Description
Buffalo Blitz Bites are crispy, bite-sized pieces of chicken coated in a flavorful blend of spices, fried to golden perfection, and then tossed in a zesty buffalo sauce. Finished with a quick bake for extra crispiness, these bites are served with a creamy buffalo-infused ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce, making them perfect for game day or a tasty appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Bites
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crunch)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for frying)
For the Buffalo Sauce Coating
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
For the Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing
- 2 tablespoons buffalo sauce (for mixing into the sauce)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken Bites: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Dip each chicken cube first into the seasoned flour, then into the beaten eggs, and finally coat with breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to ensure they stick well.
- Fry the Bites: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the breaded chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook each side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
- Coat the Bites in Buffalo Sauce: In a large bowl, mix melted butter with buffalo sauce. Add the fried chicken bites and toss thoroughly to coat them evenly with the sauce.
- Bake the Bites: Arrange the coated chicken bites on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes to meld flavors and enhance crispiness.
- Make the Dipping Sauce: While the bites are baking, combine ranch or blue cheese dressing with buffalo sauce in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and well combined.
- Serve: Remove the buffalo bites from the oven and serve immediately with the buffalo dipping sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
- You can adjust the amount of buffalo sauce in the dipping sauce to make it milder or spicier to your taste.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour and breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when frying to ensure even cooking and browning.
- Leftover bites can be reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness rather than microwaving.
