serve immediately with ranch dressing, carrot sticks, and celery sticks.
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