Skip to content

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

This crockpot buffalo chicken is made with tender shredded chicken in the slow cooker. It is full of spicy, tangy flavor and can be used for sandwiches, salads, tacos and more!

Crockpot buffalo chicken.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

This crockpot buffalo chicken recipe is bold, tangy, and couldn’t be easier to make! Just add chicken, homemade buffalo sauce, ranch seasoning, garlic, onions, and Italian herbs into your slow cooker. With only 5 minutes of prep, it’s perfect for busy days.

The shredded buffalo chicken is juicy, flavorful, and versatile for meal prep. Pile it on sandwiches, salads, pizza or tacos for quick meals all week long.

Ingredient Notes

Buffalo chicken ingredients.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Chicken: I used boneless skinless chicken breasts but boneless skinless chicken thighs work, too. Slow cooker cooking time may need to be adjusted for thighs.
  • Frank’s Red Hot sauce: Alternatively, use buffalo wing sauce.
  • Onion and garlic: Chopped onion adds moisture and garlic cloves flavor. You can use onion powder and garlic powder for a more intense taste.
  • Ranch seasoning: Use the dry ranch seasoning packet not dressing. This helps balance the zesty buffalo sauce.
  • Italian seasoning: Another layer of flavor to balance the tangy taste.
  • Salt and pepper: To taste.

How to Make Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

Place trimmed chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Pour water and hot sauce over top. Then add onion, minced garlic, ranch dressing mix, Italian seasoning and salt.

Showing how to make crockpot buffalo chicken.

Place the lid on crockpot and slow cook on low for 6-8 hours. Remove about 1/2 cup of the juices and then shred the chicken in the crockpot with two forks. Serve as desired!

Shredding buffalo chicken with forks.

Shredded Buffalo Chicken Serving Suggestions

The options are almost endless for serving the crock pot buffalo chicken!

  • Appetizer: Add even more flavor to a buffalo chicken dip or use it for buffalo chicken sliders. Both are a hit on game day!
  • Sandwich or wrap. Our favorite way to serve this slow cooker buffalo chicken recipe is on hamburger buns with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing!
  • Salad: For lunch I love to make a quick low carb buffalo chicken salad or for potlucks this buffalo chicken pasta salad is always a hit!
  • Nachos, tacos or quesadillas: Make buffalo chicken tacos, nachos or make quesadilla with cheese and shredded buffalo chicken.
  • Stuffed potato: If you have not tried the combination of tangy shredded buffalo chicken with a a baked sweet potato you are missing out!
Buffalo chicken in a bun.

More buffalo recipes to try include these buffalo cauliflower wings, baked buffalo chicken wings or this baked buffalo chicken dip recipe!

More Slow Cooker Recipes

Browse all

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!

Crockpot buffalo chicken.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

5 from 5 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
This crockpot buffalo chicken is made with tender shredded chicken in the slow cooker. It is full of spicy, tangy flavor and can be used for sandwiches, salads, tacos and more!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds chicken breast , thawed
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup Frank's Red Hot sauce , more to taste
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 3 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon ranch seasoning
  • ½ Tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt

For topping: chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Add to crockpot. Place 2 pounds chicken breast in the slow cooker. Make sure there's any fat trimmed off. Pour 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup hot sauce over top. Then add 1/2 cup onion, 3 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 Tablespoon ranch seasoning, 1/2 Tablespoon Italian seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon salt over top.
  • Slow cook. Place the lid on top of crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
  • Shred chicken. Remove about 1/2 cup of the juices and then shred the chicken in the crockpot with two forks. Add back any of the juice if desired or discard it.
  • Serve while warm. Add more hot sauce to taste if desired. Serve with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing on hamburger buns if desired.

Notes

Slow cooker: To cook in the slow cooker, add all the ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours or 3-4 hours on high. 
Store leftover in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 1172mg | Potassium: 590mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 53IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

FAQs

Is slow cooker shredded buffalo chicken spicy?

Franks red hot sauce is basically cayenne pepper sauce, so yes it’s spicy! Tone down the heat by adding blue cheese crumbles, mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese when serving. My family loves it with ranch dressing!

Can I make this in the Instant Pot?

Yes. Add ingredients and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes then release pressure all the way. Shred and enjoy!

How to store and reheat leftovers?

Store leftover buffalo chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat portions in the microwave adding a splash of chicken broth to moisten.

Can I freeze leftover buffalo shredded chicken?

Yes! Cool completely then store in a freeze safe bag up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and enjoy.

Let’s connect

Join our community of over 5 million!

Featured on

  • Taste of Home
  • Martha Stewart
  • Country Living
  • BuzzFeed
  • Yahoo
  • Food Network
  • Today