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This zesty Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese turns your leftover chicken into an amazing comfort food treat with just the right mix of hot buffalo sauce, gooey cheese, and crunchy bread. It's what I whip up when I need something tasty but don't want to spend forever cooking.
I created this sandwich during a big football watching party, and everybody went crazy for it. Now my friends ask for it whenever they come over to see a game. Mixing buffalo chicken with several types of cheese takes a basic grilled cheese and makes it something you won't forget.
Ingredients
- 8 Slices Sandwich Bread: go for something thick cut since it'll handle all the fillings better
- 2 Cups Cooked Chicken Breasts: grabbing a rotisserie chicken makes this super quick
- 2 teaspoon Minced Garlic: gives a nice background flavor that works with the spicy stuff
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper: brings extra kick but you can skip it if you want
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper: adds a gentle spice that makes everything taste better
- ½ teaspoon Paprika: throws in some smokiness and nice color
- ½ Cup Franks Hot Sauce: the real deal for buffalo flavor with just enough bite
- ½ Cup Ranch Dressing: try making your own if you have time
- 4 Oz Cream Cheese: makes everything stick together with creamy goodness
- 4 tablespoon Butter: gets your bread golden and crispy
- 4-8 Slices Muenster Cheese: melts like a dream with a mild taste
- 4 tablespoon Crumbled Blue Cheese: gives that classic buffalo taste but use less if you want
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese Spread:
- Grab your softened cream cheese, blue cheese crumbles, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne and mix them in a small bowl. Smoosh everything together until it's all mixed up. This creamy stuff will help keep your sandwich together and add tons of flavor. Just make sure your cream cheese isn't cold or it'll be a pain to mix.
- Mix the Buffalo Chicken:
- Take another bowl and throw in your shredded chicken, hot sauce, ranch, and garlic. Mix it all up so every bit of chicken gets coated. The hot sauce and ranch team up to make that buffalo taste we all love while keeping the chicken juicy. Using already cooked chicken from the store makes this step super fast.
- Assemble the Sandwiches:
- Spread butter on one side of each bread slice for the outside of your sandwich. Flip them over and spread about 2 tablespoons of your cheese mix on four slices. Top with about ½ cup of your chicken mix, spreading it around evenly. Put 1-2 slices of Muenster on the other four bread pieces. Put them together with the buttery sides facing out.
- Grill to Perfection:
- Spray your skillet with cooking spray and warm it up on low to medium-low heat. Cook your sandwiches for about 5 minutes until they're golden and crispy, then flip them carefully and cook another 5 minutes. Going slow and low helps get everything melty inside without burning the bread. You might need to cook a few at a time if your pan's not big enough.
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You Must Know
What I love most about this sandwich is how the tangy buffalo sauce plays off the creamy cheese mix. Even my teenage son who usually runs from spicy food asks for these sandwiches all the time. I think it's because the cheese cools down the heat just right!
Make-Ahead Options
You can fix the buffalo chicken mix up to three days early and keep it in a sealed container in your fridge. That makes putting these together even faster when you're hungry. The cheese mixture works a day ahead too, but let it sit out about 15 minutes before you use it so it spreads easier.
Spice Level Adjustments
What's great about these sandwiches is how easy they are to make more or less spicy. If you don't like heat, cut the Frank's sauce to ¼ cup and leave out the cayenne. If you love spice, bump up the cayenne to ½ teaspoon and add a splash of hot sauce to the cheese mix too. I've found having extra ranch on the side helps anyone who thinks it's too hot.
Perfect Pairings
These Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese sandwiches go really well with simple sides that don't fight with their big flavors. A fresh green salad with a light dressing gives a nice cool contrast, while celery and carrot sticks with some ranch dip remind you of classic buffalo wings. Want something heartier? Try them with tomato soup for the ultimate comfort meal.
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Common Questions
- → What type of chicken works best for this sandwich?
Store-bought rotisserie chicken or any pre-cooked shredded chicken breast works great since they're soft and blend well with the buffalo sauce.
- → Can I use a different type of cheese?
You can swap out Muenster or blue cheese for things like Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or white cheddar depending on what you like best.
- → How can I make the sandwich spicier?
Throw in more cayenne pepper or pick hotter sauce options to bump up the heat.
- → What are good side dishes to serve with this sandwich?
Pair it with some crunchy fries, tangy coleslaw, or a simple green salad to balance out the rich sandwich.
- → How do I store leftovers?
Cover your sandwiches with foil and keep them in the fridge for up to two days. Warm them back up in the oven for the tastiest results.