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It’s been far too long since we’ve had any mention of buffalo chicken.
It seems I do this thing where I forget about the food my family loves most because I’m too busy trying my hardest to come up with new and exciting flavor combos to share with you all. Buffalo chicken is one of those dinners that my family will always love and never tire of. Even my dad, who says he doesn’t really like chicken, loves buffalo chicken…like most people. It’s kind of just and all-around highly relished item.
Anyway, when we were filming the video for this buffalo chicken quinoa salad, it got me thinking that I’ve never shared a recipe for a finger licking good buffalo chicken sandwich. As soon as I realized this I knew I had to share my recipe…but with a little twist. Because it’s me and adding my own little twist is what I do best!
With summer right around the corner, I can’t help but think about southern style foods…cornbread, sweet tea, fresh tomatoes, peaches, and fried chicken. This happens to me every May, and you know, I can’t really put my finger on just why it is that my mind sways towards this style of food. It’s not like I’ve ever lived in the south, but I think somehow it just reminds me of spring and early summer.
Whatever the reason, I’m not complaining. Southern food is the good for the soul kind of food that everyone loves. It’s Southern comfort food done in an easier, lighter, and slightly spicier way!
Full disclosure here, this may just be the best buffalo chicken I’ve ever made. The sweet tea really adds a special touch. The chicken gets soaked overnight in a sweet tea and buttermilk mix. If you don’t have time for an overnight soaking, an hour will do just fine, but the longer the chicken can soak, the more tender and moist it will be. The tea helps not only to give the chicken more flavor, but also to balance the heat of the buffalo sauce. It’s honestly a winning combo. So subtle that you aren’t quite able to decipher the sweet tea, but yet its sweetness enhances the flavors happening in this buffalo chicken. I know I am not making much sense, but just trust me. This is really good chicken.
And you know what the best part is? This recipe is so easy and involves no frying, heck yeah! I know you native southerners out there are probably rolling your eyes, and I’m sorry, I know fried chicken is great and all, but sometimes, oven-fried is really just the way to go. OKok and I mean, I kind of love it too. I don’t feel guilty or sick after eating it and my skin has zero grease burns. Yes, please.
I served my sandwich with some homemade greek yogurt ranch. You could also just use a little plain greek yogurt mixed with lemon juice, crumbled blue cheese, and a pinch of salt. If you aren’t a blue cheese fan, just use crumbled goat cheese. Or even better? Just melt a piece of cheddar right overtop of the chicken. YUM
Then top the sammies off with some shredded lettuce, carrots, and fresh avocado. The avocado is not traditional, but it seems that lately I’ve been adding avocado to just about everything, plus it’s so good for you.
Perfect sandwich though, right? It’s lightened up so we don’t have to feel guilty, yet totally delicious. Perfect for dinner tonight or for your next Sunday BBQ, which I’m hoping will be soon, because warm weather season is almost here…wait, it’s snowing…totally serious!
Literally cannot wait for warm weather…obviously.
Healthier Oven Fried Sweet Tea Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cut in half widthwise
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups sweet green tea
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 3 cups corn flake crumbs
- 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- 8-12 brioche slider buns
- greek yogurt ranch, for serving
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional)
- shredded lettuce, shredded carrots, microgreens, and sliced avocado, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Add the chicken to gallon size zip top bag. Pour the buttermilk, sweet tea and salt over the chicken. Toss well, cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.3. Add the corn flakes crumbs, flour, paprika and garlic powder to medium sized bowl. Stir to combine.4. Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, and dredge through the crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the chicken has been used. Make sure not to crowd your pan, if necessary use two baking sheets. Lightly brush the chicken with olive oil. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, then flip the chicken over and continue cooking another 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.5. Drizzle the buffalo sauce over the chicken, covering it almost completely.6. To serve, stir the blue cheese into the greek yogurt ranch. Spread the greet yogurt on the bottom of each bun. Add the chicken and top with veggies and sliced avocado. Serve with buffalo sauce. EAT.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
PS. I think this really needs to be called the Gerard Family signature sandwich…it’s so fitting.
I made this last night and my husband and I both LOVED it! Thank you for the delicious recipe, it’s been added to my Make Again list 😉
Thank you Shannon!
I had the most mind blowing sandwich the other day: Buffalo cauliflower sandwich. It seems so obvious but I’d never seen it anywhere else before. My boyfriend and I had split it but wished we had ordered our own. I’m wondering if you could swap out the chicken for cauliflower?
Made these the other night….SOOOOO delicious! I made my own buffalo sauce with a Cajun hot sauce because that’s what I had and it worked well! I made them just for my husband and I so night two I made it into a salad and it was the perfect remix. Another great recipe!
That is so great! I am really glad you enjoyed this and that you got two nice meals out of it! Thank you Randi!
Hi, im from London, uk and we dont get cornflake crumbs here! just regular corn flakes. is it enough to just make them into crumbs using your hands (which is impossible to get really fine crumbs) or is it best to use a blender to get the crumbs really fine?
thanks
Hey Chigs! Regular corn flakes will be great! Just crush them into fine crumbs. You can totally use your hands (they dont have to be super fine) or a food processor/blender. either will be great. Let me know if you have any questions at all! Hope you love this recipe! 🙂
I have regular green tea. So I add 1/4 honey cup to that? Also special K corn flakes will do?
Hey Jill! Yes, adding a 1/4 cup honey will be great and yes, special k corn flakes will also be great. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you love this recipe!
Hi, I’m Australian and we don’t have sweet tea, is this just ice tea that is sweet? So if I made a batch of green tea and sugar (or honey) and then cool it? Sorry about another question on tea 🙂 I am really keen to try this (will have to find a sub for buffalo sauce as we don’t have this either) and I want to get the flavours right.
Hey Anna! No worries at all! Any tea will do! I would sweeten it with about 1-2 tablespoons honey or to your taste. Let me know if you have questions. Happy to help! THANK YOU and I hope you love this recipe!
These were AMAZING. Thank you!!
Thanks so much for making them Rebecca!
Hi, is there anything else you can recommend to sub for buttermilk? I Ann lactose intolerant. Thanks!
Hey Lauren! You can use any kind of nut milk. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you love this sandwich! 🙂
I’m an Alabamian, and while I hold Southern comfort close to my heart, I honestly can’t stand greasy fried foods! Enter oven fried chicken. Love how bold and creative this recipe is, yet still simple! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
– MAK
Awh wow, thank you so much Margaret! I’ve got a place for both kinds, both so delicious!
I’m confused about this sweet tea marinade/brine. If it’s a brine, then the time really does make a difference – 1 hour and overnight WILL produce significantly different results. Also, what’s up with the sweet tea? A couple other folks have asked about the sweet tea brine and there’s been no response. Seriously, is it just a cup and a half of plain green tea (like the hyper-link suggests) or is it really sweetened? And if it is sweetened, then what ratio did you use? The pictures are pretty and all, but giving out an incomplete recipe and then not responding to peoples’ questions for you to clarify those mistakes in the recipe as it is currently written are pretty lame.
Recipe states 1 & 1/2 cup SWEET green tea. I’m sure theres bottled SWEET green tea at any grocery store. Or you can make your own, 3/4 cup of sugar to 1 gal of tea. Not rocket science, its tea
Hi Leslie,
I have been traveling the last couple days and have not had a chance to respond. If you go and look at the comments and questions, they have all been responded to, as with the comments and questions on almost all post on the biog. I make it a priority to respond to comments every single day, but sometimes life gets busy and it takes a day or two for a response. Regardless, I am sorry for the delay and confusion with this recipe. I used a honey sweetened green tea that I made. I would recommend using a either a homemade sweet tea or a high quality store-bought sweet tea. Let me know if you have questions. Again, so sorry for the confusion. Thanks, Tieghan
Seriously yum – this is the perfect summer sandwich!
Thanks so much Laura (: Hope you love it!
wow emmmmm Yummmy and Delicious
mesin es krim
So happy you like it! Thank you!
wow emmmmm Yummmy and Delicious
Thank you!
The “sweetened green tea” link just goes to a box of green tea. Is it just a cup and ahlf of brewed green tea or is it actually sweetened? That could make kind’ve a big difference in flavor and should be something that is more clearly laid out in this recipe. Thanks!
Hey Alex, sorry about that! I used a honey sweetened green tea that I made. I would recommend using a either a homemade sweet tea or a high quality store-bought sweet tea. Let me know if you have questions. Again, so sorry for the confusion.
Literally perfect. LOVE anything buffalo!
Thanks Jennifer!