Enjoy this easy-to-make 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken on sandwiches, in dips, salads, sliders, or pizza! This tangy, tender chicken has just the right amount of spice and has so many uses! It’s a must-make on game day, for parties, or a weeknight meal.
Turn slow cooker buffalo chicken into Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip served with celery and carrot sticks or Buffalo Chicken Pizza!
In This Post
What Is Buffalo Chicken?
First, buffalo sauce is a vinegar-based hot sauce made with butter for richness. It became famous in Buffalo, NY, from a 1964 recipe for buffalo wings—something the entire New York area is now known for. Now, buffalo chicken refers to buffalo sauce with any cut of chicken.
This recipe is even easier with the right equipment! Discover my top slow cooker recommendations and make your cooking effortless.
How To Use Creamy Pulled Buffalo Chicken
- Go classic with it piled on a toasted bun, or make buffalo chicken sliders. Add a few spoonfuls of crispy lettuce, drizzle on homemade Blue Cheese Dressing, and extra blue cheese crumbles.
- For a fun twist on pizza, make Buffalo Chicken Flatbread loaded with mozzarella cheese and topped with celery leaves.
- Make Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip to enjoy with carrots, celery, and crackers.
Ingredients For Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
- Chicken Breasts – I like skinless chicken breasts because they are ready to go directly into the slow cooker. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can also be used.
- Ranch Seasoning – You can use a premade packet (Hidden Valley Ranch is my favorite) or make your own ranch seasoning. Feel free to add garlic powder, onion powder, or red pepper for extra flavor.
- Buffalo Hot Sauce – Use your favorite brand of vinegar-based cayenne-flavored hot sauce.
- Sour Cream – This adds creaminess. You can also use Greek yogurt.
- Butter – No buffalo chicken is complete without butter to add richness.
Donya’s Success Tips
- Don’t use frozen chicken: Frozen chicken is not recommended in the crockpot. The chicken will spend too long in the “danger zone” at room temperature as it thaws and can grow bacteria.
- For extra creaminess: You can use half sour cream and half cream cheese. Some buffalo chicken recipes use all cream cheese but I like some tang from sour cream.
- Chicken breast vs thighs: I like to use the leaner option, chicken breasts, for shredding because I don’t have to try to remove pockets of fat. But thighs are more forgiving and don’t dry out so easily.
How To Make Buffalo Hot Sauce Chicken In The Slow Cooker
- Step 1 – Cut the butter into chunks and place it in the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the chicken breasts on top of the butter. Make sure to use thawed chicken.
- Step 2 – Sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the chicken breasts. Pour a whole bottle of buffalo wing sauce over all ingredients. Place the lid on the crock pot and set the temperature and time.
- The last step – when the chicken is cooked, shred it with two forks. Add in sour cream and mix everything together.
Commonly Asked Questions
Nope. This boneless, skinless chicken breast recipe is one of my favorite “low-effort” chicken dinners and requires no extra steps.
Everyone has their own criteria for what’s healthy, but this recipe is gluten- and keto-friendly.
Yes, it sure can. Follow the directions for making the recipe. After cooking, let the chicken cool, then place it in a freezer-safe, airtight container or zip-top bag. When ready to use, thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight. Heat it on the stove and enjoy!
What To Serve With Buffalo Chicken
Like my wildly popular Crock Pot Chicken Thighs, this recipe can be served with so many side dishes. My favorites are Blue Cheese Coleslaw and Cucumber and Onion Refrigerator Pickles. It’s also tasty with Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Mexican Corn Dip, and Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
If you tried this 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4- 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 package ranch dressing
- 1 bottle buffalo hot sauce
- 1 heaping tablespoon sour cream
- 5 tablespoons butter cut into individual measurements
Instructions
- Put pats of butter in bottom of slow cooker and layer chicken on top.
- Sprinkle ranch dressing on top of chicken.
- Pour buffalo sauce over chicken. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4.
- With two forks, shred chicken, add sour cream and mix well with sauce.
Notes
- To freeze, after cooking, let the chicken cool, then place it in either a freezer-safe, airtight container or zip-top bag. When ready to use, thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?
If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!
This post was originally posted in September 2014.
5 Days of Southern Summer Comfort Food!
My go-to summer recipes!
My dad was from NC so grew up having what we called red chicken as well as my children. So buffalo chicken from Buffalo?? Don’t think so. Red chicken sauce is cider vinegar, Frank’s hot sauce, and some butter. I sometimes add ketchup (equal amounts of ketchup and cider vinegar with multiple shakes of Franks hot sauce). Caramelizes better when making in oven.
Thanks for the information! Looks like you have fond memories of a similar recipe.
~Donya
Thank you! I know everyone is going to love this!
Thinking of making this for a party. Can you double the recipe? Any idea how long it would take in the crockpot?
Sure you can double it. Cook per the instructions. Check the chicken to make sure it’s done. The internal temp should be 165 degrees.
This is one of my families favorite ways to have chicken.
❤️
Donya
Great recipe, family loves it!!
I had a bottle of Trader Joe’s Buffalo sauce with Black Truffles that I didn’t love and threw that in. Turned out great! Going to make the dip for our Labor Day festivities.
This is what I’m talking about! Using what you have AND making the second recipe, that’s the dip! I am thrilled and thank you so much for sharing.
XOXO,
~Donya
My husband like spicy hot and I don’t. I’d like to try a half bottle of hot sauce. Can you recommend a substitute for the rest of the liquid?
Valley Ranch or Blue cheese dressing