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–+ servings
healthy and crispy air fryer buffalo chicken

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken

These 20-minute healthy air fryer buffalo chicken breasts are super moist and perfectly crisp; use store-bought or make your own buffalo sauce with three ingredients. An easy, high-protein weeknight dinner and meal prep!
5 from 22 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Serving 3 servings

Ingredients
 

  • 3 medium chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
  • ⅓ cup + 3 tbsp buffalo sauce*, e.g., Primal Kitchen, plus more for serving
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • Avocado or olive oil cooking spray

Homemade Buffalo Sauce:

  • ½ cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp melted butter or ghee
  • ½ tsp paprika

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer to 360°F and lightly grease the basket with olive oil or avocado spray.
  • Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and place them in a shallow bowl.
  • Pour ⅓ cup of buffalo sauce over the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Use kitchen tongs to flip the chicken breasts to ensure they are completely coated. Let marinate for 5 to 10 minutes.
    marinated chicken in buffalo sauce
  • Once the air fryer is heated, evenly space out the chicken breasts into the basket, placing them breast side down (the smooth side).
    adding raw chicken marinated in buffalo sauce to an air fryer basket
  • Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip with kitchen tongs and cook for another 3 - 5 minutes.
  • Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer and generously top them with the remaining 3 tbsp or more of buffalo sauce. Return to the air fryer and cook for another 2 – 3 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
    side by side how to air fryer chicken breasts in buffalo sauce
  • Allow the chicken breasts to rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Buffalo Sauce: Use store-bought buffalo sauce or make your own.
To make chicken tenders: Cut chicken breast legth-wise into 3 - 4 strips each. Pat dry with a paper towel and coat in the buffalo sauce. Air fry for a total of 10 - 12 minutes.
Chicken Thighs: I recommend using boneless and skinless chicken thighs for this air fryer buffalo chicken recipe. Air fry for 10 minutes. Then, flip each chicken piece with tongs and an air fryer for 4 – 5 more until cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Rest for Juiciness: Allow the chicken to rest outside the air fryer for 5 minutes before serving!!
Meal Prep: Air fryer buffalo chicken is perfect for meal prep since it keeps for up to 5 days in the fridge. Make a batch or two on a Sunday and enjoy all week long!
Freezing: You can freeze cooked buffalo chicken in any freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Once you are ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for a few hours. To reheat, place back in the air fryer for 5 – 8 minutes until warm or microwave-wrapped in a damp paper towel for 20 – 30 seconds.
To Store: In an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 867mg | Potassium: 841mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
Course Lunch & Dinner
Cuisine American, Healthy
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please leave a comment and star rating on this post and tag @HealthfulBlondie on Instagram & hashtag it #healthfulblondie!