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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken is a great option if you’re tired of dry or boring chicken dinners. This recipe uses simple seasonings and a homemade buffalo sauce to give the chicken plenty of flavor without a lot of work. Whether you’re craving Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites, or Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings, I’ll show you how to get bold buffalo flavor without the mess, breading steps, or a deep fryer.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here’s why this recipe keeps making its way back to our dinner table:
- Simple ingredients: All you need is chicken, everyday spices, and a quick homemade buffalo sauce, nothing fancy or hard to find.
- Juicy, flavorful results: The air fryer helps the chicken get nicely browned on the outside while staying tender inside.
- Easy from start to finish: Just season the chicken, air fry it, then toss it in the sauce for a no-stress meal that comes together fast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These quick tips will help you get the best results. Be sure to grab the exact measurements from the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Chicken breasts: Lean and easy to cook in the air fryer. Cut into even pieces so they cook evenly.
- Natural Ancient Sea Salt
- Black pepper
- Smoked paprika: Adds a subtle smoky flavor that pairs well with buffalo sauce.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Avocado Oil or Olive Oil: Helps the seasonings stick and encourages even browning in the air fryer.
Buffalo Sauce
- Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce: A classic buffalo sauce with the right balance of heat and tang.
- Unsalted butter: Softens the heat and gives the sauce a smooth, rich texture.
How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken
Prep the Chicken
Start by mixing your spices, then coat the chicken breasts with the seasoning and a little oil. Preheat the air fryer, then arrange the chicken in a single layer so it cooks evenly.
Cook & Sauce
Air fry the chicken until golden and cooked through, adjusting the time for larger pieces. While it cooks, mix the buffalo sauce ingredients.
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Toss the hot chicken in the sauce, let it sit for a few minutes to soak up the flavor, and serve. Extra sauce makes a great dipping option on the side.
Pro Tips That Save Time & Add Flavor
A few tricks can make this recipe even easier and more flavorful:
- Cut it up for variety: Slice or dice the chicken if you’re adding it to tacos, salads, or bowls.
- Adjust the heat: Add ghost pepper seasoning or swap in a spicier sauce for extra kick.
- Use what you have: Any hot sauce will work if you don’t have Frank’s.
- Make it saucy: If you like more sauce on your chicken, just toss a little extra after air frying for maximum flavor.
- Adjust for the cut of chicken: I’m using chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can also use the same spices and sauce for other cuts of chicken. Check out my Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites, and Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings for specific cooking instructions and tips.
Swaps & Variations
All of my recipes are kitchen-tested and designed to fit real life. Here are some easy ways to adapt this recipe to suit your taste, your pantry, or your weeknight schedule:
- Protein swaps: Chicken thighs, drumsticks, or wings all work beautifully in the air fryer. You can even try buffalo-style stuffed peppers for a fun twist.
- Veggie options: Serve with roasted or air-fried vegetables, or toss in shredded lettuce or cabbage for a quick salad or taco filling.
- Budget-friendly tip: Chicken drumsticks or thighs are often cheaper than breasts and stay juicy when air fried.
- Extra sauce: Toss the chicken in a little more buffalo sauce after cooking for a saucier, bolder flavor.
More Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Recipes
If you love this version, there are plenty of ways to enjoy buffalo chicken straight from the air fryer.
From crispy wings and juicy thighs to bite-sized pieces and stuffed peppers, these recipes are all easy, flavorful, and perfect for any night of the week.
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
- Buffalo Chicken Wraps
- Buffalo Chicken Tacos
FAQs
Buffalo chicken breasts cook perfectly at 400°F for about 14–18 minutes, flipping halfway through. You want them juicy and cooked to 165°F internally.
Air fry buffalo wings at 400°F for 22–25 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway for even crispiness. They come out golden and hot, ready to toss in sauce.
Yes! Raw chicken cooks safely in the air fryer. Just make sure it reaches 165°F internally, and you’ll get tender, flavorful chicken every time.
Buffalo chicken bites cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice. They’re lightly crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and perfect for snacks, salads, or wraps.
Storage & Reheating
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: This recipe isn’t ideal for freezing since the chicken can dry out.
- Reheat: Warm in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–5 minutes to keep the chicken juicy and the sauce flavorful.
Printable Recipe Card
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.25 lbs Chicken Breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1/4 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 2 tbsp Avocado oil, or Olive Oil
Buffalo Sauce
- 1/3 cup Franks Red Hot Wing Sauce
- 1 tbsp Butter, unsalted
Instructions
- Mix the spices together in a small bowl.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 °F for 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken breasts to a large mixing bowl with the spices and oil. Toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400 °F for 7-9 min per side, depending on how large your chicken breasts are.
- Mix the buffalo sauce ingredients.
- Toss the cooked chicken in sauce, allow it to rest in the Buffalo sauce for 5 minutes, and serve. Leftover sauce can be served with the chicken in a dipping cup.
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Recipe Notes
- Cut it up for variety: Slice or dice the chicken if you’re adding it to tacos, salads, or bowls.
- Adjust the heat: Add ghost pepper seasoning or swap in a spicier sauce for extra kick.
- Use what you have: Any hot sauce will work if you don’t have Frank’s.
- Make it saucy: If you like more sauce on your chicken, just toss a little extra after air frying for maximum flavor.
- Adjust for the cut of chicken: I’m using chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can also use the same spices and sauce for other cuts of chicken. Check out my Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites, and Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings for specific cooking instructions and tips.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
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