Buffalo Chicken Panini

5 from 1 ratings

This panini is tailgate party perfect. At your next tailgate, bring this out of your arsenal as a signature creation. Your guests will thank you.

Servings

servings

Ingredients

1-1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced into half-inch strips
12 ounce bottle of buffalo wing sauce, such as frank’s red hot buffalo wing sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1 large red onion, sliced into thin rings
2 teaspoon granulated sugar
4 four-inch pita breads, such as stonefire
1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled

Directions

Add chicken and Buffalo wing sauce to a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
While the chicken is simmering, heat butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Saute onions for 13 minutes, until soft. Stir in sugar and sauté for another 10 minutes or until onions are caramelized. Set aside.
Heat the panini grill to 350 degrees F. (No panini grill? See oven directions below.)
Assemble and grill each sandwich one at a time to ensure the pita breads do not break. Microwave a pita on high for 15 seconds (it should be malleable enough to fold without breaking; if not, microwave for a few more seconds). Lay the pita flat on a clean work surface. Place 1/4 of the caramelized onions on half of the pita. Add chicken on top of the onions with a slotted spoon, draining most of the sauce through the spoon. Top the chicken with about 2 tablespoons of the blue cheese.
Carefully fold the pita over the filling and transfer it to the panini press. Grill for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted and pita is toasted. Serve hot.
Oven directions: Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees F. Fill and fold panini according to directions above. Place folded panini onto a baking sheet and bake for 7-8 minutes, until the cheese is melted the pita is toasted.