Pin It My friend Marcus showed up on a random Tuesday with a bottle of hot sauce and a challenge: make him something that would actually make him sweat. I had leftover chicken, blue cheese, and bread on hand, and something clicked—what if I treated a grilled cheese like a vehicle for all those bold buffalo flavors? Thirty minutes later, he was wiping his mouth with a napkin and asking for seconds. That sandwich became my answer to "I'm hungry but I want to feel alive about it."
I made these for a game day gathering once, and someone who claimed they "didn't really like blue cheese" ate two without commenting. That's when you know you've hit something. The spice from the buffalo and the sharp tang of the cheese somehow convince each other to play nice instead of fighting for attention.
Ingredients
- Cooked shredded chicken breast: Use rotisserie chicken from the store if you're short on time—it's already seasoned and tender, and nobody needs to know.
- Buffalo wing sauce: Buy the bottled kind and taste it first; some brands run much hotter than others, and you want to know what you're working with.
- Crumbled blue cheese: The funk is the point here, so don't apologize for it or water it down with mild cheese.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: This is the glue that holds everything together and gets those golden, stretchy moments.
- Sourdough or hearty sandwich bread: Thin bread will fall apart; thick bread gives you something to sink your teeth into.
- Unsalted butter, softened: Softened means it spreads without ripping the bread, and unsalted means you control the salt level.
- Green onions and celery: Optional, but they add a fresh crunch that cuts through the richness.
Instructions
- Coat your chicken with heat:
- Toss the shredded chicken with buffalo sauce in a bowl, making sure every piece gets a light coating. Taste it—if it's too intense, add a little more chicken; if it's too mild, add more sauce.
- Mix your cheese blend:
- Combine the blue cheese and mozzarella in a separate bowl so they're ready to go. The mozzarella melts and helps distribute the blue cheese's flavor without letting it completely take over.
- Butter and build:
- Spread softened butter on one side of each bread slice, then lay four slices buttered-side down on your work surface. Layer each one with a handful of buffalo chicken, a generous sprinkle of the cheese mix, and the optional green onions or celery if you want that texture.
- Create the sandwich:
- Top each sandwich with a remaining bread slice, buttered side up. The butter on both sides is what gets you that golden, crispy exterior.
- Cook until melted and golden:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and place the sandwiches in it. Cook 3–4 minutes per side, pressing down gently with a spatula as they cook so the cheese melds and the bread toasts evenly. You'll hear a gentle sizzle and smell that toasty-butter aroma right before they're done.
- Finish and serve:
- Slice each sandwich in half and transfer to a plate. Drizzle extra buffalo sauce on the side if you want more heat, or just let them sit for 30 seconds so the cheese stops actively flowing.
Pin It There's a specific moment when you flip that sandwich and see the golden-brown crust with little darker spots, and the cheese is just starting to peek out the sides. That's the moment it stops being just lunch and becomes something you actually got right.
Why This Works
Blue cheese and buffalo sauce have always been a team—think buffalo chicken dip, wing bar appetizers, all the classics. But putting them inside a grilled cheese changes the dynamic entirely. The bread becomes a container, the mozzarella becomes a vehicle for the blue cheese's intensity, and the butter becomes the stage where everything gets a chance to shine.
How to Build Flavor Without Burning Out
The heat in this sandwich comes exclusively from the buffalo sauce, so you control the intensity from the start. If you're cooking for people who think sriracha is "spicy," you can dilute the sauce with a little mayo or sour cream and nobody will judge you. If you're cooking for thrill-seekers, go heavy on the sauce and consider adding a pinch of cayenne to the cheese blend.
Serving and Pairing Ideas
Serve these alongside something cold and crisp—a tall glass of iced tea, a cold lager, or something with enough acidity to cut through the richness. You could also serve them with celery sticks and ranch on the side, because leaning into the buffalo wing theme never fails.
- A crisp lager or IPA pairs perfectly and won't feel heavy next to the richness of the cheese.
- Celery sticks on the side give you something fresh to reset your palate between bites.
- This is a one-handed meal, so serve it with napkins within arm's reach.
Pin It This sandwich asks for nothing but good bread, good cheese, and the willingness to let bold flavors sit next to each other. Make it when you want to feel like you're actually cooking something, not just assembling something.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of cheese works best?
A mix of crumbled blue cheese and shredded mozzarella offers a creamy, tangy flavor that balances the spicy chicken.
- → Can I use different bread types?
Sourdough or any hearty sandwich bread works well to hold the fillings and achieve a crispy crust.
- → How can I add extra crunch?
Including thinly sliced celery or green onions inside the sandwich adds a refreshing, crisp texture.
- → Is buffalo sauce mandatory?
While buffalo sauce gives a spicy kick, you can adjust the heat level or substitute with milder wing sauces if preferred.
- → What are good drink pairings?
Crisp lagers or IPAs complement the sandwich’s bold and creamy flavors nicely.