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!
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
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.
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!
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!
More buffalo recipes to try include these buffalo cauliflower wings, baked buffalo chicken wings or this baked buffalo chicken dip recipe!
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Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken
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
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
FAQs
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!
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!
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.
Yes! Cool completely then store in a freeze safe bag up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and enjoy.
Categorized as: American, Chicken, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Low Carb, One Pot
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Do you think I could double this recipe?
Yes you can, just make sure to double all the ingredients including the liquid. No need to double the time, it will just take more time to build pressure.
I have made this recipe a few times and love how it comes out. I’ve used it in sandwiches!
Great idea to use it in sandwiches! Sounds so yummy.
Such a perfect recipe! This quickly became a favorite at my house!
We hd this last night and it was by far the best buffalo chicken! Everyone devoured it!
So glad to hear that! It’s a family favorite :)
Mmmm such a yummy and easy dish to make. I love this buffalo chicken!