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Grilled Buffalo Chicken Subs: Grilled seasoned chicken is shredded and tossed with buffalo sauce. The saucy buffalo chicken is then layered into a sub roll with homemade ranch dressing, melty pepperjack and cheddar cheese, and a delicious, crunchy ranch slaw. Each bite is as DELICIOUS as it sounds. It’s equally wonderful for a yummy lunch or dinner as it is on game day or your next summertime party!
I mentioned this on Instagram last week, but I’m really having a moment with sandwiches. For the last month, I’ve wanted to make some kind of buffalo chicken sandwich. It all started with TikTok.
I spend almost zero time on TikTok. But I do love our special TikTok community that we’ve built. Therefore, I love sharing content on TikTok as much as possible. But I never scroll TikTok. I open the app, and I post. There are about 30 seconds while I wait for my video to post. I swear to you that every single day, I’m served up a video from fathercooper – Alex Cooper, also known for her podcast Call Her Daddy.
If you don’t follow Alex, she’s fun, and her TikTok is filled with the most random food reviews, most of them being sandwiches. I kind of love it. The girl wolfed down a mean-looking buffalo chicken sub sandwich. After that video, I knew I needed to make a buffalo sandwich for summer. And that was that, and here we are!
I drew even more inspiration from my favorite East Coast sandwich shop, Penn Station. I grilled up chicken and tossed it with buffalo sauce, then layered it on a sub roll with pepperjack and cheddar cheese. Then I melted the cheese and finished it with my homemade ranch slaw. It came out SO GOOD, and I’m so excited to share the recipe!
These are the details
Step 1: season the chicken
Toss chicken tenders (or, if you love thighs, use those) with smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add olive oil and toss the chicken one more time.
Step 2:Â grill the chicken
Now you grill! You can use a grill pan or an outdoor grill, both are great.
Grill the chicken until lightly charred on either side. If you’re using chicken tenders, this takes 5 minutes or so! So fast! My dad taught me this secret. He always used chicken tenders instead of breasts. They cook so much faster!
Step 3:Â shred the chicken and assemble
Shred the chicken and toss with buffalo sauce.
You can use store-bought buffalo sauce or make your own.
If you want to make your own sauce, it’s pretty easy. Mix 1/2 cup or so of hot sauce (I use Franks) with an equal amount of melted butter. Then add seasoned salt and pepper. That’s it!
Step 4: make the ranch
I know that making homemade ranch is just another step, but it really is worth it. And it’s easier than running to the market to pick up a bottle.
I keep mine pretty simple and straightforward: sour cream or yogurt, mayo, buttermilk, parsley, dill, onion, garlic, and, of course, the jalapeños. Instead of fresh jalapeños, I like to use pickled jalapeño peppers. Using pickled jalapeños adds a subtle, tangy kick that I find especially delicious.
Step 5: the slaw
Toss a whole bunch of shredded cabbage with the ranch dressing. I like to add cilantro and scallions too.
If you enjoy blue cheese, add blue cheese crumbles to the slaw. I think that’s so delicious! But other than that addition, keep the slaw simple: ranch, herbs, and cheese.
Step 6: build your subs!
Stuff the saucy buffalo chicken and cheese slices into the soft French baguette rolls. Place the rolls on the grill to melt the cheese.
When the cheese is melted, add the ranch slaw and extra sauce, and close the sandwiches up. Then serve! Eat these subs while hot, straight off the grill, quick and easy!
Once everything comes together, you get a big, beautiful summer sub sandwich! Every bite is delish – sandwiches are always more fun in the summer!
Looking for other dinner recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Chopped Buffalo Chicken Skewer Salad
Chipotle Pineapple Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Hawaiian Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Pineapple Salsa
Summer Chicken Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
Pesto Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad Wraps
Lastly, if you make this Grilled Buffalo Chicken Subs, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sub Sandwich
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken tenders or small thighs
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- 4-6 soft French baguette rolls, split
- 6 slices pepper jack or cheddar cheese
- 6 cups shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup mixed chopped cilantro + green onion
Ranch Dressing
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- 1. Set your grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat.2. In a bowl, toss the chicken, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt together. Grill the chicken until lightly charred, 5-8 minutes per side, depending on the size of your chicken. Shred the meat and toss with 1/2 cup buffalo sauce.3. Meanwhile, make the ranch dressing. Combine all ingredients in a jar, mixing until creamy. Then, season with salt. 4. To make the ranch slaw. Toss the cabbage with the ranch dressing, cilantro, and green onion.5. To make the sandwich. Lay the rolls, cut side up, on a cutting board. Spread the ranch dressing over the bottom piece of bread, then add the chicken and layer on 1-2 cheese slices per sandwich. Place on the grill (or use the broiler), cover, and cook until the cheese is melted. 6. Top the melty cheese with the ranch slaw and extra buffalo sauce. Close the sandwiches. Serve hot with extra ranch. Yum!