Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Patties with Spicy Ranch Recipe

4.98 from 34 votes
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Easy air fryer chicken patties with flavorful, homemade buffalo sauce and spicy ranch dressing. Prepped and cooked in just 30 minutes, this adult and kid-friendly recipe is ready in no time, absolutely delicious, and perfect for weeknights or gatherings!

four air fryer chicken patties stacked on top of each other with ranch poured over the top

What Makes This Recipe Great

These Air Fryer Chicken Patties may look extravagant, but they are one of the easiest meals to throw together. Seasoned with a homemade buffalo sauce and dipped in my spicy ranch dressing, they are flavor-packed and absolutely delicious! 

Even better, this recipe is Whole30 compliant, Paleo, Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, and Dairy-Free! A recipe almost everyone can enjoy!

Air fry the chicken patties or cook them in a skillet. Serve these chicken burgers as a quick and easy weeknight meal or as an appetizer for a family gathering. All you need is 30 minutes to prep, cook, and serve! And if you’re not a big fan of spice, these are actually pretty mild! Even my 5-year-old enjoys them!

Ranch makes everything better, it’s like the unicorn of food. My spicy ranch recipe can totally transform any meal into a majestic and delicious one. I drizzled my patties with this spicy ranch dressing and it was the icing on the cake. It made them explode with flavor!

Ingredient Notes

recipe ingredients in small bowls and labeled

Air Fryer Chicken Patties

  • Ground chicken: You can also substitute ground turkey if preferred. 
  • Egg
  • Almond flour: This is a great substitute for breadcrumbs or regular flour to help bind and keep these patties together. Almond flour keeps the carbs down too! 
  • Garlic powder
  • Franks Red Hot sauce: This is my preferred hot sauce. You can substitute it for something similar, just keep an eye on the ingredients if you have a special diet. 
  • Onion: This recipe calls for two kinds of onions, sweet onions, and green onions. 
  • Sea salt & Black pepper
  • Mayo: If you’re Whole30, make sure to use a compliant mayo. I have a 60-second homemade mayo recipe that is delicious and so easy to make. 
  • Ghee: You can also use vegan butter. 

Spicy Ranch Recipe

This homemade dressing is easy to whip up with some pantry staples! For this recipe, you’ll need mayo, salt and pepper, dried chives, parsley, dill weed, garlic powder, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, canned coconut milk, Frank’s Red Hot sauce, and fresh lime juice. 

See the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and instructions. 

a fork taking a bite out of a chicken patty, showing the middle.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Air Fryer Version

  1. In a large mixing bowl add the ground chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onions. Mix together.
  2. Add in the Franks Hot Sauce, beaten egg, mayo, and almond flour. Mix with a spoon until everything is combined.
  3. Roll the chicken mixture into 8 large or 12 mall balls and place on a plate or parchment paper.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400F. 
  5. Spray the basket with cooking spray and add each ball in a single layer and press down using a spatula. Depending on how big your air fryer is, you may need to do this in 2 batches.
  6. Set the time for 14 minutes. Flip the patties halfway through cooking. The internal temp for the patties should be 165F to be fully cooked.
  7. Remove and enjoy!

Skillet Version

numbered step by step photos showing how to make these chicken patties in a skillet
  1. Complete steps 1-3 from above.
  2. Heat a large skillet on medium/high heat with 1 tbsp of ghee.
  3. Add each patty to the skillet and use a spatula to press each ball into a disc shape.
  4. Let each patty cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. It is important to check the middle to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through. The internal temp for the patties should be 165F to be fully cooked.
  5. Remove and add to a plate and drizzle with spicy ranch and sprinkle with green onions.

Spicy Ranch Dressing

  1. Add your mayo and the rest of the ingredients to the mayo and mix together with a spoon until combined. This spicy ranch lasts about a week in the fridge.
  2. Note: For a thinner consistency, add more coconut milk.
air fryer chicken patties served over a bed of lettuce with sliced lemons on the side

Mac’s Pro Tips

Expert Tips

  • If the chicken mixture is still too wet, add another tablespoon of almond flour. 
  • If you prefer, you can swap out the ground chicken for ground turkey. 
  • You can also use this spicy ranch recipe as a dressing for a southwest salad!

Serving Tips

  • Serve as chicken sandwiches wrapped between two slices of lettuce, on a bun, or by themselves. 
  • Add additional toppings if desired: tomato, red onion, pickles, banana peppers, etc. 

Storage Tips

  • Leftovers: Store leftover chicken patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat and serve. 
  • Spicy Ranch Dressing: Store leftover spicy ranch dressing in a small airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. 
  • Make Ahead: These air fryer chicken patties are great to meal prep on Sunday or even at the beginning of the month and throw in the freezer for quick and easy meals. 
  • Freezer: Store chicken patties in a freezer-safe container without the ranch on top. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warm and drizzle with the spicy ranch dressing. 
a meal prep container with tomatoes, carrots, chicken burgers, and lettuce

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe with frozen chicken patties?

Yes! Cooking frozen patties in an air fryer is pretty easy. Just know that the buffalo sauce will need to be made separately since you are not mixing it into the meat.

How long to cook frozen chicken patties in the air fryer?

Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the patties. Air fry the patties at 400F for 7-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Add a few extra minutes if your patties are on the thick side.

Can I use store-bought ranch dressing?

Of course! If you don’t have extra time to make the spicy ranch recipe, simply use storebought ranch! You can even throw a little Frank’s Red Hot in the ranch to give it a kick!

More Air Fryer Recipes

four air fryer chicken patties stacked on top of each other with ranch poured over the top

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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Patties with Spicy Ranch Recipe

By: Ashley McCrary
4.98 from 34 votes
Easy air fryer chicken patties with flavorful, homemade buffalo sauce and spicy ranch dressing. Prepped and cooked in just 30 minutes, this adult and kid-friendly recipe is ready in no time, absolutely delicious, and perfect for weeknights or gatherings! Whole30, Keto, Paleo, Gluten-Free, and Dairy-Free. 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12 small patties or 8 large

Ingredients  

  • 2 pound ground chicken
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1/3 cup almond flour
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 3 tbsp Franks Hot Sauce
  • 1/2 sweet onion diced
  • 1/4 cup green onions
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp mayo
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp ghee or vegan butter for frying

Spicy Ranch

  • 1 cup mayo or sub Greek or dairy-free yogurt (won't be dairy-free or whole30 if using Greek)
  • 1/2 tsp salt more or less to taste
  • 1 tbsp dried chives
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 2 tsp dill weed
  • 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp coconut milk canned
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tbsp Franks Hot Sauce
  • 1 tsp lime juice

Instructions 

Air Fryer Version

  • In a large mixing bowl add the ground chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onions. Mix together.
  • Add in the Franks Hot Sauce, beaten egg, mayo, and almond flour. Mix with a spoon until everything is combined.
  • Roll the chicken mixture into 8 large or 12 mall balls and place on a plate or parchment paper.
  • Set the air fryer to 400F. 
  • Spray the basket with cooking spray and add in each ball and press down using a spatula. Depending on how big your air fryer is, you may need to do this in 2 batches.
  • Set the time for 14 minutes. Flip the patties halfway through cooking. The internal temp for the patties should be 165F to be fully cooked.
  • Remove and enjoy!

Skillet Version

  • Complete steps 1-3 from above.
  • Heat a large skillet on medium/high heat with 1 tbsp of ghee.
  • Add each patty to the skillet and use a spatula to press each ball into a disc shape.
  • Let each patty cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. It is important to check the middle to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through. The internal temp for the patties should be 165F to be fully cooked.
  • Remove and add to a plate and drizzle with spicy ranch and sprinkle with green onions.

Spicy Ranch Dressing

  • Add your mayo and the rest of the ingredients to the mayo and mix together with a spoon until combined. This spicy ranch lasts about a week in the fridge.
  • Note: For a thinner consistency, add more coconut milk.

Notes

Mac’s Pro Tips

  • If you swap out the mayo for Greek Yogurt, it will no longer be Whole30 or dairy-free. 
  • If the chicken mixture is still too wet, add another tablespoon of almond flour. 
  • If you prefer, you can swap out the ground chicken for ground turkey. 

Serving Tips

  • Serve wrapped between two slices of lettuce, on a bun, or by itself. 
  • Add additional toppings if desired: tomato, red onion, pickles, banana peppers, etc. 

Storage Tips

  • Leftovers: Store leftover chicken patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat and serve. 
  • Spicy Ranch Dressing: Store leftover spicy ranch in a small airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. 
  • Make Ahead: These are great to meal prep on Sunday or even at the beginning of the month and throw in the freezer for quick and easy meals.
  • Freezer: Store chicken patties in a freezer-safe container without the ranch on top. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warm and drizzle with the spicy ranch dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 544mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 67IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @healthylittlepeach or tag #healthylittlepeach!

About Me

Mother, wife, cookbook author, recipe creator an open book

Welcome to Healthy Little Peach. I’m Mac, the lady behind the recipes. I believe in living a healthy lifestyle that consists of a mix of healthy whole foods, and full-fat comfort meals. Life is too short not to enjoy good food while maintaining a healthy body and mind. Here you will find gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, keto, and even full-fat comfort recipes. Let’s have fun in the kitchen together!

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102 Comments

  1. Wow holy amazeballs these are crazy delicious! I’m on my very first round of whole 30 and these are going to be on my menu weekly! Thank you for being an inspiration to me and for all of your wonderful recipes!

  2. Hello! Looking forward to making these this weekend! Quick question: my husband is allergic to almonds, what could I sub the almond flour for? Thank you!!
    Bri

    1. We are in the middle of getting nutrition facts for all my recipes. This will roll out late this year. So sorry for any inconvenience.

  3. 4 stars
    This looks amazing! Can I sub something else for the coconut milk like almond milk? I have had bad experiences using coconut milk and then whole dish tastes coconutty. Even when the recipe promises it won’t, I can still tell. 🙂