Looking for a healthy and delicious dinner option that's quick and easy to make? Look no further than these Healthier Buffalo Chicken Tacos that are ready in Under 20 Minutes!
Get ready for a flavor-packed meal with our healthier buffalo chicken tacos! Made in under 20 minutes, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. Enjoy the taste of buffalo chicken without the guilt and satisfy your cravings in no time.
Quick, Easy, & Healthy Dinner Recipe
Made with pan-seared chicken instead of fried, these tacos are a great choice for busy weeknights. Packed with flavor and protein, they're a great way to feed your family while keeping things healthy. So why wait? Try these buffalo chicken tacos tonight and enjoy a delicious, nutritious meal in no time!
These tacos are not only delicious, but they're also packed with healthy ingredients that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized. Made with lean chicken, fresh veggies, and a tangy buffalo sauce, these tacos are a perfect meal for any day of the week. Plus, with how fast they come together, you won't have to spend all night in the kitchen. I know you'll love how they taste!
What Goes into Buffalo Chicken Tacos
- Chicken Breast
- Olive Oil
- Garlic powder
- Wing's Sauce
- Honey
- Tortillas - Corn, flour, soft or crunchy - whatever's your favorite!
- Shredded Lettuce
- Matchstick Carrots
- Chopped Celery
- Tomatoes
- Limes
Optional Taco Toppings
- Blue Cheese
- Colby Jack Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese
- Ranch Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Avocado
- For extra spiciness you could add more wing sauce
- Extra squeeze of lime
How to Make Healthier Buffalo Chicken Tacos
The chicken breasts are pounded thin, marinated in Frank's Wing Sauce, then pan-seared. The buffalo chicken breast is finished with a glaze of wing sauce and honey and left to rest.
While the chicken is resting make the simple salad by chopping the romaine lettuce, celery, tomatoes. Add the matchstick carrots and the squeezed lime juice.
Once the chicken breasts have rested for about 10 minutes, it's sliced and tucked into tortillas and piled high with the salad to cool your taste buds off.
Depending on your dietary needs, these tacos can be served as is or churched up with avocado, cheese, and either blue cheese or ranch dressing.
If you are a buffalo chicken taco fan but don't love the heat, the glaze at the end is where you're going to want to go lighter.
Low Carb Option
For a low carb option omit the tortilla and turn these buffalo chicken tacos into a healthy and delicious low carb buffalo chicken salad.
Flatten the Chicken Breasts
I start by pounding a boneless skinless chicken breast in a plastic gallon-size zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible. You can use almost any heavy, flat object to pound the breast - a skillet, a meat mallet, or a rolling pin. To flatten the chicken breast, pound it with the flat side of the meat mallet to ¼ inch thickness.
Marinade the Chicken
Add the marinade the morning of or at least 2 hours before cooking. Some days, our hectic mornings don't allow for the extra 5 minutes to marinade chicken. On those days, I salt and pepper the chicken before cooking and finish with the buffalo chicken glaze. This method isn't as good as marinating the chicken, but life happens, and somedays you just got to get dinner on the table.
Pan Sear the Chicken
Preheat a large pan over medium-high heat. Then, add a tablespoon of olive oil and allow to heat. Next, add the chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes per side. Once the chicken is in the pan, leave it alone. Don't poke it, move it around, or wiggle it. Flip the chicken breast one time only, and you will be rewarded with golden-brown, slightly blackened chicken. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165*F.
MORE DELICIOUS DINNER RECIPES
Chicken Tortilla Soup with Homemade Tortilla Strips.
Healthier Baked Tortilla Strips
Chicken Burrito Skillet Dinner
Italian Chicken With Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
📖 Recipe
Easy Buffalo Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breast pounded to ¼ inch thickness
- 1 cup Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 13 flour tortillias corn, low-carb, and whole wheat tortillas work too
Salad
- 1 romaine lettuce heart
- ½ cup match stick carrots
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 lime juiced
Buffalo Glaze
- 3 tablespoon Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Marinade Chicken: Whisk together all of the Buffalo Marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over chicken in a marinade dish or zip top bag and toss evenly to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator 2 hours up to overnight.
- To make the glaze: Mix 3 tablespoon Buffalo Wing Sauce and honey together and set aside.
- Pan sear the chicken: Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat and add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Once hot and the oil is shimmery, add chicken and cook, undisturbed for 7-8 minutes, or until golden-browned (or blackened if you prefer) on one side. Turn chicken over and cook for approximately 5-7 more minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Glaze the chicken and let it rest: Remove chicken from pan and place on a cutting board. Brush on desired amount of glaze, cover with aluminu foil and let rest 10 minutes before thinly slicing. .
- For the salad: Add all chopped ingredients together in a bowl and toss with lime juice.
- Assemble the tacos: Fill each taco with sliced buffalo chicken and top with salad. Optional toppings: Cheese - Blue Cheese crmbles, Colby Jack, or CheddarDressings - Ranch or Blue CheeseAvocadoExtra squeeze of lime juice
Notes
- If your family has varying preferences for spiciness, go light on the glaze and let the heat seekers add more to their own tacos.
- For a low-carb friendly option turn this recipe into a buffalo chicken salad by omitting the tortilla and piling chicken on top of the salad.
- Cheese and either ranch or blue cheese dressing are great additions, but also tend to be higher in fat content. If you're watching your fat content you may want to limit or avoid these toppings. The tacos are still delicious without them!
- If you choose to use a different brand of wing sauce, be sure you know it's heat level so you can adjust appropriately.
- Total Time does not include marinating chicken as this will vary from person to person.
Toni says
This is so good and delicious! It was a really huge hit with my family.
Jessica says
Yay! So happy you guys loved it!
Alisa Infanti says
This is now officially my favourite lunch! I make the chicken on Sunday and have it for the week!
Jessica says
Awesome!
Louise Cayzer says
Such a great flavour combo! I switched the chicken for a vegan chkn and turned out great!
Jessica says
That's good to know! So happy it turned out for you!
Katherine says
Such a great idea to put buffalo chicken flavors into tacos! Yum!
Jessica says
Thank you! It's a favorite around here!
Dannii says
Anything with buffalo sauce gets a big thumbs up from me. This looks amazing.
Jessica says
Thanks so much, Dannii!
Leslie says
I'm a big taco fan but I have to say, this recipe is perfection! Love my tacos with LOTS of flavor, so this recipe is heavenly!
Jessica says
Thanks, Leslie! This is such an easy weeknight meal!
Jessica Formicola says
We love tacos at our house, and these buffalo chicken tacos look like a winner! And I love that you made them healthier!
Jessica says
They're a weekly favorite at our house!
Liz says
wow, these look delish! I love anything with buffalo sauce so these are right up my alley!
Jessica says
Thanks so much!
Angela says
Two of my favorite things...Buffalo chicken and tacos! Great recipe!!
Jessica says
Thanks, Angela!
Michelle @ Taste As You Go says
What a healthy way to satisfy the craving for Buffalo chicken!
Jessica says
Thank you!
Gregory Halpen says
I love Buffalo chicken! And I love how healthy this recipe is. Definitely trying it.
Jessica says
Thanks so much, Gregory!
Giangi Townsend says
Easy, delicious ingredients. This recipe looks amazing.
Jessica says
Always thankful for your kind words!
Jill says
I love how easy this was! It definitely a keeper! Thanks!
Jessica says
Thanks, Jill.
Sunrita says
The tacos look absolutely amazing -and to die for. Can’t wait to try them. Brilliant weekday dinner idea.
Jessica says
Thanks so much! They're definitely a family favorite!
Kay says
Finally, a family meal that we can all enjoy! All 4 of my children helped to prepare and we all loved it, which is very rare to find.
Jessica says
That's so awesome! Love that your children helped prepare it!
Alexandra says
Taco Tuesday has never looked so good - these are so full of incredible flavour!
Jessica says
Taco Tuesday is my favorite!
Amy says
What a delicious recipe! Yeah, I'm always in the "get dinner on the table asap" mode during the week and I love your tip about flattening the chicken breast! What a great idea and totally makes sense. The faster I can cook it the more juices stay. Great photography too by the way!
Jessica says
Oh my! Thank you for all the kind words!
Sara says
Thank you for this delicious, easy to follow recipe! My whole family loved it, and we will definitely be making it again soon!
Jessica says
So happy you guys loved the tacos!
Lisa | Mind and Body Intertwined says
This looks amazing! I did try pulled chicken once, but it was a little dry, so this seems like a great solution to that. Thanks for sharing this gem ?
Jessica says
I hope you love it!
Barshan Turno says
wow! i like this recipe!!!
Jessica says
Thank you!
Katherine says
We do taco Tuesday at our house. The kids love it. They’re not big on seasoning yet, but we always spice our chicken and beef for added goodness. Will have to try this out.
Jessica says
Taco Tuesday is so fun! Hope you guys love the recipe!
Ksenia says
Buffalo chicken wings or one of my favourite snacks, and the idea of putting them in tackle form is just in genius! It doesn’t hurt that these are beautiful, to boot
Jessica says
Thank you so much!❤️
Jessie says
I just LOVE buffalo chicken, and tacos are a fast second! Brilliant idea to meld the two!
Jessica says
So Good! Thank you!!!
Sunrita says
Gosh that glaze and the colour looks amazing
Jessica says
Thank you! So yummy!
Elizabeth says
So delicious! Fantastic recipe!
Jessica says
Thanks so much! It's the tastiest dinner recipe!
Chloe says
I love tacos, what a great idea to use buffalo sauce for the marinade!
Jessica says
It's a gamechanger for sure! So good!
Audrey says
Perfect for lunch
Jessica says
Yes! So good!!
Ramona says
This is definitely a recipe that I will be making over and over again. Absolutely delicious!
Jessica says
Thanks so much! It's a favorite of ours as well!
Sabrina says
I love these tacos!
Jessica says
Thanks so much!
Beneficial Bite says
This is right up my alley - I can't wait to try it!
Jessica says
Thank you so much! It's our weekly go-to meal that everyone loves!
Elizabeth says
Great recipe!
Jessica says
Thanks!
Emily Flint says
While I was checking out your recipe, I mentioned it to my man and now I HAVE to make these...he didn't even see your beautiful photos, but I did!! Yum!
Jessica says
You are so sweet! Thank you so much!!
Jessie says
This fresh recipe looks so delicious and the directions are super clear! Thank you for sharing!
Jessica says
Thank you!
Arica says
These look and sound amazing! These seem so easy to make. I will have to try this one out for sure!
Jessica says
Yay! I hope you love them as much as we do!
Nissa says
What a delicious and easy recipe for a quick lunch or dinner! I love buffalo sauce with ranch or blue cheese dressing! My husband and I made this the other evening after seeing it and thought I'd come back and comment how great it was! 🙂
Jessica says
So happy you guys enjoyed the recipe!
Meta Wallace says
Just bookmarked this so I can try it out this week- they look amazing!
Jessica says
Awesome! I hope you love them as much as we do! Let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
Amy says
What a great idea! These look delicious and healthy!!
Jessica says
Thanks so much! We love them!
Christina says
These look amazing! They are going on my
List of dinners for next week! ?
Jessica says
Awesome! They're a favorite around here!
Jennifer Dyson says
Yum! These look great.
Jessica says
Thank you! They are super yummy!
Robyn Jones says
I can’t believe these only take 20 minutes to prepare! They sound so delicious and I can’t wait to try them! Thanks for sharing. ?
Jessica says
So happy you liked the recipe!
Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady says
OMG these look so good! My kids are starting to love spicy food, so I've started doing buffalo wraps for dinner. They would LOVE these tacos!
Jessica says
That's so awesome!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says
I must make these tacos, they look amazing and I love the ingredients used!
Jessica says
Thank you! Enjoy!
Gina Abernathy says
These look delicious! Frank's Buffalo Sauce is a must for this dish. Adding this to my list of great things to make for my family.
Jessica says
Yes! So Good!
Emily Flint says
These tacos look so amazing! I love having a new twist on chicken for dinner. We are definitely making these this weekend!
Jessica says
Thanks so much! Enjoy!
Giangi Townsend says
This looks amazing and I am sure my family would love it. Love how easy it is to make.
Definitely printing it and making it.
Jessica says
Thanks so much! I hope you guys love it as much as we do!!
Sue says
I love this combination of buffalo chicken meets tacos. A winner for sure!
Jessica says
Thanks, Sue! One of our favorite weeknight meals!
Gabriela Herrera says
Such a well rounded plate and so easy to make. What I love about it is how easy it is just to grab and go on errands. Or a great lunch to take to work.
Jessica says
Thanks!
Julia Randall says
Sounds like a great and tasty meal!
Jessica says
Thanks, Julia! I hope you love them!!
Diana says
This looks amazing. My family loves anything buffalo flavored. I'm going to make these this week!
Jessica says
Thanks, Diana! I hope you and your family loves it as much as we do!
Noteworthy Mommy says
Thank you for explaining pan searing. My chicken often gets too dry. This recipe looks yummy and I can’t wait to try it. I have a favorite Buffalo sauce from a local chain I think will work well.
Jessica says
You're welcome!
Gina Abernathy says
This would be a YES for my family! Looks delicious!
Jessica says
Glad you like them, Gina!
Viana @ maplewoodroad.com says
I don't know how it's possible that I haven't tried this before! But I definitely am now...yum! 🙂
Jessica says
They're life-changing! Hope you love them!
Lisa says
These look delicious!!! I am a huge fan of tacos and could easily add this recipe to my list. So yummy!!!!
InHerOwnWrite says
These look yummy! Definitely giving the recipe a go myself!
Jessica says
Yay! I hope you love them!
Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady says
I love a good taco and these look amazing. I love the spicy sweetness of the sauce!
Jessica says
Thanks, Cindy!!
Sarah says
DELCIOUS!!! I can't wait to make this for my family!!!
Kimmy says
This sounds and looks delicious! Definitely going to have to add it to one of my dinner night ideas.
Jessica says
Thanks, Kimmy!
Crystal Garman says
Wow! These look fantastic! My family loves buffalo chicken, so this is sure to be a win for the whole family! Thanks!
Jessica says
They are super yummy! Thank you!
Laurasha says
I love this recipe. It is quick and easy. Since I am always looking for ways to feed my family this was right on time. Thank you for thia simplw but zesty food.
Jessica says
So glad you liked it!
Ternesha says
I can’t wait to try this recipe! Now that I only eat chicken and fish, I’m always looking for new recipes to try for chicken.
Jessica says
I hope you love it as much as we do!
denise says
looks yum yum
Jessica says
Thanks, Denise!
Ron Stroup says
I’m going to need to try each of the recipes on this blog! They all look great from a very talented young lady! I will be awaiting my invite in the mail.
Ronnie & Celeste
Jessica says
Thanks, guys! So glad you like the website!
Alyssa Hixenbaugh says
This sounds so delicious! I love anything with buffalo chicken, especially healthy versions! I'm excited to try this. 🙂
Jessica says
I hope you love them as much as we do!
Leah says
Yum!! I love tacos and idk why I’ve never thought to do buffalo chicken tacos before! What an awesome idea. I’m definitely saving this recipe to eat soon. Also, congrats on launching your blog, it looks fantastic! I’m excited to see your upcoming posts.
Jessica says
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
Cassie says
Yum! That buffalo chicken looks delicious along with all of the toppings on the tacos! Trader Joe's has jicama wraps for anyone looking for a more low card option that are delicious and would go great with the buffalo flavor. These look so amazing, and I cannot wait to try them out! Thank you for sharing!
Jessica says
Thank you! I'll have to try out those jicama wraps!
Lindsay says
These look awesome - I'm going to bookmark and make these during the week! Yum!
Jessica says
Thanks so much! I can't wait to hear what you think of them!
Lindsay says
These were great as a salad - so tangy and yummy! Omitted the honey and added a little blue cheese!
Jessica says
Thank you!