I absolutely love sharing this Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe because it hits that perfect balance between bold flavor and comforting richness. Whether you’re gearing up for a game day gathering or craving a fun appetizer to impress friends, these bites pack a punch with spicy buffalo heat mellowed by creamy cheeses and buttery puff pastry. I discovered this trick for combining rotisserie chicken with a tangy, cheesy filling recently, and it has quickly become a family favorite around here.
What makes this Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe truly special is how effortlessly it comes together while giving you that layered texture and flavor experience. You’ll find that the crisp pastry cups hold the creamy, spicy filling perfectly, while the fresh carrot and celery tossed in vinegar add a bright, refreshing crunch on top. It’s one of those recipes that look fancy but are exceptionally easy to adapt and make all your own.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with Flavor: The combo of hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, and choice cheeses creates irresistible spicy-savory bites.
- Quick & Easy Prep: Using rotisserie chicken and store-bought puff pastry cuts down hands-on time dramatically.
- Textural Contrast: Crispy pastry meets creamy filling topped with crisp, tangy veggies for full satisfaction.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Great as a crowd-pleasing appetizer, snack, or even game day star.
Ingredients You’ll Need
I love how these ingredients come together to give you a deliciously balanced Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe — spicy, creamy, tangy, and fresh all at once. When you’re shopping, try to get good-quality rotisserie chicken and a flaky puff pastry sheet for best results.
- Carrot: Adds crunch and a subtle sweetness if you decide to include it; peeling and grating helps it blend well with the other toppings.
- Celery: Thinly sliced for a crisp, refreshing bite that cuts through the richness.
- Apple cider vinegar: Tossed with carrot and celery to brighten the flavors and add a bit of tang.
- Kosher salt: Essential for seasoning every layer without overpowering.
- Cream cheese: Provides that creamy base that brings everything together smoothly.
- Unsalted butter: Melted to mix into the filling, enriching the texture and flavor.
- Hot sauce: Brings the signature buffalo heat; adjust the amount based on your spice love.
- Cajun seasoning: Adds depth and a smoky spice that rounds out the hot sauce kick.
- Rotisserie chicken: Quick protein source that’s tender and flavorful—use leftover or freshly chopped.
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp and melty, giving a satisfying cheesy punch.
- Blue cheese crumbles: The classic buffalo wing companion for tang and creaminess.
- Sliced chives: For a mild oniony freshness and pretty color.
- All-purpose flour: To roll out the puff pastry without sticking.
- Puff pastry: The golden, flaky shell that makes these bites irresistibly crispy.
- Cooking spray: Keeps the muffin tin coated so the pastry bakes up beautifully without sticking.
- Ranch dressing: Your perfect dip partner that balances the spice and adds cool creaminess.
Variations
One of the things I love most about the Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe is how flexible it is. You can easily personalize the spice level, cheese choices, or even swap out the chicken for a vegetarian option if you want.
- Spicier Version: I sometimes add extra hot sauce or sprinkle cayenne for a hotter bite; just be sure to balance with more cream cheese or ranch.
- Different Cheeses: Mixing in pepper jack or mozzarella can mellow the sharpness and give a different cheesy texture.
- Vegetarian Option: Try substituting shredded jackfruit or finely chopped cauliflower for the chicken to keep it meat-free but hearty.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free puff pastry brands — they’re not always perfect but work surprisingly well for these.
How to Make Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe
Step 1: Prep the Fresh Veggie Topping
Start by preheating your oven to a hot 450°F. While it warms up, toss your grated carrot and thin-sliced celery with apple cider vinegar and a pinch of kosher salt in a small bowl. This little step lets the veggies soften slightly and infuses them with a bright tang, which adds such a nice contrast once the bites are baked. Set them aside to marinate as you move on to the filling.
Step 2: Make the Creamy Buffalo Filling
In a large bowl, mix together softened cream cheese, melted unsalted butter, hot sauce, and Cajun seasoning until smooth and well combined. Here’s what I learned: use room temperature cream cheese so it blends effortlessly without lumps. Then fold in the chopped rotisserie chicken, shredded cheddar, blue cheese crumbles, and most of the sliced chives—saving some chives for garnish. This filling is where the magic happens: spicy, cheesy, creamy, and full of good stuff.
Step 3: Shape the Pastry Cups
Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the puff pastry into a roughly 12” by 10” rectangle. I find that taking your time here prevents tearing and makes a more even cup. Use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut the rectangle into 12 equal squares. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray to ensure your pastry won’t stick, then press each square firmly into each muffin well, forming little cups ready to cradle the filling.
Step 4: Fill and Bake
Spoon in the buffalo chicken mixture evenly into each puff pastry cup. Don’t overfill or the filling may bubble over while baking. Pop the tin into the hot oven and bake for 17 to 20 minutes, until the puff pastry is golden brown and the cheese filling is bubbling and irresistible. Let the bites rest in the tin for about 5 to 10 minutes so they firm up slightly before you try to remove them.
Step 5: Add Toppings and Serve
Transfer your Buffalo Blitz Bites onto a serving platter, then top each with a bit of that dressed carrot and celery mixture and the remaining chopped chives for freshness and color. Serve these with ranch dressing on the side — it’s a classic combo that truly brings out the best flavors and offers a cooling complement to the heat.
Pro Tips for Making Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your cream cheese is softened — it blends so much easier into a smooth filling that way.
- Balance Spices: Taste your filling before baking and adjust hot sauce or Cajun seasoning to your preference; buffalo heat can vary.
- Don’t Overfill Pastry: Leave a little breathing room in the pastry cups to avoid spillover during baking.
- Cool Slightly Before Removing: Letting the bites cool in the pan helps them hold their shape and prevents breaking when you take them out.
How to Serve Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe
Garnishes
I swear by topping these bites with the lightly pickled carrot and celery mix. It introduces a fresh crunch and acidity that cuts through the richness perfectly. A sprinkle of extra blue cheese crumbles or extra chives adds a final pop of flavor and color that really makes these bites stand out on the platter.
Side Dishes
These Buffalo Blitz Bites shine as appetizers alongside classic finger food sides like crispy sweet potato fries, celery sticks with ranch, or even a simple mixed green salad to balance the indulgence. For a party, I love pairing them with chips and guacamole or a creamy spinach dip for variety.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, I’ve served these Buffalo Blitz Bites in mini cast iron skillets or on rustic wooden boards lined with parchment paper. Adding small bowls of ranch, blue cheese dressing, and even extra hot sauce lets guests customize each bite how they like. For holiday parties, I sometimes arrange them in a circular pattern on a platter with bright green celery “spokes” — it creates an inviting centerpiece that doubles as delicious finger food.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge right away. They keep well for up to 3 days, but I recommend separating the veggie topping from the bites if you want to preserve that fresh crunch and vibrance. Reassemble just before serving again.
Freezing
While I haven’t frozen the fully assembled bites with the fresh veggie topping (it doesn’t freeze well), I’ve had success freezing the unbaked filled pastry cups. Just assemble, freeze on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a bag. When you want to bake, no need to thaw — just add a few extra minutes to baking time.
Reheating
To keep the puff pastry crispy when reheating leftovers, I pop the bites into a preheated oven at 375°F for about 8 to 10 minutes. Avoid microwaving if possible because it makes the pastry soggy. Also, add the fresh carrot-celery topping after reheating for that fresh crunch.
FAQs
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Can I make Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the filling and cut your puff pastry squares ahead and store them separately. Assemble the bites just before baking for the freshest pastry texture. The carrot and celery topping should be kept in the fridge and added right before serving.
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What if I don’t have rotisserie chicken?
No worries! Cooked shredded chicken breast or thighs work just as well. You can also use leftover cooked chicken from any recipe or even canned chicken in a pinch, though fresh tends to taste best.
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Can I make these bites less spicy?
Absolutely. Simply reduce the amount of hot sauce and Cajun seasoning to suit your heat tolerance. You can also add a bit more cream cheese or shredded cheddar to mellow the spice without losing flavor complexity.
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Is there a vegetarian version of Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe?
Yes! Swap the chicken for shredded jackfruit, chopped cauliflower, or even cooked mushrooms for a hearty plant-based filling. Just keep the buffalo sauce and cheese elements to keep that classic flavor profile.
Final Thoughts
This Buffalo Blitz Bites Recipe has quickly become one of my go-to recipes for entertaining and cozy snacks alike. The combination of spicy, creamy, and crisp textures never fails to impress everyone who tries it, and I love how you can make it your own with simple tweaks. If you’re craving something bold but comforting that’s easy to whip up, give these a shot—you’ll be so glad you did!
PrintBuffalo Blitz Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 12 bites (about 6 servings)
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Buffalo Blitz Bites are flavorful, bite-sized puff pastry cups filled with a spicy mixture of rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, and blue cheese, topped with a zesty carrot and celery slaw and served with cool ranch dressing. Perfect as a savory appetizer or party snack with a delightful combo of creamy, tangy, and spicy flavors baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Slaw
- 1 large carrot, peeled, grated (optional)
- 1 large stalk celery, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- Kosher salt, to taste
Filling
- 6 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup hot sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp. store-bought or homemade Cajun seasoning
- 2 1/4 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (about 12 oz.)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles, plus more for serving
- 4 Tbsp. sliced chives, divided
Pastry & Garnish
- All-purpose flour, for surface
- 1 (8 1/2-oz.) sheet puff pastry
- Cooking spray
- Ranch dressing, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetable Slaw: Preheat the oven to 450°F. In a small bowl, toss together the grated carrot, thinly sliced celery, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of kosher salt. Set this slaw mixture aside until ready to serve to add a fresh, tangy crunch to the bites.
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, melted unsalted butter, hot sauce, and Cajun seasoning. Stir until smooth and well combined. Then gently fold in the chopped rotisserie chicken, shredded cheddar, blue cheese crumbles, and 3 tablespoons of sliced chives, ensuring the mixture is evenly distributed.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the puff pastry sheet out to approximately a 12 by 10-inch rectangle. Using a bench scraper or a sharp knife, divide the dough evenly into 12 squares to fit into a standard muffin tin.
- Assemble Bites: Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Place one puff pastry square into each muffin cup, pressing gently to line the bottom and sides. Spoon the chicken filling evenly into each pastry-lined cup.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 17 to 20 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot. After baking, allow the bites to cool in the tin for 5 to 10 minutes to set.
- Serve: Transfer the Buffalo Blitz Bites to a serving platter. Top each bite with a spoonful of the prepared carrot-celery slaw and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sliced chives and additional blue cheese crumbles, if desired. Serve alongside ranch dressing for dipping.
Notes
- You can substitute rotisserie chicken with leftover cooked chicken or store-bought shredded chicken for convenience.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce to control the spice level according to your preference.
- For a crisper slaw, prepare the carrot and celery mixture shortly before serving.
- If puff pastry is frozen, thaw it completely in the refrigerator before rolling and baking.
- These bites are best served warm but can be reheated gently in a low oven or air fryer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 bites
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 65mg