This buffalo chicken marinade hits that sweet-spicy combination that makes buffalo wings so addictive, but on grilled or baked chicken breasts or thighs instead. It comes together in 5 minutes, needs just 30 minutes to marinate, and works just as well for meal prep as it does for a quick weeknight dinner.

Overhead image of a wooden cutting board with sliced chicken breast and buffalo sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Marinade for Grilling and More!

If you’re tired of eating plain (and possibly dry) chicken, you need to try a marinade! It true, I’m a firm believer that a quick and easy sauce can completely transform a plain old meal into something special and delicious, without a lot of effort.

I know homemade marinades can seem a bit intimidating, but this buffalo chicken marinade truly is so easy because it uses ingredients you likely already have in your fridge or pantry and only needs a minimum of 30 minutes to marinade (just like my easy prep honey mustard marinade). Plus, who doesn’t love Buffalo chicken?

This juicy chicken is bursting with a sweet, spicy flavor that will remind you of your favorite take-out buffalo wings, plus it’s packed with protein making it a fantastic quick & easy high-protein dinner idea. Once the chicken breasts or thighs are done marinating, cook them on the grill or oven, making this one a great recipe all year round. And if you love Buffalo chicken like I do, check out my buffalo chicken chili, or my slow cooker buffalo chicken, for another delicious meal!

Welcome to My Kitchen, Let’s Make an Easy Buffalo Marinade for Chicken and More

Jump to Recipe Instructions
Overhead shot of the following ingredients: raw chicken breasts, spices, lime, buffalo sauce, honey, and oil.
Gather ingredients.
Overhead shot of a small bowl with the ingredients for a buffalo chicken marinade.
Whisk marinade together.
Overhead image of buffalo marinade being poured over raw chicken breast.
Add half of the marinade & chicken to a container.
Overhead image of a zip top bag with chicken breasts and buffalo marinade.
Or add to a zip top bag for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Overhead shot of grilled chicken breasts on a wooden cutting board.
Grill the chicken and allow to rest.
Overhead image of a wooden cutting board with sliced chicken breast and a knife.
Slice and serve with remaining marinade.
Closeup shot of a platter with sliced chicken, carrot and celery sticks, buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing.

Tested Ingredient Substitutions

  • Lime juice: Feel free to use lemon juice instead.
  • Honey: I love the addition of honey because it allows the marinade to caramelize when cooked, and it doesn’t add a significant amount of sweetness.
  • Smoked paprika: This milk spice adds a nice smokiness even if you’re not grilling the chicken. I don’t recommend leaving it out.
  • Chicken: Feel free to use chicken breasts or thighs or a mix of both.
  • Hot Sauce: For a classic Buffalo sauce flavor, look for Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (not the Buffalo sauce) or a similar cayenne pepper sauce.
Overhead image of a wooden cutting board with sliced chicken breast.

A Few Tested Tips for Juicy Marinated Chicken

  • How long should I marinade the chicken? I recommend marinating at least 30 minutes and no longer than 4 hours, but you can make this even further in advance by freezing the chicken in the marinade.
  • Can I make it ahead? Absolutely! Simply add your chicken and marinade to a 1-gallon zip-top freezer bag and stash away in the freezer. When you’re ready to use, let it defrost in the fridge and then bake or grill.
  • Which hot sauce should I use? I used Franks Red Hot Sauce, which I find is the most commercially available, but any similar red hot sauce would work.
Overhead shot of a platter with sliced chicken, carrot and celery sticks, buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing.
Closeup shot of a platter with sliced chicken, carrot and celery sticks, buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing.
5 stars (1 rating)

Buffalo Chicken Marinade (Quick and Easy)

Developed and tested by A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, holds and pours a bottle of oil in a modern kitchen setting.Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 6 servings
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
This quick and easy buffalo chicken marinade delivers sweet, spicy flavor in just 30 minutes of marinating time. Grill or bake chicken breasts or thighs.
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup cayenne pepper sauce, such as Frank’s red hot sauce
  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (or thighs)

Instructions 

  • Whisk the olive oil, red hot sauce, honey, lime juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt together in a medium bowl until well combined.
  • Reserve ¼ cup (half) of the marinade to use at the end.
  • Add the remaining ¼ cup of marinade to a large baking dish or 1-gallon zip-top bag. Toss the chicken in the marinade to coat, then press as much air out of the bag (if using) as possible, or cover (if using a baking dish). Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours, flipping halfway through. 

Grilling Instructions

  • When ready to grill, heat a gas grill to high. Allow to preheat, then remove the chicken from the marinade, shake off any excess, and discard any remaining marinade from the bag or dish.
  • Grill, with the cover down, for 7-9 minutes, then flip, and grill uncovered until the internal temperature reaches 165F, about 2-7 additional minutes.
  • Remove to a cutting board and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved ¼ cup of marinade. Slice against the grain into ½ inch slices and serve.

Oven Baking Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425F. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Discard any remaining marinade. Add the chicken to a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
  • Remove to a cutting board and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved ¼ cup of marinade. Slice against the grain into ½ inch slices and serve.
Course: dinner, Dressings & Sauces, Main Course, Marinade
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 97mg, Sodium: 575mg, Potassium: 577mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 129IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition disclaimer
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