If you love spicy Buffalo wings but want a healthier, high-protein option for summer grilling, this buffalo grilled chicken recipe is going to become one of your favorites. It has all the bold, spicy Buffalo wing flavor you crave but in an easy grilled chicken breast recipe that’s perfect for meal prep, quick dinners, salads, wraps, and more.

And as someone who was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, trust me when I say this recipe delivers authentic Buffalo flavor. From the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce to the buttery hot sauce brushed on at the end, this is exactly how Buffalo chicken should taste – just in a lighter, healthier grilled version.

Quick Look at the Recipe

• Prep Time: 10 minutes (+ marinating time)
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: About 25 minutes
• Spice Level: Medium-spicy to very spicy
• Best For: Meal prep, grilling season, high-protein dinners, salads, wraps

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this buffalo chicken marinade and grilled chicken recipe. You can find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. I almost always use boneless skinless chicken breasts for grilled chicken marinades because they’re lean, high in protein, and soak up flavor really well. You can also use chicken thighs or chicken tenders if you prefer.
• Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. When it comes to authentic Buffalo chicken recipes, Frank’s Red Hot Sauce is hands down the only hot sauce I use. Make sure to grab the original Frank’s Red Hot Sauce – not the Buffalo wing sauce.
• Chicken Stock + Olive Oil. The chicken stock and olive oil help thin out the marinade so it coats the chicken evenly and really soaks into the meat. It also helps keep the grilled chicken juicy.
• Ranch Seasoning Mix. I highly recommend using my homemade ranch seasoning mix because the flavor is so much better than store-bought packets. But if you use store-bought, try to grab a higher-quality version with less sodium.
• Salted Butter. This is the secret to authentic Buffalo flavor. After grilling, the chicken gets brushed with a simple melted butter and hot sauce mixture that gives it that classic Buffalo wing taste.
• Blue Cheese or Ranch Dressing. As someone from Buffalo, I have to say blue cheese is the only correct choice for Buffalo chicken. But I also know not everyone loves blue cheese, so ranch dressing works too.

How to Make Buffalo Grilled Chicken (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Make the buffalo chicken marinade. In a medium bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, olive oil, ¼ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, and ranch seasoning mix until combined. The marinade should look smooth and slightly thin so it coats the chicken evenly.

Step 2: Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken breasts into a large zip-top bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over the top. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but overnight is even better for maximum flavor. If you’re meal prepping, this is a great step to do the night before.

Step 3: Preheat the grill. Heat the grill to medium-high heat. You want the grill hot enough to create some char and grill marks without drying out the chicken.

Step 4: Grill the chicken. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the leftover marinade. Place the chicken breasts onto the grill and cook for about 5–6 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts.

Step 5: Let the chicken rest. Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest for about 3–4 minutes before slicing. This helps keep the chicken juicy by allowing the juices to redistribute.

Step 6: Brush with the Buffalo butter sauce. While the chicken rests, melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Slowly whisk in the remaining Frank’s Red Hot Sauce until smooth. Using a pastry brush, brush the Buffalo butter sauce over the grilled chicken. This is the secret step that gives the chicken authentic Buffalo flavor.

Step 7: Serve and enjoy. Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing. This chicken is delicious on salads, in wraps, on sandwiches, over rice bowls, or alongside grilled vegetables.

Expert Cooking Tips

• Don’t skip the butter sauce. The melted butter mixed with hot sauce is what gives Buffalo chicken that authentic flavor. It’s the biggest difference between “hot sauce chicken” and real Buffalo chicken.
• Don’t over-marinate. Because Frank’s Red Hot Sauce is vinegar-based, I don’t recommend marinating longer than 24 hours or the texture of the chicken can start to break down.
• Use a meat thermometer. Chicken breasts can dry out quickly on the grill. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Pound thick chicken breasts if needed. If your chicken breasts are extra thick, pound them slightly so they cook more evenly.
• Grill extra for meal prep. This recipe is one of my favorite grilled chicken meal prep recipes because the leftovers are so versatile throughout the week.

How to Serve Buffalo Grilled Chicken

This buffalo-style grilled chicken is incredibly versatile. Some of my favorite ways to serve it are:

• sliced over salads
• inside wraps
• on sandwiches or hoagie rolls
• in rice or quinoa bowls
• with roasted vegetables
• alongside grilled corn or ranch roasted potatoes

I almost always make extra because the leftovers are so good for lunches during the week.

For meal prep, I store the chicken in glass meal prep containers to keep everything fresh and easy to grab.

Variations

• While I typically use it with boneless skinless chicken breasts, you can also use it on chicken thighs or chicken tenders with great results.
• This marinade also works really well with shrimp, scallops, cod, tilapia, or even tofu if you want a vegetarian option. Personally, I don’t usually use it on salmon because the Buffalo flavor can be a little too strong for salmon, but if you love Buffalo salmon, you can absolutely give it a try.
• I make this recipe most often on the grill, but you can also cook the chicken in the oven, in a grill pan, or in the air fryer. Another delicious option is to make buffalo shredded chicken in the crockpot using this same flavor combination.

Make-Ahead and Freezer Tips

This buffalo grilled chicken is one of my favorite recipes to prep ahead for the week because it’s so versatile. I’ll often grill a big batch on Sunday and then use the leftovers throughout the week for salads, wraps, rice bowls, sandwiches, or quick high-protein lunches and dinners.

To save time during the week, you can marinate the chicken overnight or even 1–2 days ahead of time. The longer it marinates, the more Buffalo flavor the chicken will soak up.

This recipe also works great for freezer prep. Place the raw chicken directly into the marinade and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight and continue with the recipe as directed.

You can also freeze the fully cooked buffalo grilled chicken. Let the chicken cool completely, then store it in freezer-safe containers or bags for easy meals later on. The cooked chicken reheats really well for wraps, salads, bowls, and sandwiches.

Other Chicken Recipes to Try

If you love easy chicken breast recipes, here are a few more favorites:

• Healthy Chicken and Rice
• Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables
• Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake
• Healthy Chicken Parm

And make sure to check out some of my chicken meal prep ideas to have easy dinners ready ahead of time.

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you made this buffalo grilled chicken recipe, I’d love to hear how you served it! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations.