Buffalo chicken bird dogs

If a hotdog and a chicken tender had a baby you’d get a bird dog!. We start with chicken tenders that are seasoned and grilled, then tossed in buffalo sauce. They are topped with cheddar cheese and placed into a hotdog bun with creamy coleslaw and a drizzle of ranch. The perfect bite every single time, these buffalo chicken bird dogs are fun to serve and the whole family will enjoy them.

Where did the bird dog originate from?

Although we don’t really know who came up with the idea first, it’s a safe bet to say it was somewhere in South Carolina. Typically you will see fried chicken tenders served in a hotdog bun with honey mustard, bacon and cheese. It reminds me of Alice Springs Chicken without the mushrooms. I wanted to try my take on these and make a buffalo chicken version.

What you need to make buffalo chicken bird dogs.

Chicken tenders: Any kind will do, make sure you remove the tendon if needed.

Poultry or chicken rub: Use your favorite or just salt, pepper, and garlic powder will do.

Buffalo Sauce: I like Buffalo wing sauce mixed with a little melted butter for that velvety texture.

Cornstarch: I sprinkle this in when adding the chicken rub to help the tenders get a little crispier on the grill.

Seasoning and grilling the chicken tenders

I place all of my tenders into a bowl and drizzle on some olive oil. Then I season with the chicken rub and cornstarch. I toss them all together until they are evenly coated.

Next I place them onto my grill on high heat and cook them until they reach an internal temperature of 165 °. This shouldn’t take long. Continue to flip them back and forth to get nice grill marks and a char on both sides.

Once the chicken is done, remove them from the grill, place them in a bowl and add your buffalo sauce. Make sure to cover them completely with the sauce. Now it’s time to assemble everything together!

Assembling the buffalo chicken bird dogs.

First toast your hot dog buns for a minute on the grill or under your broiler in the oven. Then add a layer of creamy homemade coleslaw inside the bottom of the bun and 1 or 2 chicken tenders on top. Add some shredded cheddar cheese (Melt if you want), a drizzle of ranch dressing and some green onions to make them pop!

These bird dogs are perfectly balanced in flavor from the spicy buffalo sauce to the creamy coleslaw and ranch. They are also super easy to make and a fun take on a regular chicken sandwich. The next time you are in the mood for some buffalo chicken definitely give these a try!

Check out these other spicy chicken recipes:

Grilled buffalo wings with ranch

Bacon wrapped Nashville hot chicken

Grilled cajun chicken pasta

Grilled hot honey bbq wings

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