5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

Buffalo Chicken made with just 5 ingredients cooked low and slow in the Crock Pot is a recipe with so many uses!
5 from 20 reviews

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!

Crock pot buffalo chicken being served with a wooden spoon out of a black crock pot.
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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

Ingredients used for crock pot buffalo chicken. Buffalo sauce, chicken breast, butter, ranch seasoning and sour cream.
  • 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

Process shots for cooking buffalo chicken. Seasoning it in the crock pot then adding the buffalo sauce before closing the lid on the crock pot.
  • 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.
Shredding of the buffalo chicken in the crock pot with two metal spoons.

Commonly Asked Questions

Do you have to brown the chicken before slow cooking?

Nope. This boneless, skinless chicken breast recipe is one of my favorite “low-effort” chicken dinners and requires no extra steps.

Is this recipe healthy?

Everyone has their own criteria for what’s healthy, but this recipe is gluten- and keto-friendly.

Can crockpot buffalo chicken be frozen?

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.

Buffalo Chicken Slider with slaw on a bun.

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!

Buffalo chicken cooked in a crock pot.

5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

5 from 20 reviews
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 278kcal
Print Pin Rate
Enjoy this easy-to-make Buffalo Chicken on sandwiches, in dips, salads, sliders, or pizza! Buffalo Chicken made with just 5 ingredients cooked low and slow in the Crock Pot is a recipe with so many uses!

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. 
 
Nutritional values provided are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal · Carbohydrates: 0.1g · Protein: 36g · Fat: 14g · Saturated Fat: 7g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 4g · Trans Fat: 0.4g · Cholesterol: 134mg · Sodium: 289mg · Potassium: 630mg · Sugar: 0.01g · Vitamin A: 343IU · Vitamin C: 2mg · Calcium: 11mg · Iron: 1mg

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!

How To Get Started With Slow Cooking

2 images of 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

This post was originally posted in September 2014.

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33 Comments

  1. 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.

    1. 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.

  2. 5 stars
    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.

    1. 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

  3. 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?

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