Buffalo Chicken Salad in Blue Cheese Gougeres
Chunky chicken salad spiked with spicy hot sauce, crisp celery, and tangy blue cheese, stuffed into puffy blue cheese choux pastry puffs. These gougeres filled with buffalo chicken salad make the perfect party food!
I'm sharing something a little different today!
SAVORY!!!
I am a huge fan of anything "buffalo," and if you've been clicking over to this page much in the last week or so, you know that I also love pate a choux puffs. First I made these, and then these. And now I'm showing you just how versatile choux can be, with this spicy cheesy creation!
We ate these for a quick dinner last night, before heading over to the fields for my kids' first little league practice of the season. But I'm imagining they'd make a great nibble for a party! A fun, slider-sized appetizer or hors d'oeuvre, or buffet offering for a birthday luncheon or baby shower.
The chicken salad is chock full of crisp celery, sweet red onion, and chopped egg. The dressing is lightened up a bit with the addition of Greek yogurt. It gives a nice tangy flavor, and along with the chunks of blue cheese, really cools down the heat of the spicy buffalo sauce.
There's also blue cheese in the choux puffs! Honestly, these puffy pastries are so good, even just on their own. They make a great snack, and a terrific accompaniment to a glass of red wine. They smell so toasty when they're baking up in the oven! Your whole house will be filled with the cheesy aroma. Just try to resist popping them all in your mouth while they're still warm...
As they puff up in the oven, they also hollow out on the inside. Slice off their tippy tops and find a little well that's just begging to be filled with spicy buffalo chicken salad!
I hope you guys enjoyed my little side trip into the savory world today! Few things can draw my eye away from sugary, buttery treats, but I just can't resist buffalo + blue cheese!
Have a great weekend, friends! 😀
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Buffalo Chicken Salad in Blue Cheese Gougeres
Ingredients
For the Buffalo Chicken Salad:
- 3 chicken breasts
- 3 ribs of celery,, coarsely chopped
- 2 hard boiled eggs,, coarsely chopped
- ⅓ cup (53.33 g) finely chopped red onion
- ⅓ cup (78.86 g) nonfat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup (56 g) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (59.15 ml) hot sauce, (I used Crystal brand)
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) blue cheese crumbles
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, (juice of one lemon)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest, (zest of one lemon)
For the Gougeres:
- 1 cup (236.59 ml) water
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, (1 stick)
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) blue cheese crumbles
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (125 g) all purpose flour
- 4 eggs, (large)
Instructions
Make the Buffalo Chicken Salad:
- Poach the chicken breasts in simmering salted water for about 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Shred or chop the chicken into small pieces.
- Place the chicken in a large bowl with all the remaining chicken salad ingredients, and toss well to coat.
Make the Gougeres:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place the water, butter, cheese, and salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium-high, until the butter is completely melted and the mixture is simmering.
- Add in the flour all at once, and continue to cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until a film begins to form on the bottom of the pot.
- Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, and beat on medium speed.
- Drop in the eggs, one at a time. Allow each egg to become fully incorporated, before adding the next (about 30 seconds to a minute).
- Pipe or spoon the dough into 2-inch diameter mounds, onto parchment-lined baking sheets, allowing about 3 inches in between each puff.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until puffed, golden brown, hollow, dry, and light.
- Cool the gougeres completely and fill with Buffalo Chicken Salad.
Allie, I've been loving your pastry recipes. You just amaze me. This recipe is divine! Now, I feel the need to plan a girls luncheon JUST so I can make and share this!
Aw Gloria! I feel the same way about you! You are so talented, and sweet! Thanks so much for the kind words. Hope your week is off to a great start! <3
Can't stand how good these look! I bet they're amazing Allie!
Have a great start to your week. 🙂
Thanks Melanie! You're too sweet. Hope your week is great too! 😀
Awwhh these look like the most perfect appetizer ever! I love this savory twist on gougeres, especially when blue cheese is involved. And you can never go wrong with buffalo flavors ;--)
Thanks Consualo! I am with you, buffalo and blue cheese is so crave-worthy!!! 😀
These look delicious!
Thanks Jessica! I'm so happy you like them 😀
I have never had gougeres. In fact, I have never even heard of them..
I just did a quick google search, and oh my goodness, how I want to try to make them! This looks so good!!
They are seriously- SO good! You've got to try them! They're amazing and they make your whole house smell so toasty-cheesy! Thanks for the awesome comment, A Taste of Madness! 😀
I definitely wouldn't be able to resist popping these in my mouth straight out of the oven, Allie! But a chef needs to taste what they're cooking, right? First rule of baking! LOVE all the fresh, light flavours in these. Lemon, Greek yoghurt, blue cheese, celery, eggs ... fantastic combination! The gougeres remind me of 'Yorkshire puddings' that we eat with roast beef and veggies in the UK! Pinning these for future reference!
I've always wanted to try Yorkshire Pudding with roast beef but have never had the chance! It sounds so hearty and comforting. I'm so happy you liked this recipe, Helen! Thank you so much for sharing on Pinterest 😉
I love the idea of buffalo chicken salad. Clever! Buffalo chicken is always something my whole family can agree on. Great recipe! Pinned!
P.S. Beautiful pictures too.
Thanks so much, Mariel! I just love the spicy/cheesy combo 😉
The second I saw "buffalo chicken" in the name of this post I knew I had to come see it and you did not disappoint, Allie! These look absolutely amazing and I need some in my life hah I love the savory touches to this, especially the red onion, yummo! Love it!
What a great idea! I love the "high-low" angle here with the fancy gougeres and the familiar buffalo chicken salad. You should post more savory recipes once in awhile. I love them!
Thank you Nora! I'm so happy you appreciated the 'high-low" aspect 😉 I was just dipping my toe into the water to see how well received a savory recipe would be here. I would like to do more! Thanks for the great feedback, and hope you have a great weekend, dear!
First off I must say I love that you used the word gourgeres in the title, so descriptive!! Billiant! The combination of ingredients really makes me curious how it all tastes together! Pinning for later. Thanks Allie! Always something that looks awesome! 🙂
Thanks, Kelly! Aren't gougeres the best??? I just love those cheesy little puffs. They are really good with the spicy chicken salad! I'm so happy you liked them, dear, thanks so much for the great feedback! <3
Allie, I love this spin on chicken salad, especially since gougeres are involved. These look beautiful and my buffalo chicken loving husband will adore these!
Awesome! Thanks for the great feedback, Amy! Hope you and Warren have a fun weekend. Stay warm, you guys! 😉
I love your savory side!! I have a weakness for blue cheese and buffalo as well so I know these will be gone in less than a minute. Love how versatile your pate au choux pastry is!! Great great idea. Hope you have a great weekend 🙂
You too Zainab, and thank you for the sweet comment! I know you and I have that buffalo weakness in common 😉 Hope you have a fun weekend, dear! xoxo
Gougeres are the best! I've recently started making them a lot and wanted to tinker with stuffing them. The chicken salad is such a great idea, Allie, and you're right…these are the perfect party food! 🙂
Aren't they? I swear, I could totally eat them just plain, they are so. good. I've made them with all different varieties of cheeses and they never disappoint! Thanks for the sweet comment, Marcie! Have a great weekend <3
Serious yum!!! These look so perfect and this is so unique! I love it!
Thanks Jocelyn! I felt like trying something different, lol! Have a great weekend, dear! 😀
Allie, I am loving your savory side :). All of these flavors are making me wish I could come over to your house for dinner, lol. You definitely make this look so easy - I am so intrigued to give it a try!
Aw thanks, Kathi! I hope you do, choux is so versatile, it really lets your creativity shine! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, and I hope you have a great weekend!
Such gorgeous appetizers! I've just been loving all your pastry recipes lately. The combination of FLAVORS in these pastries---oh my gosh. So tempting!
Thanks Sarah! I'm just such a sucker for Buffalo + Blue Cheese, lol! Have a great weekend, sweetie 😉