Easy Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Why Chicken Tenders Always Work
Chicken tenders are one of those rare foods that everyone agrees on. They’re easy to eat, quick to cook, and perfect for sharing—whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a full-on game day spread. Unlike wings, tenders are meatier, less messy, and easier to portion, which makes them ideal for feeding a crowd or serving alongside multiple sides.
Buffalo Flavor, Made Simple
Buffalo sauce brings that unmistakable tangy heat that people crave on game day. It’s bold without being complicated and pairs beautifully with chicken. Baking the tenders instead of frying keeps them juicy while cutting down on oil and cleanup, making this recipe approachable and repeatable. A light layer of melted mozzarella adds just enough creaminess to balance the heat without overpowering the sauce.
Perfect for Game Day or Anytime
These baked buffalo chicken tenders are made to fit any occasion. Serve them as a game day appetizer with dipping sauces, or turn them into an easy lunch or dinner with classic sides like mashed potatoes, peas, coleslaw, or a simple salad. They reheat well, scale easily, and deliver big flavor with minimal effort—exactly the kind of recipe people come back to again and again.
Easy Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Juicy baked buffalo chicken tenders coated in tangy sauce and finished with melted mozzarella for an easy, no-fry lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hot sauce (e.g. Frank’s RedHot–style)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 pounds chicken tenders
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chives, finely chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan over low heat.
- Whisk gently until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
- Use immediately or cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Lightly grease or line a baking dish with parchment paper.
- Place the chicken tenders in a large bowl. Squeeze lemon juice over the chicken and toss gently. This helps neutralize any raw chicken smell and brightens the flavor.
- Add thyme, parsley, paprika, black pepper, and salt. Toss until the tenders are evenly coated.
- Transfer the chicken to a deep baking dish. Pour the buffalo sauce over the tenders, turning to coat evenly. Let sit for 10 minutes to absorb flavor.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle mozzarella evenly over the tenders, and return to the oven. Bake for another 5–10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
- Garnish with chopped chives if desired. Serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dressing, celery sticks, or your favorite sides.
Notes
Optional Game Day Tips
- Double the recipe easily for parties
- Serve with toothpicks for easy snacking
- Add crushed red pepper or hot honey for extra heat
Nutrition Facts
Calories
420Fat (grams)
18 gCarbs (grams)
8 gSugar (grams)
3 gProtein (grams)
45 gI am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on dontmissmyplate.com should only be used as a general guideline.
How to Make These Buffalo Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
If you’d rather skip the oven, these buffalo chicken tenders adapt easily to the air fryer with minimal changes.
After seasoning the chicken and coating it in buffalo sauce, preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil and arrange the tenders in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Air fry for 10 minutes, flip, then cook for another 6–8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the tenders and return them to the air fryer for 1–2 minutes, just until the cheese melts. Garnish with chopped chives and serve immediately.
Buffalo Sauce Variations
One of the best things about buffalo chicken is how easy it is to customize the heat level.Mild: Use less hot sauce and add a little extra butter or a drizzle of honey to soften the heat.
Classic: Stick with a traditional buffalo sauce for a balanced tangy, buttery flavor.
Extra Hot: Add cayenne pepper or use a hotter pepper sauce for more kick.
These variations make it easy to adjust the recipe for different crowds or spice preferences on game day.
Make-Ahead and Reheat Tips
These buffalo chicken tenders are great for entertaining because much of the prep can be done ahead.
You can season the chicken and toss it in buffalo sauce up to 24 hours in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator and bake or air fry just before serving.
To reheat, warm the tenders in the air fryer at 350°F for 4–6 minutes or in the oven at 375°F for 8–10 minutes until heated through. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can soften the texture.
Honey Soy Orange Glazed Pork Chops
Pork chops are a perfect blend of sweet and savory. Pork goes well with apples as most people know, but also pairs well with citrus, more specifically orange. Soy is used in a lot of pork marinades, and adding that in along with the honey adds a deep, rich flavor you’ll be sure to enjoy!
What you need 🛒🛒🛒:
4 boneless chops
1 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange peel
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/4cup honey, raw organic (set aside another 1/4 for sauce)
Orange slices
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 red onion
1/4 cup sherry (cooking wine or broth)
What you do 🍳🍳🍳:
Step 1
Marinate your pork chops for one hour. Whisk 1/4 cup of the honey with the soy sauce, seasoning, orange juice, orange peel, and garlic in a bowl then cover and refrigerate.
Step 2
In a grill pan, cook the pork chops and red onion. Finish in an oven at 350F and make sure the pork is done - cook until juices run clear or the pork is done with an internal temperature at 145F/white on the inside. Deglaze the pan with the sherry.
Step 3
Mix the marinade juice with another 1/3 cup of honey and cook into a glaze, pour onto the pork chops.
Step 4
Serve with the roasted brussels spouts and grains. 1 teaspoon butter and orange slices squeezed over the chops will add more flavor.
Notes:
For the Brussels Sprouts, roast them in bacon fat (with bacon pieces), a little olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. When roasted, toss in parmesan cheese.
For the quinoa and brown rice mix, I used a near a Near East. product which you can find, here.
Spicy Peanut, Kale and Sweet Potato Soup
Kale, sweet potato and peanut butter are all ingredients that make wonderful additions to your diet for various health-related reasons. Bring the trio together with some cayenne pepper and coconut milk to get a hearty soup that warms you even the coldest night!
Spicy Peanut, Kale and Sweet Potato Soup
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mix of leeks and onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 large sweet potato, chopped
- 1 can sweet corn
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup scallions, chopped
- 1/8 cup basil, chopped
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions:
- Prepare your vegetables.
- On medium heat, sauté the garlic in butter and olive oil until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the spices, onion and leek mix, cook until onions become translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes and tomato paste, cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the sweet potato, carrots, and soy sauce, cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the coconut milk and 1 cup broth, simmer or 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the basil and scallions and bring the soup to a boil, about 5 minutes.
- Add the kale a bunch at a time to wilt down (this will create space for the next handful of kale).
- Add the remainder of the broth, corn, and scoop in the peanut butter, making sure to dissolve all the lumps. Add the lemon juice, stir.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, check on your soup to ensure it doesn't burn and add more broth if necessary. Add salt and peer to taste, stirring occasionally.
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot with some fresh bread if you like!
Calories
353Fat (grams)
18.56Carbs (grams)
43.7Protein (grams)
9.19
Chicken in Red Wine (Coq au Vin)
Coq au Vin is probably one of my favourite dishes and one of the first I started making regularly when cooking became a thing for me. It's a delicious, heartwarming meal that will impress almost anyone you make it for!
Coq au Vin
Ingredients:
- 8 chicken thighs, with skin and bone
- 3 bacon strips, chopped
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 sweet white onion, sliced lengthways
- 1 cup frozen pearl onions
- ½ bottle of pinot noir (or good red wine)
- 3 large carrots, cut into diagonal pieces
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 packet (4 ounces) cremini mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
Instructions:
- Cook the bacon until browned in a large pot, remove and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, onion powder, dried thyme, garlic powder, and lemon. Brown in bacon fat on each side and remove from pot. (Try not to over crowd the pot, do this in batches if necessary).
- Add the minced garlic, cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the onion, cook until and carrots, cook for an additional 4 minutes.
- Return the bacon and chicken with the juices to the pot, cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add the wine, broth, and fresh thyme to the pot.
- In a 350F oven, cook the chicken in an oven-proof pot or a baking pan covered with foil and bake for about 40 minutes. Remove any herb sticks and return to the stove when done.
- While the chicken is baking, cook the mushrooms in olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, cumin, and soy sauce with salt and pepper to taste for about 5 minutes, set aside.
- Make a roux to thicken the red wine sauce. Do this by melting 2 tablespoons butter and whisking it with the four, then add this to the pot and stir until incorporated.
- Add in the pearl onions and mushrooms, season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with mashed sweet potatoes or a side of your choice. Serve the next day for optimum taste!
Calories
559Fat (grams)
37.25Carbs (grams)
13.54Protein (grams)
33.83
Spanish Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)
Garlic butter shrimp is one of the tastiest Spanish tapas. They are protein rich and super filling. If you are tired of having to pay for them in restaurants, make them yourself! The recipe is super easy and a crowd pleaser.
Spanish Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 lb. jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions:
- Heat pan to medium temperature and melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the fresh garlic and cook for 5 minutes.
- Season the shrimp with salt, pepper, lemon, paprika, coriander, and powdered garlic. Let them stand in a bowl and marinate for about 10 minutes. (If you place in the fridge remove 5 minutes before cooking 5).
- Sauté the shrimp for 4-5 minutes until it is a pinkish white colour and longer translucent.
- Deglaze the pan with the wine to finish, cook for a remining 3 minutes, take off the heat (take care not to overcook the shrimp).
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve hot with some toasted bread.
Calories
504Fat (grams)
40.39Carbs (grams)
6.83Protein (grams)
24.4