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This zesty Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese turns your leftover chicken into an amazing comfort dish with just the right mix of hot buffalo kick, gooey cheese, and toasty bread. It's what I make when I need something tasty but don't want to spend forever cooking.
I whipped this sandwich up during a football game gathering, and everyone went crazy for it. Now my friends ask for it whenever they come over to watch sports. Mixing buffalo chicken with several cheeses takes a basic grilled cheese to a whole new level.
Ingredients
- 8 Slices Sandwich Bread: go for something thick-cut so it doesn't fall apart
- 2 Cups Cooked Chicken Breasts: grabbing a rotisserie chicken makes this super quick
- 2 teaspoon Minced Garlic: brings richness that works against the spiciness
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper: gives extra kick but you can skip it if you want
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper: adds gentle spice that makes other flavors pop
- ½ teaspoon Paprika: gives a smoky touch and nice color
- ½ Cup Franks Hot Sauce: the must-have buffalo sauce with the right zing
- ½ Cup Ranch Dressing: try making your own if you have time
- 4 Oz Cream Cheese: makes everything creamy and holds stuff together
- 4 tablespoon Butter: gets you that golden crunch outside
- 4-8 Slices Muenster Cheese: melts wonderfully without being too strong
- 4 tablespoon Crumbled Blue Cheese: gives that classic buffalo taste but use less if you want
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese Spread:
- Mix up softened cream cheese with blue cheese crumbles, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne in a bowl. Mash it all together until it's well mixed. This creamy mixture helps your sandwich stick together and adds tons of flavor. Just make sure your cream cheese isn't cold or it'll be tough to mix.
- Mix the Buffalo Chicken:
- In another bowl, toss your shredded chicken with hot sauce, ranch, and garlic. Stir it up good so every bit of chicken gets covered in sauce. The hot sauce and ranch team up to give you that buffalo wing taste while keeping the chicken juicy. Using already cooked chicken from the store makes this step super fast.
- Assemble the Sandwiches:
- Butter one side of each bread slice for the outside of your sandwich. Turn the bread over and put about 2 tablespoons of cheese spread on four slices. Add about ½ cup of your buffalo chicken mix on top, spreading it out. Put 1-2 slices of Muenster on the other four bread pieces. Put the sandwich halves together with the buttery sides facing out.
- Grill to Perfection:
- Give a big skillet a quick spray and warm it up on low to medium-low heat. Cook your sandwiches for about 5 minutes until they're golden and crunchy, then flip them carefully and cook another 5 minutes. Slow cooking makes sure everything gets hot and melty inside without burning the bread. You might need to cook them in batches if your pan isn't big enough.
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You Must Know
What I love most about this sandwich is how the tangy buffalo sauce plays against the smooth cheese blend. My teenage boy who usually stays away from anything spicy actually asks for these sandwiches all the time. I think 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 the fridge in a sealed container. This makes putting everything together even faster when you're hungry. The cheese blend can also be made a day ahead but let it sit out for about 15 minutes before using so it spreads easier.
Spice Level Adjustments
What's great about this sandwich is how easy it is to change how spicy it is. For folks who don't like heat, cut the Frank's Hot Sauce to ¼ cup and leave out the cayenne. For those who love spice, bump up the cayenne to ½ teaspoon and throw some hot sauce into the cheese mix too. I've found that 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 the big flavors. A fresh green salad with light dressing gives a nice cool contrast, while celery and carrot sticks with ranch dip remind you of classic buffalo wings. If you want something heartier, try tomato soup on the side for the ultimate comfort meal.
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Common Questions
- → What type of chicken works best for this sandwich?
Shredded rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken breasts work great since they're juicy and mix well with the buffalo sauce.
- → Can I use a different type of cheese?
Sure, you can swap Muenster or blue cheese for others like Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, white cheddar, or mozzarella depending on what you like.
- → How can I make the sandwich spicier?
Throw in more cayenne pepper or pick a hotter sauce 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?
Just wrap your sandwiches in foil and keep them in the fridge for up to two days. Warm them up in the oven for the best taste.