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Baked Buffalo Chicken Thighs Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 91 reviews
  • Author: Ethan
  • Total Time: 32 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

These Baked Buffalo Chicken Thighs are a flavorful and juicy twist on classic buffalo wings, featuring tender boneless, skinless chicken thighs coated in a crispy seasoned flour and smothered in a tangy homemade buffalo sauce. Perfectly baked for a crispy outside and tender inside, they make an easy and delicious main dish for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 8 thighs)
  • ⅓ cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil

Buffalo Sauce

  • ½ cup hot sauce
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ½ tablespoon white vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400˚F to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the chicken thighs.
  2. Prepare Flour Mixture: In a shallow bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create a seasoned coating for the chicken.
  3. Coat Chicken: Dredge each chicken thigh in the flour mixture, making sure each piece is lightly and evenly coated on all sides.
  4. Arrange for Baking: Brush a 9×13 inch baking pan with cooking oil to prevent sticking, then place the coated chicken thighs in a single layer inside the pan.
  5. Bake Chicken: Bake the chicken thighs in the preheated oven for 12 minutes to start cooking and crisp the coating.
  6. Mix Cornstarch Paste: While chicken bakes, stir the white vinegar into the cornstarch until it forms a smooth paste, which will help thicken the buffalo sauce.
  7. Make Buffalo Sauce: In a small saucepan, whisk together the hot sauce, butter, cornstarch paste, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Heat over medium-high until it reaches a boil, then remove from heat.
  8. Emulsify Sauce: Using a whisk or hand blender, vigorously combine the sauce ingredients to create a smooth, well-emulsified buffalo sauce.
  9. Coat Chicken in Sauce: Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and pour about ¾ of the buffalo sauce over them. Use tongs to turn and coat each thigh evenly with sauce.
  10. Finish Baking: Return the coated chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 6-10 minutes until cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165˚F.
  11. Serve: Serve the baked buffalo chicken thighs warm, tossing them with the remaining buffalo sauce or serving extra sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

  • Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165˚F for food safety.
  • The coating flour mixture gives the chicken a slight crisp without deep frying.
  • Adjust the amount of hot sauce according to your preferred spice level.
  • The cornstarch and vinegar paste thickens the buffalo sauce for better coating consistency.
  • You can use a hand blender to make the sauce extra smooth and emulsified.
  • If preferred, you can bake the chicken thighs on a wire rack set inside the pan for even cooking and extra crispiness.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 22 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Buffalo chicken thighs, baked buffalo chicken, spicy chicken thighs, boneless chicken recipe, easy buffalo sauce

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Find it online: https://theethankitchen.com/baked-buffalo-chicken-thighs-recipe/