Last Updated on April 29, 2026 by Lisa Keys
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Rolls is an award winning recipe with all the flavor of your favorite wings in a stuffed chicken breast.
What if I had called him that day? What if he had accepted the invitation to visit his aunt and cousins in Wilmington? Extend his military service? What if he had opted out entirely?
Following my son's death in a car accident, these questions come fast and furious. Could I have prevented it? The fact that questions always outnumber answers makes the journey through loss feel so prolonged.
Every griever carries a unique set of questions. I search for the answer that brings him back to life, back home and hanging out like usual. He was supposed to leave the Navy in March 2011. I tried to convince him not to extend his stay, but he offered a characteristic defense: "It's like this, mom. My brothers are deploying one more time and I need to be with them. If something happens and I'm not there, I could never forgive myself."
He makes me proud to be his mom. His friends and brothers-in-arms know they couldn't have had a more loyal or committed teammate.
This Sunday is the Super Bowl. It's the biggest game day ever for all kinds of chicken wing recipes and Buffalo this or that. But "what if" you arrive at the grocery store to find chicken wings selling for $4.69/pound (highway robbery) versus boneless/skinless chicken thighs and breasts for $1.99/pound? I'll tell ya in our house we ain't havin' no wings---no questions asked. This recipe for crispy buffalo chicken rolls is a great alternative. Give it a try.
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Rolls
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, pound to ¼-inch thickness
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons blue cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ¼ cup red pepper sauce
- 2 cups crushed cornflakes
Instructions
- Heat oven 400F. Lightly grease a foil lined baking sheet.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place 1 tablespoon blue cheese on the center of each chicken breast.
- Fold in sides and roll chicken around blue cheese. Secure with wooden picks.
- Mix mayonnaise and red pepper sauce. Brush each chicken roll with mayonnaise mixture and roll in cornflakes to coat.
- Place chicken rolls on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
danielle says
These were one of my first recipes I ever made of yours and John requests them all the time!!! I understand the need to question what happened with your son but he sounds like such a wonderful man I don't think he would want you to.
lisakeys64 says
Happy to hear that John like my recipe. And you are right about my son--he'd tell me to get over it.
Louis Matino (@LouMatino) says
Looking in the rear view mirror does prolong the agony...with everything.
Chicken thighs are underrated. I'll never understand how people think white meat chicken tastes better than dark.
lisakeys64 says
You can make the recipe using thighs, too
lisakeys64 says
the recipe works well with chicken thighs too
Sallie Smith says
..... thighs will ground you, wings make you fly....you need both
lisakeys64 says
love it
lisakeys64 says
balance!
Brett Youmans says
Another great entry. Thank you!
lisakeys64 says
thanks for stopping by and reading
Elisa says
I am so sorry about what happened to your son, It brings tears to my eyes. I am lost for words.. I will try out your recipes,
lisakeys64 says
Thank you. He was stationed at Camp Le Jeune. There is a roadside memorial on rt. 17 Hampstead just before the turn to TopSail if my memory serves me well. 1st battalion 2nd marines scout sniper platoon navy corpsman
Angela says
I spent a lot of time writing short stories that were my "what if" alternative endings that I imagined for a similar-but-totally-different life tragedy. I totally understand that impulse. Your son sounds like an amazing man. And yeah, that is highway robbery for chicken wings...
lisakeys64 says
Thanks for reading and sharing such a thoughtful comment. There are so many kinds of loss and grief reactions. I think about the loss of going through a divorce or losing a job or a home to mother nature's wrath.....how about a parent that walks out on the family or a mom who gives up her baby for adoption? Life is so difficult and the writing helps us adapt. A creative outlet even though we are looking in the review mirror. Thanks for the compliment on my son. Yes, a good man.