Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese is a flavor-packed twist on an old favorite. Filled with smoky gouda, BBQ chicken, and red onion, this recipe is a quick and easy way to make lunch more exciting.
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Why this Buffalo Flavor Gourmet Grilled Cheese Recipe is a Keeper
This cheesy, melty comfort food can easily be made with leftover chicken and a spicy buffalo sauce. Use your favorite sandwich bread and top with the chicken to create a delicious twist on the traditional grilled cheese. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love buffalo chicken sandwiches:
- 30 Minute Meal: These easy grilled cheese sandwiches only take 30 minutes to make.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for this easy buffalo chicken grilled cheese recipe can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Adaptable: Substitute or add ingredients to your tastes and dietary preferences. Add your favorite toppings, like blue cheese, or adjust the ingredient list to your needs.
If you’re looking for more buffalo chicken recipes, try these: Buffalo Chicken Pasta, Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders, and Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders.
Is the Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Recipe Very Spicy?
Buffalo chicken on its own isn’t extremely spicy, but you can make it more or less spicy depending on the amount of sauce you use.
Recipe Ingredients for the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
- Shredded Chicken: This is a great recipe for frozen chicken, leftover grilled chicken, or rotisserie chicken breasts. You can precook chicken for this sandwich, but you can also use chicken thighs; either one is a good cut of chicken to use.
- Cheese: The best cheese for the sandwich varies depending on the recipe, but for this one, gouda is recommended for its smoky flavor. Cheddar cheese or American cheese also work or try a cream cheese mixture in place of sliced cheese.
- Bread: Use good grilled cheese bread. If you want the best bread for grilled cheese, you can try brioche, Italian, or Cuban bread. You can even use Texas Toast.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Buffalo Grilled Cheese
- Bread: Use any variety of bread you want. For instance, you can also try sourdough.
- Blue Cheese Sauce: Ranch or blue cheese dressing makes a great sauce to top your grilled cheese with.
- Air Fryer: Instead of a pan, you can cook these sandwiches in the air fryer.
Special Equipment Needed for Chicken Grilled Cheese
Baster: Use a baster to spread the garlic butter onto the bread.
Pro Tip for the Best Grilled Cheese
Don’t be afraid to experiment with cheese combinations! Try a mix of cheddar and gruyere for a complex flavor, or add mozzarella to a sharper cheese for extra meltability.
How to Make American Grilled Cheese
Making grilled cheeses is easy, and you can up your grilled cheese game by adding crispy chicken and cheese on top, along with plenty of buffalo flavor. If you’re a blue cheese fan, you can even cook your grilled cheese with blue cheese dressing. Follow these steps to learn how to make the perfect grilled cheese with buffalo sauce and ranch.
These are the basic steps for making buffalo grilled cheese sandwiches. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Cook the Toppings and Buffalo Sauce
Add the oil to a large pan, add the onions, and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat while stirring until slightly soft. Add the chicken, garlic powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce. Mix together until you coat it all. Turn off the heat and set aside.
2. Make Garlic Butter
In a small microwaveable bowl, add the butter, garlic powder, and dried parsley and microwave for 10-30 seconds, or just until melted. Place the 8 pieces of bread on parchment paper and spread the butter on one side of all the pieces of bread with a baster.
3. Assemble Sandwich and Cook
Flip each piece of bread over, with the butter on the outside, and add one slice of cheese to 4 of the slices. Then, add the chicken mixture on top of each cheese slice, dividing it evenly. Place 4 more cheese slices on top of each one. Next, top the cheese. Place the top piece of bread on top of the cheese to close the sandwich; make sure the buttered sides of each slice of bread are facing out, not in.
4. Toast the Bread and Let Cheese Melt
Spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking oil and cook the grilled cheese over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the outside of the bread is golden brown and the cheese has melted. Flip and repeat with the next two sandwiches. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe FAQs and Reader Interactions
Store in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
Reheat by briefly warming up on the stovetop.
You should use bread that holds the butter, cheese, and toppings well so it doesn’t get soggy. Brioche, Italian bread, and Cuban bread are all good choices.
Yes; you can cook the buffalo chicken mixture in advance, store it in the fridge, and then assemble the sandwich when you’re ready.
Expert Tips for Making This Sandwich Recipe
- Spice: Make these sandwiches spicier with red pepper flakes, chili powder, or cayenne pepper. You can even add a bit of hot sauce.
- Cheese: Feel free to use different cheeses, like cheddar, Swiss, provolone, Monterey jack, or pepper jack cheese. For even more melty cheese, top the sandwiches with two slices instead of one.
What to Serve with Buffalo Grilled Cheese
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Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- 2 Large Pans
- Baster
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Ingredients
- 1 Red Onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 3 cups Chicken, Shredded Cooked
- 2 tablespoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 cups Honey BBQ Sauce
- 8 slices Gouda Cheese
- ¼ cup Butter
- 2 tablespoons Dried Parsley
- 8 slices Brioche Bread
Instructions
- Add the oil to a large pan, add the onions, and cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring until slightly soft. Add the chicken, garlic powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce. Mix together until everything is coated. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- In a microwaveable bowl, add the butter, garlic powder, and dried parsley and microwave for 10-30 seconds, or just until melted. Place the 8 pieces of bread on parchment paper and spread the butter mixture on only one side of all the pieces of bread with a baster.
- Flip each piece of bread over, butter side down, and add a slice of cheese to 4 of the slices. Then, add the chicken mixture on top of each cheese slice, dividing it evenly. Place 4 more cheese slices on top of each one. Next, place the other pieces of bread on top of the cheese; make sure the buttered sides are facing out, not in.
- Spray a large pan with nonstick cooking oil and cook the grilled cheese over medium to low heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until you get the color you want on the bread. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Christina’s Notes
- Spice: Make these sandwiches spicier with red pepper flakes, chili powder, or cayenne pepper. You can even add a bit of hot sauce.
- Cheese: Feel free to use different cheeses, like cheddar, Swiss, provolone, Monterey jack, or pepper jack cheese. For even more melty cheese, top the sandwiches with two slices instead of one.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.