This Buffalo Chicken Panini uses canned chicken breast for a healthy, quick and easy lunch or dinner that’s Weight Watchers friendly (only 6 WW points on my plan).
You can see how much it is on your plan by putting it into the recipe builder in the WW app. This easy buffalo chicken sandwich is also ideal for making a day in advance, popping in the lunch bag and heating up in the microwave.
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My 14 year old daughter came up with this recipe idea a couple of years ago. She loves my Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip, made with canned chicken, so she thought that using canned chicken in a buffalo chicken sandwich would work too. Oh did it ever! In fact, it was so good and healthy that I wanted to share it. She really is becoming an excellent little recipe creator (proud mom!)
I decided to make it into a panini because putting anything on a panini press just makes it all warm, melty and so much better...
🥘 Ingredients
Using canned chicken breast is a simple and economical way to make buffalo chicken and no one will ever even suspect it's made with canned chicken! I also added ranch dressing because it's simply superb with buffalo chicken. I discovered this when I created my Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Pizza.
For this buffalo ranch chicken sandwich recipe you'll need:
- rye bread slices
- canned chicken breast
- cucumber
- buffalo sauce *I use Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing sauce
- fat-free or light cream cheese
- ranch salad dressing *I use Litehouse Homestyle Ranch
*see recipe card for quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Ranch Dressing- you can use any brand you like, but my favorite is Litehouse Homestyle Ranch. You could use fat-free or light to reduce WW points
- Chicken- you can use cooked shredded chicken breast or rotisserie chicken instead
- Bread- you can use a lighter/lower WW point bread to reduce the points, if you prefer or pita bread
- Buffalo sauce - you can use a store-bought or homemade buffalo sauce
🔪 Instructions
- Drain canned chicken breast and mix with cream cheese.
- Add chicken mixture to 1 slice of bread for both sandwiches, then add cucumbers and ranch dressing.
- Place other bread slices on top and place sandwiches on panini grill then lower the top of the grill onto the sandwiches. ** You do not need to add butter or anything else- it will not stick!
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, approximately (keeping an eye on it) until it has grilled brown ridges (as in photos)
🍽 Equipment
You will want to use a panini press (affiliate link) for this buffalo chicken panini recipe. And if you don’t have a panini maker, I would recommend you get one. I use it a lot! However, you can make it in a heavy skillet, as you would a grilled cheese sandwich. You could also make it in a toaster oven.
🥗 Side dishes
This panini pairs perfectly with coleslaw, veggies, salad or soup. Here are a few suggestions:
- Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (shown below)
- Ukrainian Shortcut Borscht Soup with Beef
- Red Lentil Spinach Soup
- garden salad
- veggie sticks
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
🌡️Storage
This Buffalo Chicken Panini should be made just prior to serving. However, if you want to make it in advance, I wouldn't recommend making it more than a day in advance, as the bread will start to get soggy. The same applies to the leftovers. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat in the microwave for about 20- 30 seconds until warm. I love to store them in these sandwich containers (affiliate link)- they are great for packing along in the lunch bag! If you just want to mix up the buffalo chicken (chicken, buffalo sauce and cream cheese), that mixture can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
If you're looking for a delicious, quick, healthy and easy, WW friendly lunch, or canned chicken breast recipes, you'll love this Buffalo Chicken Panini!
And if you LOVE WW friendly panini sandwiches, try my Turkey Reuben Panini!
⭐ Reviews
Did you make this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below
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🥪Buffalo Chicken Panini Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 -142 g - can of chicken breast, drained
- 1 tbsp light/low-fat cream cheese
- 3 tablespoon buffalo hot sauce
- 4 slices rye bread
- 8 cucumber slices
- 2 tablespoon ranch dressing non- fat
Instructions
- Drain canned chicken breast and mix with cream cheese.
- Add chicken mixture to 1 slice of bread for both sandwiches, then add cucumbers and ranch dressing.
- Place other pieces of bread on top and place sandwiches on panini press, then lower the top of the press. ** You do not need to add butter or anything else- it will not stick!
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, approximately (keeping an eye on it) until it has grilled brown ridges (as in photos)
Vanessa
My husband is always looking for an excuse to pull out the panini press so he was super pumped to try this recipe. Yum!
Bernice
You've got a smart girl there! Buffalo sauce would really pep up the canned chicken and they both go so well with the cooling cucumber.
nancy
yummy chicken panini with a bit of spicy kick! NOw i need to go get myself a panini press!
Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady
These paninis look delicious! I bet the cucumber adds a nice fresh cut to the heat.
Lisa
I love buffalo chicken and this panini looks like a delicious way to enjoy it! Can't wait to try it!
Colleen
This is a delicious change from boring chicken salad, and as a panini makes it even better. Thanks for sharing!