Two of life's most delicious foods are combined into one perfect sandwich in this Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese. With a creamy blue cheese spread and plenty of spicy chicken and sharp cheddar cheese, you'll be craving this sandwich for both lunch and dinner!
(This recipe for Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese was originally published in November 2012, but the post has been updated with new photos and content.)
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I'm pretty sure I could never have married someone who didn't like spicy food. It would be an absolute disaster. We would probably have constant fights about what I was making for dinner and why he didn't want to go out for Thai or Indian food and how I put too many jalapeños in his cocktail again. Ugh.
Lucky for me, my husband likes SPICY. In fact, he likes food about 10 times spicier than even I can handle. And I can handle a lot. It makes me all emotional when I think about how I met and married my perfect spice match and how life is so much easier since I don't have to make us two different meals or sacrifice my love of spicy foods for his fear.
Buffalo wings are one of Chris's favorite foods and really, one of the best foods of all time. But once you have your favorite recipe for them (my parents'), it's tough to get too creative. So, you crave the flavor, but want to do something a little different.
Enter buffalo chicken grilled cheese. I combined my favorite things about buffalo wings-- the chicken, hot sauce, blue cheese, and celery-- and eliminated the worst-- the chicken bones. Life may never be the same.
This sandwich has quickly become one of my very favorites as it's absolutely packed with flavor and the perfect amount of spice.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
If you love all things buffalo chicken and want to enjoy the flavor in new and fun ways, you need to try this sandwich (you should also try these buffalo chicken egg rolls!). And if you're always looking for unique grilled cheese recipes, this will likely become one of your favorites.
Not only is it super easy to make (easier than a batch of buffalo wings!), but it's also the ultimate comfort food.
The ingredients are simple and you can make the chicken as spicy as you want!
🗒 Ingredients
You can certainly sauté chicken breasts (or thighs) and then shred them for this buffalo chicken grilled cheese, but I recommend buying a rotisserie chicken for total ease. If you use a rotisserie chicken for this sandwich, it will take you absolutely no time to make!
Here's everything you need for the sandwich (check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe directions):
- Shredded chicken: I love using rotisserie chicken, but you can also cook your own boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs.
- Hot sauce: Frank's Red Hot is my favorite for all things buffalo wings! Frank's also makes a special buffalo wing sauce.
- Light cream cheese
- Crumbled blue cheese
- Chopped celery
- Unsalted butter
- Good crusty bread
- Sharp cheddar cheese: I like using a super sharp white cheddar
🥪 How to make a buffalo chicken grilled cheese
All you need to do is toss your shredded chicken with some hot sauce: I prefer Frank's Red Hot, but use whatever best suits your taste for spiciness.
And then mix together cream cheese, blue cheese, and celery for an out-of-this-world spread for your bread.
If you don't feel like making the blue cheese spread, you can just spread some blue cheese dressing on the bread instead.
Layer the blue cheese spread and buffalo chicken mixture on some nice crusty bread, top with some slices of sharp cheddar cheese.
Top with second slice of bread, butter-side-up.
And "grill" away in a large pan or griddle over medium heat.
Of course, you can use a panini press if you have one and would rather use it.
You'll want to cook the sandwich for a couple minutes on each side, until bread gets nice and toasty and golden brown and the cheese gets melty.
And then you're ready to dig in!
I'm pretty sure you will be obsessed with this sandwich. It combines everything awesome about buffalo wings in between two buttery cheesy slices of bread.
You won't be surprised to hear that Chris put this grilled cheese near the top of his favorite things I've made list.
When I first told him I was making buffalo chicken grilled cheese, he was mad that I was only making him one sandwich. Seriously. But after he ate this, he said he was completely satisfied and happy.
Sure, the typical grilled cheese may be wimpy, but this is buffalo chicken version is certainly not your typical grilled cheese. You can quote me on that one.
🧀 What if I don't like blue cheese?
I think buffalo chicken and blue cheese are a match made in heaven! But I know some buffalo chicken lovers are also blue cheese haters.
If that's the case, you can certainly skip the blue cheese spread here. You can either just use a little extra butter or you can spread on a little mayonnaise.
Or if you want to get really crazy, you can spread on some ranch dressing!
If you're sick of making buffalo wings for your football watching party every weekend, I think this is the perfect substitute. You could even cut the whole sandwich into smaller bites to make a delightful appetizer.
Of course, this grilled cheese is quite the messy affair, but that's half the fun of it. Have you ever been able to eat a serving of buffalo wings without an extra stack of napkins on standby? I think not.
This sandwich isn't quite that bad. It's just ooey-gooey and everything a good grilled cheese sandwich should be. Oh, and it goes perfectly with potato chips. But celery sticks and carrot sticks also make a fun side.
My only regret is that I didn't make extras and pack them as lunches to bring to work for the week.
But luckily, it's so ridiculously easy to make that I know there will be plenty more buffalo chicken grilled cheeses in my future.
🎉 Variations on recipe
Of course, you can totally make these grilled cheese sandwiches your own. Everyone enjoys different add-ons and there are so many things you can do with this. Here are a few ingredients that would also be delicious on the sandwich:
- Add green onions, red onion, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, or the spice, herb, or sauce of your choice for additional flavor.
- Use Monterey Jack cheese, Swiss cheese, or American cheese instead of blue cheese and cheddar.
- Make the sandwich on white bread, a toasty brioche bun, or the bread of your choice instead.
- Serve a side of ranch, blue cheese dip, or a side of extra buffalo sauce for dipping the sandwich in as you eat it.
👩🍳 More buffalo chicken recipes
If you love buffalo chicken as much as I do, you want to consume it in every shape and form. These Buffalo-style recipes are also pretty fantastic!
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- Mini Buffalo Chicken Tacos
- Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Buffalo Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas (from Slender Kitchen)
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers (from Well Plated)
Do you like spicy? Is your significant other a good spice match for you?
📖 Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works well)
- ⅓ cup hot sauce (I recommend Frank's Red Hot)
- 6 oz. light cream cheese
- ⅓ cup crumbled blue cheese
- ¼ cup chopped celery
- 1 ½ Tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 slices good crusty bread
- 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Place shredded chicken in a medium bowl and mix with hot sauce.
- In a separate medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, blue cheese, and celery in a separate bowl.
- Butter one side of each of your slices of bread. Flip bread over and generously slather cream cheese/blue cheese mixture on top of each slice. On two of the bread slices, divide buffalo chicken and layer a few slices of cheese on top of it.
- Heat a griddle or frying pan to medium heat. Place slices of bread with buffalo chicken on griddle butter-side-down and top with remaining bread slices, butter-side-up.
- Cook for a couple minutes on each side, until bread gets nice and toasty and cheese gets melty.
Michelle Collins says
I would definitely make this with tofu vs. chicken - I love Buffalo sauce! I'm actually planning on turning tofu Parm into a grilled cheese sandwich tomorrow night. I figured cheese, sauce and butter can't be a bad combination!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen says
I looove that Cabot buffalo cheese. It's so hard to find in my area though. This sandwich looks amazing - I love buffalo anything!
Melissa says
I could be Thanksgiving dinner full and the smell of Buffalo sauce would make my mouth water. I think this may be my dream sandwich. I would eat them until I became Thanksgiving dinner full.
Monique says
I love this! This looks like a great sandwich. My boyfriend is a true carnivore. Whenever i cook for him, his main concern is "will there be meat?". This looks like a winner... although my greedy BF might want two. lol.
The other day, i came home STARVING. and i had a roll of ritz crackers on hand. I looked in the fridge and saw shredded mozz and some marinara sauce. I heated the cheese and sauce and made a "dip" for the crackers. it was remniscent of a deep dish pizza. can i have that in a sandwich? lol with peppers and olives please.
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I was just thinking of making a buffalo wing sauce dip for an upcoming party but I might just make this grilled cheese instead! We share the same love for spice, and I admit I do have a slight obsession with Frank's (and srirracha, and Tabasco....)
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
this makes me laugh because my husband likes food hotter than hot- so hot i can't handle it. since i don't cook that way because i get spiced out, he compensates by adding hot sauce to some foods and getting really spicy things at restaurants. bummer cause then we can't share! but recently i discovered some hot sauce that i do like- a citrusy-jalapeno wing sauce that was awesome. caaaahrazy!
Ashley says
Is it too much to ask if we can be grilled cheese best friends? Because I love grilled cheese, I love spicy food, and I love all the grilled cheese variations you've been offering us. Keep 'em coming, please! I will try them all!
I love the fabric beneath the plate in your photos, by the way. Beautiful!
Jeannie says
I love spicy food too and that sandwich has all my favorite ingredients!
Kerry @ Snarkn & Pepper says
Wait... there is a buffalo wing flavored CHEESE? How did I not know this??
Shannon says
how awesome to turn this into a sandwich 🙂 had no idea that there was a buffalo cheddar either!
Colleen @ Culinary Colleen says
This looks incredible. I need more buffalo chicken in my life!
Gia Grossman says
What a good idea! I clearly need to get that cheese too. and make this sandwich for football sunday. Rotiserrie chickens are my crack!
Susan says
Looks delicious, Sues, and a delicious grilled cheese rendition. My favorite, upgraded grilled cheese is a Tuna Melt!
Rachel says
Well I made this last night and let me just tell you - perfect! I had a little bit of creamy coleslaw on the side but was totally full off one gooey, perfectly spicey sandwich. I'll definitely be adding this to the list of "things I can't live without thanks to WANM blog". Plus I can use my leftover rotisserie chicken for the avocado chicken salad 😉
Therese (getpartychic.com) says
I love your blog!! Seriously, it's like you know my innermost cravings.
It's my birthday this weekend and to celebrate, I'm going to the cheap and trendy grilled cheese place that I've been wanting to try. Think I might get one with pesto and turkey. 🙂
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
I am so pumped about this sandwich! I have a panini press and this would be great in it. I love love buffalo chicken and now I can eat it in a sandwich oozing with blue cheese. Thanks for the recipe!
Meghan says
Comfort food perfection!
peachkins says
WOW! This is my kind of grilled cheese sandwich!
Sarah says
My boyfriend is obsessed with Frank's Red Hot. I always keep it in my fridge. He puts it on eggs, sandwiches - everything! I make their Buffalo Chicken Dip for football parties and potlucks - always a hit. I'll have to remember to make this sandwich now too.
Laura says
Well.. I have Puerto Rican decent (background) and my mom has Jamaican decent (background) and we have Mexican decent - but we are from the UK.. Though im obsessed with America, Puerto Rico and anywhere that makes real spicy food.. man i love spicy food to the point my nose is running 😀 my mom cant do as much spice as me.. she mostly likes sweet and sour chilli stuff where as i love all kinds of jalapeños / jalapenos i dont like to have a glass of water or milk. i have fizzy drinks cos it bites it more .. i dont want it to cool it down! haha people think im crazy on how HOT i love it im crazy about it.. I love Extra hot Mexicana cheese that we have in our big stores(: i coat everything in it.. now we dont have food that the Americans have .. we only have some or our own versions (sucks!) .. but! i wanna try this sandwich right here! .. looks so good! .. i hate change! I have Autism Spectrum Disorders .. but il have anything spicy! apart from curry .. i dont like the texture. but this sandwich im having!! i might even make it with my cheese.. i love it hotter and spicier than the hottest and spicest thing in the world:D
Nellie Tracy says
Perfect amount of spice while still being the best comfort food ever!
Susanne says
My husband LOVES Buffalo sauce so when I saw this recipe on Pinterest I knew I had to make it for him. It was a huge hit! We'll be having them again really soon!
Emily of The Three Bite Rule says
This is such a great idea, especially for a summer meal to not use the oven! I always comment to my husband that I can't imagine if I had married somebody who didn't eat all different foods...I probably wouldn't have! Food is my love language!