Best Cheeses For Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Buffalo chicken sandwiches are a delicious and spicy meal, perfect for a backyard picnic or game day. The key to making them even better is to pair them with the right cheese. The cheese can help balance the spice, add creaminess, or simply make the dish more delicious. So, which cheese goes best with a buffalo chicken sandwich?

Blue cheese crumbles with a creamy sauce

Blue cheese is a popular choice for buffalo chicken sandwiches, with its pungent, salty, and sharp flavor that pairs well with the spicy chicken. The creaminess of the cheese helps to balance out the spiciness of the buffalo sauce, adding a nice contrast in texture.

Preparing the Chicken

For a juicy and tender buffalo chicken sandwich, opt for boneless, skinless chicken cutlets, which are already nice and thin. If you can't find cutlets, you can use regular chicken breasts and pound them to make them thinner, or butterfly and slice them in half.

Season the chicken with paprika, chili powder, kosher salt, and black pepper to taste. Fry the chicken in a skillet with olive oil or a combination of butter and olive oil for a few minutes on each side until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Making the Blue Cheese Sauce

For a creamy blue cheese sauce, combine sour cream, ranch dressing, and blue cheese crumbles. You can also add sliced green onions for an extra kick. This sauce will be spread on the sandwich buns, adding a tangy and savory element to the sandwich.

Assembling the Sandwich

To keep the buns from getting soggy, toast them in the oven or in a skillet, open side down. Spread the blue cheese sauce on both halves of the bun. On the bottom half, layer lettuce, the cooked chicken breast, and sliced tomato. Top with additional sauce, if desired, and finish with the top half of the bun.

Customization Options

You can customize your sandwich further with other toppings such as thinly sliced red onions, sliced cheese like cheddar or mozzarella, or a blue cheese dressing. If you want to add a bit of crunch, try serving the sandwich with celery and carrot sticks on the side.

Storage and Leftovers

The sandwiches are best enjoyed fresh, as the buns can get soggy over time. If you have leftovers, it's recommended to remove the chicken and store it separately, using a fresh bun to make a new sandwich. The cooked chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days and enjoyed in various dishes like chicken wraps or salads.

Mozzarella, a mild, milky, grassy, and floral taste

Mozzarella is a popular choice of cheese to pair with buffalo chicken. It has a mild, milky, grassy, and floral taste that can elevate the flavour of the buffalo chicken without overwhelming it. Its smooth texture also pairs well with the chicken.

Mozzarella is a versatile cheese that can be incorporated into buffalo chicken dishes in many ways. For example, you could stuff the chicken with mozzarella before breading and frying it, or make a buffalo chicken pizza with mozzarella and blue cheese. Another idea is to create a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich, where the mozzarella can melt and get a little crispy.

Mozzarella is a great choice for those who want to tone down the spice of the buffalo chicken without losing flavour. Its mildness and smooth texture make it a good option for those who are not fans of blue cheese, which is another classic pairing with buffalo chicken.

Mozzarella is also a good option for those who want to make a simple yet tasty buffalo chicken dish. For example, you could just add some mozzarella to your usual buffalo chicken recipe, or make a quesadilla with shredded chicken, mozzarella, and hot sauce.

Cheddar, a classic, versatile option

Cheddar is a fantastic choice for a buffalo chicken sandwich. Its versatility means it will complement the other ingredients in your sandwich without overwhelming them. Young cheddar, in particular, is pretty mild, so it won't be too powerful against the other flavours.

For a classic buffalo chicken sandwich, simply add some cheddar to your usual recipe. You could also try a buffalo chicken and cheddar quesadilla. Just put some shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and hot sauce in a tortilla and grill until the cheese is melted.

If you're looking for a heartier option, try making buffalo chicken nachos with cheddar cheese. These dishes are great for game day or any time you want to serve something more substantial.

Cheddar has a creamy texture that can help to balance out the spice of the buffalo sauce, and it will add depth of flavour to your sandwich. It's a milder option than some of the other cheeses, but it will still stand up to the spice of the buffalo sauce.

For a different take on the classic grilled cheese sandwich, you could use cheddar. The cheese will melt nicely and complement the flavours of the chicken. You could also add some chopped green onions or crumbled blue cheese to the sandwich for an extra kick of flavour.

So, if you're looking for a versatile, classic cheese to pair with your buffalo chicken sandwich, cheddar is an excellent choice. It will add a nice creamy texture and a mild, but complementary, flavour to your sandwich.

Swiss cheese, sweet, mild, and nutty

Swiss cheese is a great choice for buffalo chicken sandwiches, as its sweet, mild, and nutty flavour can balance out the spiciness of the buffalo sauce. It also melts well, making it perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches. You can also add some chopped green onions or crumbled blue cheese to the sandwich for an extra burst of flavour.

If you're making a buffalo chicken dip, Swiss cheese is also an excellent option. It will melt nicely and complement the flavours of the chicken. This dip is perfect for game day or any other occasion where you want something delicious and easy to eat.

Other cheeses that work well with buffalo chicken include blue cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar. Blue cheese, in particular, has a pungent, salty, and sharp flavour that pairs well with the buffalo sauce. Mozzarella, on the other hand, is milder and has a smooth, milky, grassy, and floral taste that can elevate the flavour of the chicken. As for cheddar, its mild flavour and versatility make it a good choice that will go well with all the other ingredients in your dish.

Pepperjack cheese, a spicier option

If you're looking for a spicier option for your buffalo chicken sandwich, pepperjack cheese is a great choice. This cheese has a nice kick to it, adding an extra layer of flavour to your sandwich. It's a perfect match for the spicy buffalo sauce and can stand up to the bold flavours of the other ingredients.

Pepperjack cheese is a variety of Monterey Jack, a semi-soft cow's milk cheese. It's characterised by its orange hue and the addition of spicy peppers, typically jalapeños. These peppers give the cheese a nice, subtle heat that pairs well with the buffalo chicken.

When making a buffalo chicken sandwich with pepperjack cheese, you can follow a similar recipe to a classic buffalo chicken sandwich. Start by cooking your chicken; a good option is to grill or fry chicken breasts on a stovetop, seasoning them with paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter and buffalo sauce. Coat the cooked chicken in this sauce.

Now it's time to assemble the sandwich. Spread a dressing of your choice on a brioche bun or Italian bread. You can go for a creamy blue cheese ranch sauce, a combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, and hot sauce, or simply use some ranch dressing. Layer the sauce-coated chicken, bacon, and pepperjack cheese on the bun. If you like, add some roasted red bell peppers for an extra touch of flavour and colour.

Finally, wrap your sandwich in foil and bake it in the oven for a few minutes to let the flavours meld together and the cheese to melt. And there you have it—a delicious, spicy buffalo chicken sandwich with pepperjack cheese.

Frequently asked questions