Keto Buffalo Chicken: Sides And Snacks To Try

Buffalo chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in many ways, such as wings, tenders, or a skillet meal. When following a keto diet, it is important to be mindful of the ingredients used and their carbohydrate content. For a keto-friendly buffalo chicken dish, one can use almond flour and parmesan cheese as a breading, or simply bake the chicken with a buffalo sauce made from hot sauce, butter, and vinegar. This dish can be served with various sides and dips, such as keto-friendly crackers, chips, or vegetables like celery and cucumber slices.

Keto buffalo chicken dip

Ingredients

• Shredded chicken (rotisserie or homemade)
• Cream cheese (full-fat and softened)
• Buffalo sauce (keto-friendly)
• Sour cream
• Mozzarella cheese
• Mexican cheese blend or cheddar cheese
• Blue cheese (optional)
• Green onions

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 1-quart baking dish. Shred the chicken and set aside. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and sour cream until combined. Fold in the shredded chicken and half of the shredded cheeses. Transfer the mixture to the greased baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Crumble blue cheese on top, if desired. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling. Let the dip sit for a few minutes before serving.

Tips

• Frank's Buffalo Sauce is keto-friendly and a recommended option.
• The dip can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days or frozen for up to two months.
• It can be made up to four hours in advance and baked when ready to serve.
• For a spicier dip, use Frank's Red Hot sauce instead of buffalo sauce and add ground cayenne pepper.
• Dippers: Keto favourites include crackers, chips, rolls, buns, tortillas, celery sticks, and more.

Keto buffalo chicken wings

Ingredients:

• Chicken Wings (drumettes and/or wingettes)
• Baking Powder
• Salt and Pepper
• Buffalo Sauce
• Unsalted Butter
• Optional: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika

Instructions:

Step 1: Seasoning the Chicken Wings

Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with baking powder, salt, and pepper until they are evenly coated. The baking powder is the secret ingredient that will make your wings extra crispy!

Step 2: Baking the Chicken Wings

Place the seasoned chicken wings on a wire rack fitted inside a rimmed baking sheet. This ensures even cooking and helps the wings get crispy on all sides. Bake the wings for about 40-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Step 3: Making the Buffalo Sauce

While the chicken wings are baking, prepare the buffalo sauce by melting the butter and mixing it with the buffalo sauce in a small saucepan over low heat. You can also melt them together in the microwave. If you like your wings extra spicy, feel free to add more cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the mixture.

Step 4: Tossing the Wings in Sauce

Once the wings are done, remove them from the oven and place them in a large bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over the wings and toss until they are evenly coated. You can also add the wings and sauce back to the oven for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce.

Tips for the Best Keto Buffalo Wings:

• Pat the chicken wings dry before seasoning and baking for a crispier skin.
• Don't skimp on the baking powder, as it absorbs moisture and ensures crispy wings.
• Use a wire rack for even cooking and to allow excess fat to drip off.
• Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
• For extra flavor, add spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika to the wings before baking.

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

• Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• To freeze, place the wings on a baking sheet in a single layer until frozen, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
• Always reheat wings in a preheated oven to ensure they stay crispy.

Serving Suggestions:

• Raw veggies like celery sticks, cucumber slices, mini bell peppers, and radishes.
• Dipping sauces like blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing.
• Air-fried zucchini fries or regular French fries.
• Appetizers like jalapeno poppers, creamy spinach dip, or stuffed mini peppers.
• Healthy salads like a Caesar salad.

Keto buffalo chicken skillet

Ingredients:

• 12 oz chicken breast, diced
• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
• 4 tablespoons cream cheese
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or dairy of choice)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (separated into halves)
• 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cloves of garlic or 2 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Cheese of your choice (optional)

Method:

• Preheat a skillet over medium heat for about 1 minute.
• Add chicken, bacon, and ranch seasoning. Sauté until golden and crispy. The chicken should not be pink in the middle.
• Drain grease and set chicken and bacon aside.
• In the same skillet, add butter, garlic, and cook until you can smell the garlic (about 1 minute).
• Add buffalo sauce and cayenne pepper.
• Put the chicken back into the skillet and top each breast with cheese (if using).
• Cover and let the cheese melt. Simmer the chicken until it is cooked all the way through.
• Alternatively, put the chicken and the sauce mixture in a baking dish or cast-iron dish, top with cheese, and bake for 5-6 minutes at 400°.
• Make sure your chicken is thoroughly cooked through and enjoy!

Tips:

• This recipe pairs well with Keto Roasted Cauliflower, Keto Cauliflower Wings, and Low-Carb Cauliflower Mash.
• If you want to reduce the heat, skip the last step of tossing the chicken in the sauce.
• You can also make this in an air fryer to save money on oil and reduce greasiness.
• To make this a zero-point Weight Watchers recipe, omit the oil and butter and use fat-free cheese.

Keto buffalo chicken enchiladas

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp butter, divided
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 cup buffalo sauce, divided
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 8 slices deli chicken meat
• 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 green onions, sliced

Method

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, melt 1 tbsp of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and 1/2 cup of buffalo sauce, and simmer until the sauce has thickened. Remove the skillet from the heat, and stir in the lemon juice, sour cream, and cream cheese until smooth.

In a separate bowl, melt the remaining 2 tbsp of butter, then add the rest of the buffalo sauce and some water. Pour 1/3 of this sauce mixture into the bottom of a 3-quart casserole dish.

Take a slice of chicken, and scoop a large spoonful of the buffalo chicken mixture into the centre. Roll it up, and place it seam-side down along the edge of the casserole dish. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken slices.

Pour the rest of the sauce over the enchiladas, and top with the shredded cheese and blue cheese. Bake for 12 minutes, then top with sliced green onions.

Tips

This recipe is a fun twist on the classic Mexican casserole, and it's a great option for a busy night as it can be prepared in under 30 minutes. It's also freezer-safe, so you can assemble the entire dish and freeze it for up to a month before baking.

You can use deli chicken slices as a keto-friendly tortilla substitute, or try cheese wraps, keto tortillas, or cabbage leaves.

When choosing a buffalo sauce, look for one without added sugars or carbs. You can also add a couple of tablespoons of butter to the sauce to make it even more keto-approved and to add extra flavour and fat to keep you full!

Keto buffalo chicken tenders

Ingredients

• Chicken tenders
• Crushed pork rinds
• Spices (e.g. thyme, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper)
• Eggs
• Hot sauce
• Butter
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Chives
• Avocado oil (optional)

Method

• Preheat your oven to 425°F and place a baking rack on a foil-lined baking sheet. Coat the rack generously with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels and set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the crushed pork rinds and spices. Whisk until fully incorporated. Transfer half of this mixture to a shallow dish.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the hot sauce, mayonnaise, and eggs.
• Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, then dredge in the dry ingredient mixture, turning to coat all sides.
• Transfer the breaded chicken to the prepared baking rack. Once the first half of the dry ingredients have been used, transfer the remaining half to another shallow dish.
• Bake the chicken tenders for about 15 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
• In a large pan over medium heat, melt the butter and remaining hot sauce. Stir to combine.
• Add the baked chicken tenders to the pan and toss until coated in sauce.
• Serve the chicken tenders topped with blue cheese crumbles and chives.

Tips

• If you don't want to bake the tenders, you can fry them in avocado oil or cook them in an air fryer.
• You can also freeze the breaded tenders before cooking and store them in the freezer for up to four months.
• If you don't like blue cheese, you can serve the tenders with keto ranch dressing or another dipping sauce of your choice.

Frequently asked questions