Go Back

Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Succulent chicken thighs coated in a spicy cayenne hot sauce, baked to crispy perfection for a flavorful and comforting dish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs Aim for high-quality chicken from a local butcher or organic options.
  • 1 cup cayenne hot sauce (such as Frank’s Red Hot) This delivers authentic Buffalo flavor.
  • 1/4 cup butter (melted) Use unsalted butter for better control over saltiness.
  • to taste black pepper Enhances natural flavor of the chicken.
Optional Garnishes
  • chopped green onions
  • celery sticks
  • ranch/blue cheese dressing

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and trim any visible fat.
  2. Season the chicken generously with black pepper.
Marination
  1. In a large bowl, combine the chicken with ½ cup of the cayenne hot sauce and coat well.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour (or overnight for deeper flavors).
Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Arrange the marinated chicken on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  3. Bake the chicken for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  4. Prepare the spicy Buffalo sauce by heating the remainder of the hot sauce with melted butter in a microwave-safe bowl.
  5. Coat the chicken repeatedly in the Buffalo sauce before returning to the baking sheet.
  6. Bake for an additional 5 minutes to caramelize the sauce.
Serving
  1. Remove from the oven and let rest for a couple of minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra crispiness, consider using a wire rack over the tray while baking. Store leftovers in an airtight container.