Football Buffalo Chicken Pockets For Game Day Snacking

Have a football watch party coming up? Delight your guests with these football-shaped buffalo chicken pockets! These are perfect for game day gatherings, parties, or as an easy appetizer to share with family. 

Those who love spicy chicken agree that these are the best homemade versions of hot pockets out there. If you’re a fan of buffalo wings and spicy buffalo chicken, you’ll relish every bite. 

Using the air fryer results in golden brown coloring that perfectly holds in the goodness of these buffalo chicken calzones. Having a recipe like this to make at home is so much better than any store-bought version! 

The first time you make this fun chicken hot pocket isn’t going to be the last time. Get ready to crave these buffalo chicken puff pastry pockets and have a blast making them anytime that the craving hits. 

Don’t forget that changing the dipping sauce can easily change the flavor. No matter if you’re a fan of ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing, almost any type of sauce or dressing will match the flavor of this buffalo chicken mixture. 

Now is the time to preheat the oven and get your air fryer basket ready. These tasty pockets will be ready in no time!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

​Here’s why you’ll love making these Buffalo Chicken Footballs:

Ingredients Needed For Buffalo Chicken Pockets

This is what you’ll need for these chicken hot pockets:

• 1 lb chicken breast
• 1 tbsp avocado oil
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ½ cup Frank’s red hot sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1 can jumbo buttermilk biscuits 

Step-by-step Preparation With Pictures

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. 

2. Pour the avocado oil onto the chicken breast.

3. Add spices. Rub oil and spices into the chicken.

4. Lay the chicken in a small baking dish.

5. In a small bowl, mix together hot sauce, brown sugar, and melted butter.

6. Pour the sauce over the top of the chicken. 

7. Bake chicken for 30-40 minutes until cooked through. 

8. Shred the chicken breast with a fork and mix it with the sauce at the bottom of the baking dish. 

9. Take one jumbo biscuit and spread it on a lightly floured surface of a small plate.

10. Place shredded chicken in the middle of the biscuit and fold dough over.

11. Use a fork to crimp the edges of the biscuit. Repeat the process with the rest of the biscuits.

12. Preheat the air fryer to 330° F. Place the chicken pockets in the air fryer basket and fry for 5 minutes on each side.

13. Scoop sour cream into a piping bag and pipe the sour cream in football lines on the pockets. Alternatively, you could use a sandwich bag or small zip bag and cut a tiny hole in the corner. 

Enjoy!

TIP! No air fryer? You can brown these up in a conventional oven too. Place the chicken pockets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush egg wash on top of each pocket for a crusty look and place in 400° F preheat oven for 10 minutes.

Variation Ideas

Even though these football hot pockets are simple and easy to make, there are a few variations that can be done:

• Use leftover rotisserie chicken: Save some time and use already-cooked chicken in this recipe. It’s as easy as adding, mixing, and stuffing into the dough.  
  
• Change the type of buffalo sauce used: You can go medium, mild, or hot. Change it to change the spice level. 
  
• Add cheese: Adding a little bit of mozzarella cheese or cream cheese into the mixture creates a delicious cheesy combination. Just don’t overstuff! 
  
• Use pizza dough: If you don’t want to use biscuit dough, pizza dough will work as well. Just be sure to seal the edges so none of the goodness cooks out. Or make a buffalo chicken flatbread.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions:

Once the biscuit pockets are cooked in the air fryer, it’s time to dig in and enjoy. Here are a few options on how to eat and enjoy them: 

• Pair with dipping sauces: Some options for dipping include buffalo chicken dip, marinara sauce, wing sauce, buffalo ranch sauce, and blue cheese dressing. 
  
• Other game day snacks. This recipe would go well with other game-day snacks like these cheese balls, chicken stuffed crescent rolls, or spicy cauliflower bites for veggie lovers.

Storage

1. Storing tips: Let the spicy chicken hot pockets cool down all the way, and then store them in an airtight container. Keep them in the fridge for up to 2 days. 
   
2. Making ahead tips: If you want to prep some of the ingredients ahead of time, cooking the chicken and then storing it in the fridge is a simple and easy option. 

One Last Thing

Have fun when eating these pockets of goodness! Having appetizing finger food available during game day gatherings is a treat. It means fewer dishes to clean and more time to talk and mingle with your friends. 

The printable recipe card below shows how to make this great recipe of buffalo chicken pockets, but have fun with all the variations and options! 

Your Turn

If you make this delicious buffalo chicken hot pockets recipe , please take a moment to let me know how you liked it by leaving a rating and a comment below on the recipe card.

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