Ever since I started making Smash Tacos, they’ve become one of our favorite quick and easy dinners. This Buffalo chicken version uses ground chicken, Frank’s hot sauce (is there another?!), and sharp cheddar to create a crispy, spicy, flavor-packed meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes!
Buffalo Chicken Smash Tacos for a Fun, Easy Dinner.
Those thin, lacy patties aren’t just for Smash Burgers!
Swap the bun for a tortilla, and you have a new spin on a taco, just begging for toppings.
To go with the Buffalo chicken flavor profile, I topped mine with creamy Ranch slaw made with Romaine lettuce tossed in store-bought Ranch dressing. Easy!
The creaminess of the Ranch cools the heat from the Buffalo sauce.
For a more traditional Buffalo chicken approach, you can swap in blue cheese dressing.
And if you’d like it spicier? Drizzle with more Buffalo sauce to taste, or add sliced jalapeños.
Erin’s Testing Notes
Since ground chicken is leaner than beef, make sure you oil your griddle well. I like to use a high-temperature oil with a neutral flavor, like canola or avocado oil, to avoid smoking or imparting off-flavors.
It’s easiest to smash these with a burger press like this, but a sturdy spatula will work too.
More Buffalo Chicken Recipes
Because my husband Ben will take Buffalo chicken any way I make it!
Buffalo Chicken Smash Tacos
Video
Email Me the Recipe!
From time to time, we’ll send you Well Plated emails. You can unsubscribe anytime. Have an account? Log In.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- ¼ cup Buffalo sauce plus additional for serving, such as Frank's
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup finely chopped green onions plus additional for serving
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese or pepper Jack cheese
- 8 small flour tortillas street taco size
- 3 cups shredded romaine lettuce or cabbage
- ¼ cup ranch dressing plus additional for serving
- Chopped fresh cilantro optional for serving
- Canola oil or high-temperature cooking oil of choice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken, Buffalo sauce, garlic powder, salt, cayenne, and green onions. With a fork, mix gently to combine. Divide into 8 balls.
- In a small bowl, toss together the romaine with the ranch and set aside.
- Arrange your tortillas on a work surface. Place 1 ball on each tortilla, then with your fingers, press it into a thin, even layer going almost all the way to the edge.
- Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, brush the pan with oil. Quickly place one of the tortillas meat side down, and with a burger press or the back of a sturdy spatula, press the tortilla into the meat, wiggling it back and forth a bit so the meat spreads into a thin, even layer. Let cook until browned and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Flip the tortilla and immediately sprinkle with 2 tablespoons shredded cheese. Let heat until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crisped on the other side, about 2 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese.
- Serve hot, topped with the tossed romaine, additional green onion and/or cilantro, and more Buffalo sauce to taste.
Notes
- TO STORE: These are best eaten immediately after cooking. If you won’t eat all 8 tacos, refrigerate the meat uncooked for 2 days. Add to a tortilla just before cooking.
- Nutrition facts include regular ranch dressing
I made these on my Blackstone and they turned out SO good!! I made some with sharp cheddar and some with blue cheese, and both were delicious. Thank you so much for this easy and delicious recipe!
Yay! Love to hear that, Charlene!
I wasn’t sure about the whole “smash taco” idea when I first saw the recipe, but it actually worked really well. The chicken gets pressed right onto the tortilla and cooks up with those crispy browned edges. It was easier to make than I expected too. We enjoyed this so much. Thank you!
So glad to hear it was a hit, Naomi! Thank you!
I made these for my kids but kept the buffalo sauce lighter on theirs. They actually loved the crispy tortilla and chicken combination. I made mine with more sauce and ranch. They were a little messy to eat, but that’s part of the fun.
So glad to hear, Veronica! Thank you!
We absolutely loved it! So simple and delicious to make. My nephews loved them and so did I!
So glad to hear, Katherine! Thank you!
Would these work with corn tortillas?
HI Katherine, you could give them a try, I just haven’t tested it myself. Corn tortillas don’t typically hold up as well, but if you warm them up that might help! Let us know how it goes!
We have tacos pretty regularly, so I wanted something different for our taco night. These completely changed things up. The buffalo chicken gave them a totally different flavor from traditional tacos, and everyone could add their own toppings.
So glad to hear, Kandice! Thank you!