Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels

Method

• Prep:

  Add the hot sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper to the chicken thighs and combine well so every piece is evenly coated.

  Chicken:

  Cook the chicken in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 25 minutes until cooked through. You can also bake or pan sear your thighs if you do not have an air fryer. Once done, remove and chop into small pieces.

  Buffalo Sauce:

  Add the butter and hot sauce to a medium low heat saucepan, constantly stirring to make sure the butter does not burn and the sauce does not separate. Add in the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and honey and stir until you get a smooth consistent sauce. Set a little aside to use as your drizzle topping at the end.

  Filling:

  Add the chopped chicken to a bowl along with a good portion of the buffalo sauce and the softened cream cheese. Mix everything together until fully combined and there are no cream cheese lumps remaining.

  Assembly:

  Stretch and toss your pizza dough until you get a nice thin rectangle surface. Spread the shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the dough, then add the creamy buffalo chicken filling on top and finish with a layer of shredded Colby jack cheese. Make sure everything is spread out evenly so that every bite has a good portion of chicken and cheese.

  Carefully roll the dough into a tight log and cut into even two inch pieces. Place on a well oiled baking sheet.

  Baking:

  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until the pinwheels are golden and the dough is cooked through.

  Plate them up and drizzle with the reserved buffalo sauce and ranch. Garnish with freshly chopped green onions and serve hot.

• TIPS AND TRICKS:

  -Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened before mixing it with the chicken. Cold cream cheese will not blend smoothly and you will end up with lumps throughout the filling. Leave it out at room temperature for 30 minutes before you start.

  -Stretch the dough as thin as you can while still being able to roll it without tearing. A thinner dough means a better ratio of filling to dough in every bite and it crisps up more evenly in the oven.

  -Set aside some of the buffalo sauce before mixing it into the chicken. You want enough left over for a generous drizzle at the end and having it already portioned out before you start keeps things simple.

  -Make sure your baking sheet is well oiled before the pinwheels go on. The cheese can melt out during baking and stick to the pan if it is not properly greased. Parchment paper works great as an alternative.

  -Do not slice the pinwheels too thin. Two inch pieces is the sweet spot because it keeps the filling inside while still giving you a good bite. Anything thinner and the filling tends to fall out during baking.

• WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS:

  -Extra ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping takes these to another level and is the classic pairing for anything buffalo flavored.

  -A simple celery and carrot platter on the side keeps things fresh and gives you that classic buffalo wing spread feeling.

  -These work great as an appetizer before a bigger meal or as the main event for game day. Either way they disappear fast.

• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

  Can I use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking my own?

  Absolutely and it is a great time saver. Shred the rotisserie chicken and toss it in the buffalo sauce with the cream cheese just like the recipe calls for. The only thing you will miss is the seasoning from the air fried thighs but the buffalo sauce does a lot of the flavor work so it will still taste great.

  Can I make these ahead of time?

  You can assemble the pinwheels ahead of time and store them unbaked in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just slice them, place on the oiled baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and bake when you are ready. You can also bake them fully and reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes.

  What if I cannot find premade pizza dough?

  Most grocery store bakery sections carry fresh premade dough. Refrigerated crescent roll dough or puff pastry also work really well as substitutes and are widely available. The texture will be slightly different but both options give you a great result.

  Can I make these spicier?

  Yes. Increase the cayenne pepper in the chicken seasoning and add more hot sauce to the buffalo sauce to dial up the heat to your liking. A few dashes of extra hot sauce mixed into the cream cheese filling also works well if you want more heat throughout every bite.

  How do I store and reheat leftovers?

  Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350 to 375 degrees for about 8 minutes to bring the crispiness back. I would avoid the microwave since it will make the dough soft and chewy instead of keeping that golden crispy exterior.