This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Baked, buffalo chicken breasts are tender, juicy, and filled with savory spice. Made with a homemade, buffalo sauce marinade, you will love this healthy baked chicken recipe served with your favorite celery, blue cheese, and Ranch dressing.
Cooked to perfection and evenly tender, this recipe for buffalo chicken is one of the best. The chicken breasts are marinated in a spicy mixture of hot sauce, garlic and onion powder, and honey, then they are baked in the oven until perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Low carb Baked buffalo chicken is healthy and so easy to make within minutes for your next dinner at home. You can even use the buffalo chicken to shred for your favorite chicken salad recipe.
Why You Will Love This Chicken Buffalo Recipe
- Healthy and full of protein: These baked buffalo chicken breasts are gluten-free, full of protein, low in carbs, and perfect to pair with any salad. Chicken breasts are great for low-fat diets and will keep you full.
- Juicy and evenly cooked: Baked in the oven in an oven-safe dish, the chicken is perfectly moist on the inside thanks to the buffalo marinade. This chicken recipe is cooked until just right–not overly cooked.
- Delicious and full of flavor: Homemade buffalo sauce is the star of these baked chicken breasts. Flavors of chili powder, honey, garlic, and paprika are combined to create a smooth and rich hot sauce that is perfectly balanced.
Ingredients you will need for this baked chicken breast
You can find most of these ingredients at the local grocery store or online. You may already have most of these ingredients in your pantry!
- Hot sauce: We like to use Frank’s Hot Sauce because it is rich in flavor and tangy–just how hot sauce should be.
- Mayonnaise: Creamy mayonnaise balances everything out and creates a rich smooth texture for the homemade buffalo sauce.
- Honey: Sweet honey adds a slight sweetness to the hot sauce which allows it to be a little sweet and savory. The honey allows the hot sauce to not be overpowering.
- Paprika: Smoked paprika provides depth in flavor and gives the buffalo marinade its spiced zest.
- Garlic powder: Dried garlic powder is a main ingredient in the hot sauce and makes the sauce aromatic, savory, and robust.
- Onion powder: Onion powder goes along with the garlic powder to allow the sauce to be robust and full of flavor.
- Chili powder: Red chili powder gives the sauce a little extra spice but is not overwhelming whatsoever.
- Kosher sea salt: A little bit of sea salt is used to give the marinade enough seasoned flavors to make it tasty and delicious.
- Chicken breasts: You will need four raw chicken breasts. Make sure you evenly pound them before cooking so they are fully cooked.
How to Make Healthy Baked Buffalo Chicken Breasts
First, pound the chicken breasts with a meat tenderizer until it is an even thickness. Set the chicken breasts aside while you mix together the marinade.
Next, in a medium bowl, combine the hot sauce, mayonnaise, honey, spices and seasoning, and salt. Mix everything together with a whisk until smooth.
Reserve two spoonfuls of the marinade and refrigerate it until after the chicken has cooked in the oven.
Next, add the chicken breasts to the bowl with the buffalo sauce marinade, then stir everything with a spoon. Allow the chicken breasts to marinate for 30 minutes on the counter.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer the chicken to an oven-safe dish.
Bake the buffalo chicken breasts for 25 to 28 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the baked chicken from the oven, then transfer it to a platter with the remainder of the buffalo sauce–brush the sauce over the chicken.
Allow the chicken to sit with the buffalo sauce over it for at least ten minutes so the juices are fully absorbed before serving.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the baked chicken breasts to ensure it is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve the buffalo chicken breasts with blue cheese crumbles, ranch or blue cheese dressing, and celery sticks.
- Use any kind of hot sauce in place of Frank’s.
- Maple syrup can be used instead of honey for this recipe.
- Be sure to allow the chicken to soak with the buffalo sauce after it has baked.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Buffalo Chicken
Serve buffalo chicken breasts with homemade French fries, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, salads, pasta salad, roasted veggies, etc.
Be sure to bake the chicken for at least 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
We like to bake the chicken without the foil so the skin gets nice and crispy while the inside stays tender and juicy.
Yes, it is delicious to bake chicken with hot sauce and a homemade buffalo sauce marinade.
Recipes to Serve this low carb Chicken Breast Recipe With
Other Recipes You Will Enjoy
- Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Grilled Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Also, if you try a recipe and you like it, leave us some feedback in the comment section below. Don’t forget to rate the recipe, too! We would love it if you shared it with friends and family.
Finally, please use our hashtag #healthyfitnessmealson INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured, too! FOLLOW Healthy Fitness Meals on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER for all of our latest blog posts and recipes.
Healthy Buffalo Baked Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, lightly pounded with tenderizer until evenly thick
Buffalo Sauce
- ¼ cup Frank's hot sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey, or maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
Optional
- Celery sticks
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Ranch dressing
- Blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk well all the buffalo sauce ingredients. Reserve about 2 spoonfuls of sauce to use as a glaze/dip, and refrigerate it.
- To the bowl with the buffalo sauce, add the chicken breast and stir it to completely coat.
- Allow the chicken to marinate over the counter for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375F. Transfer the marinated chicken to an oven-safe dish.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165F.
- Once the chicken is done transfer to a platter and brush with the reserved buffalo sauce.
- Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before slicing it.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the baked chicken breasts to ensure it is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve the buffalo chicken breasts with blue cheese crumbles, ranch or blue cheese dressing, and celery sticks.
- Use any kind of hot sauce in place of Frank’s.
- Maple syrup can be used instead of honey for this recipe.
- Be sure to allow the chicken to soak with the buffalo sauce after it has baked.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This chicken was delicious! I added a little more hot sauce, chopped up the chicken, placed it in a pita pocket with lettuce and a drizzle of blue cheese and it was a hit in my house! Thank you!
Nice. Thanks for the feedback
This is great, I am trying to eat more healthy. Thanks
Loved the flavor!