Enjoy the bold flavor of a buffalo chicken wing without the mess. This Traeger Grilled Buffalo Chicken recipe uses a homemade Cholula-style buffalo sauce that delivers a tangy, smoky kick—one of my favorite ways to enjoy grilled chicken.
Traeger Grilled Buffalo Chicken Recipe
Place these on your grill and brush them periodically with more buffalo sauce for tender, juicy chicken breasts packed with flavor. The Cholula-style hot sauce used here gives the sauce a balanced heat—enough kick without overwhelming the palate—so the final dish is spicy, tangy, and irresistibly smoky when made on a pellet grill like a Traeger.
Cholula is a chili-based hot sauce known for its layered flavor profile. If you enjoy a mild to moderate heat, this is an excellent base for a buffalo sauce. When combined with butter and a touch of acidity in a homemade buffalo blend, it becomes bright, savory, and perfect for grilling.
Why Make Homemade Buffalo Sauce?
Making your own buffalo sauce gives you complete control over heat, tang, and richness. Choose the hot sauce base you prefer to dial the spice level up or down, and adjust acidity and butter to get the balance you like. A homemade sauce shines when brushed onto chicken while grilling, adding a bright, layered finish you won’t get from bottled sauces alone.
While you can bake this chicken or cook it on a charcoal or gas grill, using a wood-pellet Traeger adds a subtle smoky note that complements the buffalo sauce beautifully. Grilling outdoors also keeps things simple and frees you from kitchen heat—perfect for relaxed weeknight dinners or weekend cookouts.
More Easy Smoker Recipes
What to Serve with Traeger Grilled Cholula Buffalo Chicken
This grilled buffalo chicken pairs well with many sides. Try a grilled vegetable pasta salad, pan-fried potato wedges, or a simple green salad. Crusty bread is an especially satisfying accompaniment—you can soak up every bit of sauce left on the plate. The smoky, tangy chicken also makes a terrific topping for flatbread pizzas or sandwiches.
If you have leftovers, slice the chicken over crisp greens with tomatoes, croutons, parmesan, and your favorite ranch or blue cheese dressing for a quick, flavorful salad the next day. Leftovers store and reheat well, making this a great recipe for meal prep.
Leftover grilled buffalo chicken is versatile: use it in wraps, over rice bowls, on flatbreads, or as a protein for salads. It keeps well and adds a bright, spicy note to many dishes.
Traeger Grilled Buffalo Chicken Recipe
Get the bold taste of buffalo wings without the mess. This Traeger Grilled Buffalo Chicken features a homemade Cholula-style buffalo sauce for a smoky, tangy finish. Brush the chicken with sauce as it cooks for maximum flavor and juicy results.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Rest Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons homemade BBQ rub
- ½–1 cup homemade Cholula-style buffalo sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to 400°F, following the manufacturer’s startup instructions.
- Slice each chicken breast lengthwise into long strips and season evenly with the barbecue rub.
- Place the chicken on the grill and brush liberally on both sides with buffalo sauce.
- Close the grill and cook for 4 minutes. Open, brush both sides again, then flip the chicken.
- Continue flipping and brushing every 4–5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from the grill and let rest for a few minutes before serving, or cool and save for meals later in the week.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 6 | Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 176 | Total Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0g | Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 631mg | Carbohydrates: 1g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g | Protein: 32g
Nutrition data provided here is an estimate. If you require precise values for medical reasons, please consult a trusted nutrition source.
© Or Whatever You Do
Cuisine: American / Category: Traeger Recipes
