By When you've only got 20 minutes to get dinner on the table and want something extra flavorful, these buffalo chicken smash tacos are it! They are seriously delicious, incredibly easy, and packed with bold buffalo flavor. Plus, they are extra high in protein thanks to a quick homemade ranch!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get fun new recipes from us every week!
I was a bit late to the smash taco game. But now... I can't be stopped! Of course, we love classic smash tacos, but we also love buffalo chicken dip, so we thought why not combine these flavors?!
What resulted is an insanely easy and delicious protein chicken dinner - buffalo smash tacos! All the flavor of your favorite buffalo chicken wrap or dip, but half the work and more protein. Just mix, smash, cook, and enjoy!
Jump to:
how to keep them from sticking
We found that using a nonstick skillet that is adequately heated before adding the meat-covered tortilla helps prevent sticking. A little oil or butter also goes a long way. If it does stick a bit, a thin metal spatula is your best friend for gently loosening it.
ingredient notes & substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Flour tortillas (8 inch): We prefer to use 8" low-carb tortillas or regular wheat tortillas. We found zero-carb or corn tortillas are too delicate and fall apart pretty easily.
- Ground chicken: This readily absorbs all the buffalo and ranch flavors, making every bite super tasty. You could substitute ground turkey if you prefer. But be sure to use white meat chicken. It also makes great chicken burgers!
- Buffalo sauce: Use your favorite brand - Noble Made has great ingredients! Adjust the amount based on your spice preference. If you like buffalo flavor, check out our buffalo chicken lettuce wraps!
- Ranch seasoning: You can use a store-bought packet or make your own blend.
- Greek yogurt: The secret to our high-protein ranch. It adds creaminess and a protein boost without all the fat of traditional ranch. Plain, non-fat, or low-fat works best. For more ideas, check out our list of Greek yogurt dinner recipes!
- Blue cheese crumbles: Even though I don't like blue cheese, for buffalo, it's a must! If you're not a fan, feta or even a sharp cheddar could be subbed, though it will change the classic flavor profile.
- Red onions: My favorite onion!! Shallots or even green onions would work in a pinch.
- Lettuce: Romaine or iceberg lettuce is a great choice for their crispness.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
high protein ingredient spotlight: ground chicken
Let's talk about ground chicken! It's a fantastic lean protein source, typically packing around 22 grams of protein per 4-ounce serving. That makes it one of our favorite ingredients in our list of high-protein low-calorie dinner ideas. It's incredibly versatile because it takes on the flavors you introduce to it, making it perfect for dishes like these buffalo smash tacos or our chicken breakfast meatballs.
here's how to make buffalo chicken smash tacos
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe!
- In a bowl, mix the ground chicken, a splash of buffalo sauce, some ranch seasoning, and bleu cheese crumbles. Get it all combined (hands work best for this)!
- Spread the chicken mixture into four equal parts onto each tortilla. I like to use the back of a spoon to spread it.
- Place (or smash!) a tortilla, chicken-side down, onto the hot skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes. Flip it over and cook for another minute to crisp up the tortilla. Repeat until all tacos are cooked.
- While the tacos are cooking (or before you start), mix together the Greek yogurt and the remaining ranch seasoning. Hello, high-protein ranch! Thin it out with a splash of milk as needed.
- Once cooked, load up your tacos with a drizzle of the remaining buffalo sauce, your homemade ranch, more bleu cheese, diced red onions, and fresh lettuce. Enjoy!
quick recipe video
expert tips
- Prep your toppings: Have all your toppings (lettuce, onions, extra sauce, etc.) ready to go by the time you're done cooking. These tacos come together fast, and you'll want to assemble and eat them while they're hot!
- Smear the ground chicken into the tortilla using the back of a spoon. We found this is the easiest way to get it evenly spread.
troubleshooting & testing notes
Blue cheese mixed in
We tested this with and without bleu cheese mixed into the ground chicken. We found it's much better with bleu cheese mixed in because it gets hot and gooey!
Homemade Greek yogurt ranch
We tried topping these with store-bought ranch dressing and had some trouble with it dripping out because of how much liquid is in it. Making a thick ranch dressing with Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning solves the dripping problem and adds a boost of protein!
how to store & meal prep it
I try to enjoy these fresh because they're the crispiest, but you can store and reheat them! Just wait to add the cold toppings if you think you'll store some of the leftovers, so those aren't reheated with the tacos.
- Fridge: Store leftover cooked smashed tacos in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Store toppings separately.
- Reheating: The best way to reheat is in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes per side to re-crisp the tortilla. You can also use an air fryer at around 350°F (175°C) for 2-4 minutes. Avoid the microwave if you want to maintain crispiness.
my favorite ways to devour these tacos
- Red onion and lettuce are the perfect veggies to top these tacos with, but if you're looking for other ideas, I suggest shredded carrots or diced cucumbers.
- For a side, try this with my street corn chicken salad and cottage cheese stuffed peppers.
Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Smash Tacos
Ingredients
- 4 low carb flour tortillas (8 inch)
- 1 lb ground chicken*
- ⅓ cup buffalo sauce
- 4 tsps ranch seasoning
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt (plain low fat)
- ½ cup bleu cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup red onions (diced)
- 1.5 cups lettuce (chopped)
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Heat a skillet on the stove over medium heat with oil or butter.
- Mix the 1 lb ground chicken*, 2 tablespoon buffalo sauce, 2 teaspoon ranch seasoning, and ¼ cup of blue cheese crumbles in a large bowl.
- Use the back of a spoon to spread ¼ of the buffalo chicken mixture evenly onto each of the 4 low carb flour tortillas.
- Cook each tortilla with the chicken side down on the hot skillet for 4-5 minutes. Then, flip and cook on the other side for 1 minute. Repeat with all four tortillas.
- Mix together 2 teaspoons ranch seasoning with ¾ cup Greek yogurt to make a high-protein ranch topping (we like ours thick, but you can thin it out with 1-2 tablespoon of milk if you like).
- After cooking, top tacos with the remaining buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, bleu cheese, diced red onions, and lettuce. Then, enjoy!
Video
Notes
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
So simple to make and super yummy! Would recommend!
So happy to hear that!