There’s something about the tangy, spicy bite combined with tender chicken that makes this Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe an absolute winner on weeknights or casual get-togethers. The blend of flavors hits just right, and it’s surprisingly simple to make right in one pan!

The image shows a piece of grilled meat sliced into layers on a wooden cutting board. The sliced meat has a dark brown grilled surface with shiny glaze and char marks, revealing light brown inside layers. Behind the sliced meat, there is a whole piece of the same grilled meat, also shiny and dark brown, resting on the board. A large black knife with a white handle lies next to the meat on the board. The cutting board has a textured wood grain surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made this Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe a handful of times, and every single time it wows the crowd. It’s a balanced combo of spicy, sweet, and smoky vibes, all from ingredients that come together in about 30 minutes. Plus, it’s super versatile and forgiving.

Quick and Easy: You can whip this meal up on a busy night with minimal fuss and maximum flavor.
Customizable Heat: Control the spice level just by adjusting the buffalo glaze — mild to fiery, your call.
One-Pan Meal: Using just a skillet saves on cleanup, which we all appreciate after dinner!
Endless Serving Options: Works beautifully on its own, in wraps, salads, or even tacos for a little twist.

The image shows close-up grilled chicken slices arranged in a row. Each slice has a thick, juicy texture with a shiny, caramelized brown glaze covering the surface. The glaze has dark charred spots scattered on the top part, giving it a textured, slightly rough look. The chicken meat inside is light beige with a smooth, tender texture and visible juiciness. The slices are placed on a wooden surface, but the background is changed to a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe balances tangy hot sauce with hints of sweetness, smoky spices, and fresh lime juice for brightness. It’s a flavorful marinade and glaze combo that keeps the chicken juicy and lets you play with the spice level. I recommend buying fresh, good-quality chicken breasts and your favorite Frank’s hot sauce to keep it authentic.

Flat lay of three raw chicken breasts pounded thin, a small white bowl of bright red hot sauce, a small white bowl of golden honey, a small white bowl with fresh lime juice, scattered dried garlic powder, chili powder, salt crystals, ground cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, and whole black peppercorns arranged symmetrically around the bowls, two tablespoons of glossy olive oil in a small white bowl, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Chicken breasts: Pounding them thin helps the chicken cook evenly and soak up all the marinade flavors.
Olive oil: Used for marinating and cooking, it adds richness and helps brown the chicken beautifully.
Frank’s Hot Sauce: The star ingredient for that classic buffalo flavor—choose original or wings sauce depending on your heat preference.
Honey: Adds a subtle sweetness to balance the heat and deepen the flavor.
Lime juice: Brightens the marinade and glaze, cutting through richness and adding freshness.
Garlic powder: For that savory backbone that pairs so well with buffalo flavors.
Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper: These spices layer complexity and a little smoky warmth to the chicken.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to tweak this recipe often depending on what’s in the fridge or the mood we’re in. Sometimes I turn up the heat, other times I mellow it out with a little extra honey. Feel free to experiment — this Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe is really forgiving.

Variation: I once swapped out olive oil for avocado oil for a slightly different flavor and higher smoke point, which worked beautifully on the skillet.
Spice Level: If you want milder chicken, use Frank’s original hot sauce and just a light glaze; for spice lovers, double down on the wings sauce and glaze generously.
Protein Swap: I’ve done this with turkey breasts and it still came out juicy and flavorful — great if you want a leaner option.
Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but always double-check your hot sauce ingredients if you have dietary restrictions.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe

Step 1: Prepare and Marinate the Chicken

First things first, I pound the chicken breasts until they’re about ½-inch thick. This is a game changer because it cooks faster and evenly. Then, whisk together the marinade ingredients like Frank’s hot sauce, honey, lime juice, and spices. I save a bit of the marinade to turn into glaze later, which is a brilliant step for layering flavors. Toss the chicken in the marinade and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight — trust me, this step is worth the wait.

Step 2: Bring Chicken to Room Temp and Heat the Skillet

About half an hour before cooking, I take the chicken out of the fridge so it comes closer to room temperature — this helps with even cooking. Then, heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add a bit of olive oil (if needed) and get ready to sear that chicken to golden, almost blackened perfection on one side without moving it.

Step 3: Cook Covered and Finish in the Skillet

Flip the chicken, cover the skillet, and reduce the heat to medium. This locks in moisture and finishes cooking gently without drying the chicken. Depending on thickness, this takes about 5-7 minutes. Use a meat thermometer if you want to be precise — I aim for around 160°F internal temperature. Once done, let it rest for five minutes before slicing; this keeps it juicy.

Step 4: Glaze and Serve

Brush the chicken with the reserved honey-lime glaze to add sweetness and a sticky finish. The glaze really rounds out the heat and gives it that finger-licking quality. The more glaze you use, the spicier and more flavorful it gets, so adjust based on your heat preference.

Top Tip

After experimenting with this Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe multiple times, a few tips made all the difference in nailing a juicy, flavorful dish every time:

Marinate Overnight: If you have time, letting the chicken soak overnight develops deeper flavor and tenderizes the meat beautifully.
Don’t Skip Resting: Resting the chicken after cooking lets the juices redistribute—you’ll end up with moist bites, not dry chicken.
Control the Heat with the Glaze: Kick it up or tone it down by how much glaze you brush on at the end—simple but impactful.
Use a Meat Thermometer: I used to guess doneness all the time and sometimes overcooked the chicken. A quick temp check makes all the difference.

How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe

buffalo chicken skillet - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually finish with freshly chopped cilantro or green onions to add color and a fresh pop. A dollop of ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side pairs perfectly if you want to mellow the heat. A squeeze of lime over top at the end brightens the flavors even more.

Side Dishes

This skillet chicken is fantastic served with crispy roasted potatoes, a simple green salad, or even fluffy rice to soak up the sauce. Sometimes, I pile it high in a wrap with crunchy slaw for an easy handheld meal that walks the line between indulgent and fresh.

Creative Ways to Present

For game day or casual parties, I like to slice the chicken thin and serve it on individual small plates with celery sticks, carrot sticks, and little cups of blue cheese dip. It turns this simple skillet chicken into a fun appetizer spread everyone digs into.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover buffalo chicken stores well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend slicing it before storing so you can reheat only what you need without drying the whole piece.

Freezing

I have frozen the cooked chicken a few times by wrapping portions tightly in plastic wrap and foil. It held up nicely for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight for best results before reheating.

Reheating

To warm leftovers, I gently reheat sliced chicken in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or extra glaze to keep it moist. Microwaving works too, but adding a bit of glaze or sauce helps avoid dryness.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe?

Yes! If you use frozen chicken breasts, make sure to thaw them completely in the refrigerator before pounding and marinating to ensure even cooking and proper flavor absorption.

How long should I marinate the chicken?

Marinating for at least 2 hours is essential to let the flavors penetrate. If you have the time, overnight marinating yields even more tender, flavorful chicken.

Can I make this recipe spicier?

Absolutely! Use Frank’s Hot Wings Sauce instead of the original and brush on more of the spicy glaze. You can also add extra chili powder or cayenne pepper to the marinade for a real kick.

What sides pair best with Buffalo chicken?

Classic sides like celery sticks, carrot sticks, blue cheese or ranch dressing complement the buffalo flavors perfectly. You can also serve it with rice, roasted potatoes, or a fresh green salad for a more substantial meal.

Final Thoughts

This Buffalo Chicken Skillet Recipe is one of those meals that feels special without needing a lot of effort or fancy ingredients. I love how the spicy, sweet glaze gives the chicken so much personality and how easy it is to switch up the heat to suit anyone’s taste buds. Give it a try—I genuinely think this will become one of your go-to weeknight wins, just like it did for me.