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.
Donya's Top Ten Summer Recipes!
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How would you adapt this to stovetop or oven?
This post has a conversation chart for crock pot to oven/stove.
~Donya
https://www.asouthernsoul.com/easy-dinner-ideas-and-meal-planning-%e2%80%a2-free-crockpot-conversion-chart/
What brand buffalo sauce?!
Normally what’s on sale. 😉
Any idea how many lbs of chicken you use? I have 3 breasts that equal a little over 2 lbs and I’m wondering if that’ll be enough
That will work beautifully.
Enjoy~
Donya
I apologize if this has been asked previously, but what size bottle of hot/buffalo sauce?
12 ounce
This is wonderful. The delicious aroma lingered around our house for a good hour after dinner was cleaned up, too–butter and Frank’s buffalo sauce, soo good!! It was hard to stop eating; we loved it.
Hey there Jackie!
Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! That is one of my favorite things about this recipe too, I love any recipe that leaves a delicious aroma in my home. I really appreciate your support as well as this fantastic rating, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to reach out!
~Donya
This is the best recipe I have found for chicken in the slow cooker. And the tip for using your stand mixer to shred it is so good! It worked perfectly. All of your tips and suggestions are great, thank you for sharing.
Hey there Imsen!
Wow! I am smiling ear to ear after reading this comment, it warms my heart to hear your kind words. I am so happy that you enjoyed this recipe and found the tips useful, the stand mixer trick for shredding meat is a go-to, it works for Pulled Pork as well. If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Crock Pot Chicken Thighs recipe, it’s just as easy to make and it packs a flavorful punch. Thank you so much for your sweet words of support and this amazing rating, it means the world to me!
~Donya
Donya, This looks like a great recipe to make, easy and with cold slaw, yummy as always . One question, I see the chick in crock pot and looks like a lot of ranch dressing mix, I’ve seen two packs of these, a reg. size ( 1oz.) and very large one, more like 8oz. maybe, about how much did you use? Know it sounds , well not going there.
Stony
Hey there Stony!
Thank you so much for your rating, and your interest in this recipe! As for the ranch mix, the recipe calls for one 1 once package of ranch seasoning mix and one 15 or 16 once bottle of Buffalo sauce. I hope this helps, let me know how you like it! Thank you for your support!
~Donya
Very very tasty I make it all the time
Hey there Diane!
Thanks so much for your sweet comment! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying this recipe, it’s definitely a favorite in my house too. I really appreciate your support, thank you!
~Donya
This looks like a new favorite in my house!
This would be so good for game day!
What size bottle of hot sauce? This sounds yummy and much easier than the wings I usually make.
Hey Trish! I use the 12oz bottle. I hope this helps. I agree that this is easier than wings! I do love a crock pot shortcut.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Thanks for the quick reply Donya. There is a snowy weekend forecast for us and this is my dish to make for the weekend. Should keep us warm in several ways. Cheers, Trish