• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Good Cheap Eats
  • About
    • Welcome to the Good Cheap Eats Kitchen
    • Media
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Me
  • Members Only
    • Login
    • Club Homepage
    • Club Resource Library
    • Downloads
    • Live Club Events
  • Recipe Index
  • Recent Posts
  • SHOP
    • Purchases
    • Cookbooks
    • Planner
    • The Good Cheap Eats Club
    • Meal Plans
    • Holiday Helps
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Join the Club
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • All Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Join the Club
    • Cookbooks
    • About
    • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Budget Recipes

    Buffalo Chicken Bites

    Published: Feb 12, 2022 · Modified: Feb 12, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

    FacebookTweetPinPrint
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Enjoy spicy wings but prefer not to hassle with prepping them — or worse, pay 50 cents each at a restaurant? Get all the flavor you love with less work and expense in these tasty Buffalo Chicken Bites.

    Serve these tasty bites of chicken with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing. So good for dipping! Make a big batch so you can enjoy extras the next day on a Buffalo Chicken Salad. This is a great easy recipe to add to your monthly meal plan.

    steaming hot chicken bite on toothpick over black serving plate. this …

    Want to save this post?

    Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you budget recipes and money-saving tips every week!

    Save Recipe

    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs & Recipe Costs
    • How to Use Leftovers
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Buffalo Chicken Bites

    My kids love wings. Heck, I love wings. But it’s a bit of a production to make them at home and a fair amount of cost to enjoy them at Pizza Port (they do make the best ones!).

    So, I’ve found a DIY solution that is sure to deliver in flavor, cost, and ease: Buffalo Chicken Bites.

    Cut tender boneless, skinless chicken breast into generous “bites”, coat them in butter and seasonings, and bake in the oven. The resulting nuggets are packed with flavor with very little work.

    Why Make This

    It’s easy. You can easily prep a batch of these in about fifteen minutes. While they bake, you can prep the rest of the meal.

    It’s meatier. Let’s face it, while wings are indeed delicious, there isn’t a whole lot of meat to them. Enjoy a full bite of tasty with these Buffalo Chicken Bites.

    It’s less messy. Perhaps the mess is part of your attraction to wings, but if it’s not, the easy eating of these tasty morsels is a more than compelling reason to make them.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

    ingredients for buffalo chicken bites laid out on a table.

    chicken – I like to use boneless skinless chicken breast because it’s the same price as other cuts of chicken, even the bone-in variety, at my local ALDI. You can use breast or thigh, whichever you prefer. Boneless will be easier and quicker to cut into bites.

    hot sauce – Frank’s Red Hot Sauce is traditional for Buffalo chicken, but you can use other hot sauces. Just saying. Use more than my recommended tablespoon if you’d like things a bit spicier.

    butter – I use dairy butter, but you can use dairy-free butter or margarine as well as olive oil if you prefer.

    spices – Garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and cayenne pepper give just the right amount of flavor and heat. Feel free to use more cayenne if you want your chicken a bit spicier.

    Blue cheese dressing and celery sticks – Blue cheese dressing and celery are traditionally served with wings, but you can choose a number of different sauces for dipping, such as Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing if you prefer.

    Variation

    Buffalo Chicken Tenders – if you prefer, you can use chicken tenders instead of cubed chicken in this recipe. Follow the same instructions, just adjust the baking time to make sure the tenders are cooked through.

    Got leftovers? Consider using them in this buffalo-style chicken dip.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s how to make Buffalo Chicken Bites:

    cubed chicken in metal bowl with sauce and butter poured over top.
    chicken and butter sauce mixed with a teal spatula

    1. Place the chicken cubes in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the butter and hot sauce. Toss to coat.

    seasonings sprinkled over chicken.
    chicken mixed with spices with a teal spatula.

    2. Sprinkle the spices over the chicken, tossing to coat. Allow the flavors to blend for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    seasoned chicken on a lined baking sheet.
    baked buffalo chicken bites on parchment-lined baking sheet.

    3. Transfer the chicken to the lined baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with dip and celery.

    Promptly store leftovers in a covered dish in the fridge and consume within 4 days.

    Freezing instructions

    Buffalo Chicken Bites can be frozen before or after cooking.

    • To freeze before cooking: Place the chicken, cooled butter mixture, and spices in a labeled, ziptop freezer bag. Massage to distribute the seasoning around the chicken pieces and place in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. When ready to cook, thaw the package on a tray in the fridge and proceed with the recipe.
    • To freeze after cooking: Cool the cooked chicken and place in a labeled, ziptop freezer bag. Chill thoroughly in the fridge and then transfer to the freezer. When ready to serve, thaw the chicken and serve cold or reheat in the microwave, stovetop, air fryer, or oven until hot.

    FAQs & Recipe Costs

    How to make Buffalo Chicken Tenders?

    Toss chicken tenders in the butter sauce and spices and bake until cooked through.

    How do you use Buffalo chicken?

    Cooked buffalo chicken is delicious for eating with a dipping sauce, folding into wraps, tucking into sandwiches, or topping salad or pizza. It’s also delicious combined with cream cheese for a dip.

    Is Buffalo chicken spicy?

    While the recipe does call for hot sauce and cayenne pepper, the dish does not have to be overly spicy. Adjust the seasonings for as hot or as mild as you like.

    Why is it called Buffalo chicken?

    The dish got its name from its place of origin, Buffalo, New York. As always there is some debate about who started it, but the base fact is that they’re named after a place, not the animal.

    Recipe Costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • chicken – $1.79
    • butter – $0.20
    • hot sauce – $0.13
    • spices – $0.10

    While your costs may vary depending on where and how you shop, you can expect to pay about $2.09 for a big batch of Buffalo Chicken Bites, about $0.52/serving.

    overhead shot of black plate on wooden board with buffalo chicken bites, some with toothpicks, an array of celery sticks, and a small white bowl of blue cheese dressing.

    How to Use Leftovers

    Avoiding food waste is a great way to save money and time. Why prep more food when you’ve got good stuff that needs eating? Consider these recipes for repurposing any leftovers or make a double batch to make these recipes easier to make later in the week!

    • A plate of buffalo chicken wrap
      Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese Dressing
    • chopped cilantro and green onions topped on the dressing on the salad.
      Buffalo Chicken Salad
    • A large BBQ Chicken pizza topped with cilantro
      BBQ Chicken Pizza with Bacon & Pineapple
    • cut side view of chicken salad sandwich with cucumber
      Easy Chicken Salad Sandwiches
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    toothpick holding up a chicken bite with steam rising from it.

    Buffalo Chicken Bites

    Enjoy spicy wings but prefer not to hassle with prepping them — or worse, pay 50 cents each at a restaurant? Get all the flavor you love with less work and expense in these tasty Buffalo Chicken Bites.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 185kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $2.09

    Equipment

    • large mixing bowl
    • rubber spatula
    • heavy duty sheet pan
    • parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast , cut into bite-size chunks
    • 2 tablespoon butter melted and cooled
    • 1 tablespoon hot sauce or more to taste
    • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper or more to taste
    • celery sticks and Blue cheese dressing for serving
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Place the chicken cubes in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the butter and hot sauce. Toss to coat.
      1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, 2 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon hot sauce
    • Sprinkle the spices over the chicken, tossing to coat. Allow the flavors to blend for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
      ½ tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    • Transfer the chicken to the lined baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with dip and celery.
      celery sticks and Blue cheese dressing for serving

    Notes

    Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. They are delicious in salads, wraps, pizza, and sandwiches.
    Nutritional values are approximate and based on 4 ounces of chicken.
    Buffalo Chicken Tenders – if you prefer, you can use chicken tenders instead of cubed chicken in this recipe. Follow the same instructions, just adjust the baking time to make sure the tenders are cooked through.
    Freezing Instructions: Buffalo Chicken Bites can be frozen before or after cooking.
    • To freeze before cooking: Place the chicken, cooled butter mixture, and spices in a labeled, ziptop freezer bag. Massage to distribute the seasoning around the chicken pieces and place in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. When ready to cook, thaw the package on a tray in the fridge and proceed with the recipe.
    • To freeze after cooking: Cool the cooked chicken and place in a labeled, ziptop freezer bag. Chill thoroughly in the fridge and then transfer to the freezer. When ready to serve, thaw the chicken and serve cold or reheat in the microwave, stovetop, air fryer, or oven until hot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 486IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.
    « Jalapeño Artichoke Dip
    Buffalo Chicken Salad »
    FacebookTweetPinPrint

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Adela

      May 29, 2022 at 5:10 am

      5 stars
      I just made these incredible tasty buffalo chicken bites and I am so delighted! It’s really very yummy and easy to prepare! Will do those more often. Many thanks for such a great recipe ?

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    teal graphic with the words, do you know what's for dinner tonight.

    Mexican Food Recipes

    • close up of crockpot enchiladas on a blue plate with fork and salad.
      Easy Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
    • close up of freezer burrito cut in half in paper-lined basket.
      Easy Freezer Burrito Recipe with Chicken, Beans, & Cheese
    • overhead shot of bowl of salsa verde beef.
      Shredded Salsa Verde Beef (5-Ingredient Recipe)
    • side view of buffalo chicken quesadillas with filling coming out of sides.
      Easy Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
    • jar of jalapeño salsa with sliced chiles on top and bunch of cilantro and whole on table beside.
      Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe [VIDEO]
    • spoon of chicken taco soup over the bowl of soup.
      Chicken Taco Soup

    Reader Favorites

    • asian marinated chicken breast sliced on a plate with rice and veg.
      5-Minute Asian Chicken Marinade Recipe
    • close-up of cream of celery soup in a jar with celery leaves behind.
      Homemade Cream of Celery Soup Recipe
    • small glass pitcher of milk on black background.
      20+ Easy Milk Recipes to Use Up the Leftover Gallon
    • with a fork fluffing the baked rice in the pan with steam rising.
      Baked Rice: How to Cook Rice in the Oven
    • green onions added to meal prep salads.
      Meal Prep Salads for Easy Lunches You’ll Want to Eat
    • best pulled pork in a freezer container to freeze.
      Best Pulled Pork Recipe
    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    teal graphic with the words, do you know what's for dinner tonight.

    Mexican Food Recipes

    • chicken enchilada bake on plate with side dishes.
      60+ Budget-Friendly Mexican Dinner Ideas
    • close up of chips in black bowl.
      3 Ways to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips
    • the finished plate of loaded nachos.
      Nacho Bar
    • cooked taco meat in oval dish with taco toppings nearby.
      Easy Homemade Taco Meat
    • overhead shot of jalapeno cream cheese dip with sliced jalapeños on top and a spoon twirled in the cheese.
      Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
    • closeup of Spanish brown rice in white bowl.
      Spanish Brown Rice (Mexican Brown Rice)

    Reader Favorites

    • asian marinated chicken breast sliced on a plate with rice and veg.
      5-Minute Asian Chicken Marinade Recipe
    • close-up of cream of celery soup in a jar with celery leaves behind.
      Homemade Cream of Celery Soup Recipe
    • small glass pitcher of milk on black background.
      20+ Easy Milk Recipes to Use Up the Leftover Gallon
    • with a fork fluffing the baked rice in the pan with steam rising.
      Baked Rice: How to Cook Rice in the Oven
    • green onions added to meal prep salads.
      Meal Prep Salads for Easy Lunches You’ll Want to Eat
    • best pulled pork in a freezer container to freeze.
      Best Pulled Pork Recipe

    Footer

    back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Shipping Policy
    • Return Policy
    • Digital Shop

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Good Cheap Eats

    buffalo chicken bite on a toothpick by platter with text overlay.