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Cooked low and slow and with a little bit of kick, this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken is a great weeknight meal that takes little time and effort!
Shredded, piled high on a bun, and drizzled with ranch – can it get any better?
This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken is one of our favorite weeknight go-to meals! They are super easy to whip up and you just fix it and forget it.
We are complete fans of anything buffalo flavored, and these sandwiches are one of our favorites.
My husband constantly asks me to make them.
And crock pot buffalo chicken fills the whole house with an amazing smell.
They take minimal, simple ingredients and you can top them with some of your favorite toppings as desired.
Either way, they are easy, tasty, and a nice and filling meal.
You have to make a batch of this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken ASAP!
Some of my other favorite slow cooker recipes we have on our site include: Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos, Slow Cooker Beer Brats and Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- With 4 main ingredients, these are super easy to throw together – perfect for the whole family.
- These can be cooked on low or high depending on your time frame.
- Easily double this recipe to serve more people or save for later.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Chicken breasts
- Dried ranch dressing mix
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Brioche hamburger buns
- Ranch dressing for serving
- Blue cheese crumbles for serving
HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER BUFFALO CHICKEN:
- Place the chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix on top of the chicken. Pour ½ cup of the buffalo sauce on top. Cover the slow cooker and let it cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Shred the chicken in the slow cooker. Add another ¼ cup of buffalo sauce and stir it to mix it in. Taste and add more buffalo sauce to your taste.
- Place the chicken on the brioche buns. Top with more buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and blue cheese crumbles, serve immediately.
FAQ: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT KIND OF CHICKEN CAN I USE?
We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you like dark meat or even chicken tenderloins as well.
IS THIS REALLY HOT?
The amount of sauce that we use in this recipe is more on the mild side, you can add as much or as little as you’d like in this.
If you want it spicier add more, if you want it less spicy add less.
It is more of a personal preference, just taste as you go and see what you like best!
DO I HAVE TO USE BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLES?
We associate ranch and blue cheese when it comes with buffalo chicken, but you absolutely do not have to use either.
You can use blue cheese dressing instead of crumbles, or instead of using the blue cheese crumbles you can use other cheeses such as Monterey jack, Colby jack, or pepper jack.
Just make it how you would like it best, this is just how we always have made it and we love it this way.
ANY ADDITIONS?
These tweaks keep the flavor alive in this easy recipe.
I love adding things.
- Boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts – adds extra moisture and tenderness.
- Rotisserie chicken – great for quicker prep; just mix with buffalo wing sauce and heat.
- Greek yogurt in place of ranch dressing – for a tangy, low carb, and healthier buffalo chicken option.
- Sour cream mixed with ranch seasoning mix – creamy and budget-friendly sub for bottled ranch.
- Cream cheese stirred into shredded chicken – makes a creamier, more indulgent buffalo chicken dip recipe variation.
- Cheddar cheese or mozzarella instead of blue cheese – family-friendly and easier to find at the grocery store.
- Hot sauce or Frank’s Red Hot Sauce in place of buffalo sauce – customize spice level!
- Lettuce wraps instead of buns – a low carb and healthy slow cooker buffalo chicken twist.
- Use homemade buffalo sauce if avoiding store-bought options.
- Swap brioche buns with whole grain buns, pretzel buns, or sweet potato buns for variety.
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
Want to take this from weeknight quick to new favorite dip, wrap, or slider?
Try these:
- Green onions – chopped on top for crunch and color.
- Garlic powder and onion powder – stir into the crockpot for an extra flavor layer.
- Cheddar cheese – melt on the bun or mix into the shredded buffalo chicken.
- Cream cheese – melt into the crockpot at the end for a cheesy dip or slider filling.
- Serve with tortilla chips for a buffalo chicken dip recipe vibe.
- Add celery or carrots for crunch – a nod to buffalo wings night.
- Top with extra buffalo sauce for the spice lovers.
- Side of sweet potato fries – the best part of any buffalo chicken meal.
HOW TO STORE:
This crockpot buffalo chicken will last stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 2-3 days.
This can also be frozen, place in a freezer bag and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To defrost, remove from the freezer into the refrigerator overnight until thawed. You can reheat it in the microwave.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- You can use your favorite buffalo sauce for this recipe, or even hot sauce.
- If you don’t like blue cheese crumbles other cheese can be used, see suggestions above.
- Other chicken can be used as well, again see above for ideas.
- This can easily be doubled to serve more people or keep for later.
- This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
- We like to serve these on brioche buns, but any buns will do.
- Make your own homemade ranch seasoning if you do not want to use the dry ranch packets.
- This can be cooked on low or high depending on your time frame.
Love your slow cooker and want to find some new recipes that you can make in it?
These Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken are the perfect family-friendly weeknight meal.
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
If you’ve tried this SLOW COOKER BUFFALO CHICKEN let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Equipment
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons dried ranch dressing mix (1 packet)
- ¾ cup Buffalo wing sauce, divided, plus more for serving
- 8 Brioche hamburger buns
- ranch dressing for serving
- blue cheese crumbles for serving
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons dried ranch dressing mix 1 packet
- ¾ cup Buffalo wing sauce divided, plus more for serving
- 8 Brioche hamburger buns
- ranch dressing for serving
- blue cheese crumbles for serving
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix on top of the chicken. Pour ½ cup of the buffalo sauce on top. Cover the slow cooker and let it cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.2 pounds boneless, 2 tablespoons dried ranch dressing mix, ¾ cup Buffalo wing sauce
- Shred the chicken in the slow cooker. Add another ¼ cup of buffalo sauce and stir it to mix it in. Taste and add more buffalo sauce to your taste.
- Place the chicken on the brioche buns. Top with more buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and blue cheese crumbles, serve immediately.8 Brioche hamburger buns, ranch dressing for serving, blue cheese crumbles for serving
Notes
- You can use your favorite buffalo sauce for this recipe, or even hot sauce.
- If you don’t like blue cheese crumbles other cheese can be used, see suggestions above.
- Other chicken can be used as well, again see above for ideas.
- This can easily be doubled to serve more people or keep for later.
- This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
- We like to serve these on brioche buns, but any buns will do.
- Make you own homemade ranch seasoning if you do not want to use the dry ranch packets.
- This can be cooked on low or high depending on your time frame.
Nutrition
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4 to 8 ounces
How much cream cheese should be added at end for the creamier flavor?