Description
Buffalo Blitz Bites are crispy, juicy chicken cubes coated in a flavorful blend of spices and buffalo sauce. These bites are fried to golden perfection, baked briefly for extra crispiness, and served with a tangy buffalo ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce. This appetizer is perfect for game day or a hearty snack.
Ingredients
Scale
For the 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)
- 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, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Dip each chicken cube into the seasoned flour, then into the beaten eggs, and finally coat with breadcrumbs, pressing slightly to ensure they stick.
- Fry the Bites: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the breaded chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. You may need to work in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. After frying, transfer the bites to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Coat the Bites in Buffalo Sauce: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter with the buffalo sauce. Add the fried chicken bites to the bowl and toss to coat them evenly in the sauce.
- Bake the Bites: Place the coated buffalo bites onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, just to allow the flavors to meld and the coating to crisp up even more.
- Make the Dipping Sauce: While the bites are baking, prepare the dipping sauce by mixing together the ranch or blue cheese dressing with buffalo sauce in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and combined.
- Serve: Once the buffalo bites are baked, remove them from the oven. Serve immediately with the buffalo dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when frying.
- Panko breadcrumbs give a crunchier texture compared to regular breadcrumbs.
- You can adjust the amount of buffalo sauce in the coating and dipping sauce to suit your preferred spice level.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven for best texture retention.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour and breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
