Keto Chicken Bites Buffalo

These keto chicken bites buffalo are highly protein enriched with low carb. Cheesy almond flour bites are packed with spicy Buffalo Chicken for the perfect snack under 1 net carb.

Buffalo Chicken Bites Recipe by Our Salty Kitchen

We always opt for boneless buffalo wings when we have the choice. They’re so much easier to eat, and you get all of the good stuff (juicy meat, full sauce coverage) with none of the mess.

But we’ve got a few problems with most of the offerings out there. My biggest pet peeve is with the breading – for one, there’s just too darn much of it; and for two, it’s so freaking bland. Then there’s the deep-fried factor, which often results in a crust that’s overly crispy and meat that’s either stringy or dry (or both!).

INGREDIENTS

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: diced into bite sized pieces.Cornstarch: this is the base of the breading; cornstarch yields perfectly crispy buffalo chicken bites that aren’t heavy or overly breaded.
• Seasonings: onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika are used to season both the breading and the buffalo sauce.
• Cooking Oil: pan fry the boneless wings in olive oil or avocado oil.
• Buffalo Sauce: we definitely suggest making your own buffalo sauce! Scroll to read more about why, and how.

How To Make Buffalo Chicken Bites

These boneless buffalo chicken bites are perfection. Lightly battered and then pan-fried, they’re crispy on the outside with tender, perfectly juicy insides.

Boneless buffalo wing breading perfection looks like this:  diced boneless skinless chicken thighs plus a light coating of seasoned cornstarch.

1. WHISK BREADING:  Whisk the cornstarch with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
2. BREAD CHICKEN:  Add the diced chicken breast to the cornstarch mixture. Toss gently with a spatula until the chicken is thoroughly coated with the cornstarch. Tip:  Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels or a cotton kitchen towel to help the cornstarch adhere evenly.
3. PAN FRY IN BATCHES:  Heat olive oil in a 12″ non-stick skillet over medium heat. Be careful with the heat – too high and the breading will scorch. Too low and the breading won’t brown. Add half the chicken bites in a single layer. Saute on one side until golden brown. Tip:  gently shake off any excess cornstarch before adding to the skillet for a crispy breading that doesn’t clump.
4. FINISH FRYING:  Flip the pieces over and brown the other side. The chicken won’t cook all the way through at this stage and that’s okay – it’ll finish cooking in the sauce just a bit later. Transfer the chicken bites to a plate, then repeat with the remaining pieces.

The Best Buffalo Sauce

Perfect buffalo sauce looks like this:  Not one, but TWO different hot sauces, plus good butter. We use two different hot sauces for a more complex flavor. We used Frank’s RedHot and Texas Pete Original Hot Sauce.

IMPORTANT:  Don’t use “wing sauce”, which is a pre-mixed buffalo sauce with added butter flavors and thickeners. Be sure to buy pure hot sauce.

1. Add the butter to the skillet (no need to wipe or clean it first) and heat until it melts. Scrape up the browned bits leftover from sautéing the chicken for added flavor.
2. Then add the hot sauces and whisk with the melted butter.
3. Add the fried chicken bites and toss with the buffalo sauce. Cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens and the boneless wings are cooked through, about 5 minutes.

What’s The Best Hot Sauce For Buffalo Wings?

• Frank’s RedHot is our #1 choice. It’s that perfect balance of vinegar and heat without being overly spicy. It’s also one of the most “real food” hot sauces out there with just 5 simple ingredients – aged cayenne peppers, distilled vinegar, water, salt, and garlic powder.
• Texas Pete is a tad more vinegary than Frank’s and not overly spicy. It does have additives, though, so it’s not appropriate if you’d like to make this recipe paleo.
• Crystal Hot Sauce is a great option if you’re paleo. With the just 3 real food ingredients (aged cayenne peppers, distilled vinegar, and salt) it’s perfectly tangy.
• Cholula isn’t a typical choice for wings, but if you like your wings hot and fiery, this sauce is for you. Paleo beware, this sauce contains xanthan gum.

Can You Bake These Boneless Buffalo Wings Instead Of Frying?

Yes! They won’t be quite as crispy, and you’ll dirty 2 pans instead of 1, but it’ll get the job done. We really liked the baked version of these boneless wings, but the pan-seared was just a bit better.

How to Bake the Boneless Buffalo Wings:

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then spread a very thin coating of oil on the parchment (or spray with olive oil cooking spray)Prepare the chicken as directed in the recipe card through Step2.
• Spread the battered chicken bites onto the parchment paper in a single layer, leaving a bit of room between each piece. Bake for 7 minutes, flip, then bake an additional 7 minutes on the other side. They should be lightly golden brown.
• Prepare the buffalo sauce as noted in Step 4, then toss the baked chicken wings with the buffalo sauce in the pan until they’re cooked through and the sauce has slightly thickened.

How To Make These Buffalo Chicken Bites Paleo

These buffalo chicken bites easily translate to a paleo version with just a few simple modifications. Technically these would also be considered Whole30, but as an appetizer, they’re definitely pushing the limits – so use your best judgment if you’re on around!

• Substitute arrowroot powder for cornstarch
• Substitute avocado oil for olive oil if you’re strict
• Use a paleo-compliant dipping sauce like our Whole30 Ranch Dressing

Our Best Tips For Perfect Boneless Buffalo Bites

• Pat the chicken dry so the cornstarch coating sticks well
• Cut the chicken breast into even, similar sized bites so they cook at the same rate
• Thoroughly coat the chicken with the cornstarch, but be sure to tap off any excess so that the breading crisps, not clumps
• Season the breading, not the sauce, for multi-layered flavor
• Keep an eye on the heat while sautéing; adjust as necessary to ensure the breading browns and doesn’t burn.
• Use 2 types of hot sauce for the best buffalo sauce. See our suggestions above.
• Simmer the browned chicken bites in the sauce for about 5 minutes – this steps ensures the chicken cooks through and allows the sauce to thicken up just enough.

Other recipes you might like to try: Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet One Pan, Low Carb Baked Cheesy Zucchini Casserole, Delicious Keto Shrimp Scampi Recipe

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