Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

This crock pot Buffalo chicken recipe is incredible. The slow cooked shredded chicken is juicy and tender, coated in the most flavorful Buffalo ranch sauce. It's so delicious and really easy to make too!

The Best Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

This crock pot Buffalo chicken is the ultimate crossover between a crockpot Buffalo chicken dip and spicy Buffalo chicken wings. 

Pull-apart tender chicken is coated in classic restaurant-style Buffalo sauce that's buttery and tangy with the right amount of heat. It's made even more addictive with the addition of savory ranch seasoning.

You can eat the chicken alone or pile it high onto hamburger buns and drizzle it with ranch or blue cheese dressing. It'll be the highlight of any weeknight dinner or game day spread!

Plus, it's an easy set-and-forget meal made in the crock pot, giving you plenty of time to relax or put together a quick side dish like this cream cheese pasta or Jiffy jalapeno cornbread.

Why This Recipe Works

It's effortless to make. I can't stress enough how easy this shredded buffalo chicken is to make. You basically just throw all the ingredients in the crock pot, shred the chicken when it's done, and serve. 

Always a hit. This chicken is the perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and buttery. Anyone who loves Buffalo chicken wings will be obsessed with this recipe! 

Feeds a crowd. This recipe makes enough for a family dinner or meal prep, but it can also be doubled or tripled for a party or game day feast with no extra effort. All you have to do is lay out a couple more hamburger buns to make the pulled Buffalo chicken sandwiches!

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts- boneless skinless chicken breasts work best.
• Frank's Red Hot Original Sauce- or any hot sauce
• Ranch seasoning- I like the one from Hidden Valley.
• Salted butter- or unsalted and add a pinch of salt.
• Hamburger buns- to make sandwiches.
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing

You can also use any extra chicken breasts and sauce you have left over to make my classic crockpot Buffalo chicken dip and Buffalo chicken casserole. They're two more of the best Buffalo chicken recipes, so you'll want to give them a try!

How To Make Buffalo Chicken In The Crock Pot

Step 1: Combine the ingredients. Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot and add in the ranch seasoning, followed by Frank's Red Hot Sauce and the salted butter on top.

Step 2: Cook and shred. Place the lid on the crock pot and cook on high for 3 hours. When the time is up, remove the lid and shred the chicken in the crock pot using two forks.

Step 3: Serve. Transfer the shredded Buffalo chicken to hamburger buns and top them with blue cheese or ranch dressing and more sauce. Serve warm with some celery sticks or carrots, and enjoy!

My Pro Tips To Make the Best Recipe

• Add a slice of mozzarella or cheddar cheese to the sandwich and broil it for a few minutes to melt the cheese and toast the bun.
• Add a ¼ cup of cream cheese or sour cream to the pot and mix until it melts if you want to make this into a dip.
• Build the best crock pot Buffalo chicken sliders, complete with garlic butter Hawaiian rolls, by using the shredded Buffalo chicken from this recipe as the filling in this bbq chicken sliders recipe.

How To Store and Reheat Leftovers

In the fridge: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

In the freezer: Let the chicken cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag with the extra air squeezed out. Freeze for 3-4 months.

Reheating: I like to put the chicken in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat with a little extra sauce. Then I'll just heat it for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, you can heat it up in the slow cooker for around an hour on high heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does chicken need to be covered in liquid in the crockpot?

Yes, the chicken should be covered in liquid in the crockpot or at least have liquid underneath it. This will prevent the chicken from drying out as it cooks. This recipe uses hot sauce and butter as the liquid.

Do I need to brown the chicken before it goes into the slow cooker?

Browning the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker isn't necessary. However, it does add an extra layer of meaty flavor to the dish, as well as lock in the juiciness of the chicken, so it's well worth the added effort if you have the time.

Why is my chicken in the crockpot still tough?

Overcooking the chicken can cause tough and dry meat. You'll also want to make sure you have enough liquid in the crockpot while the chicken is cooking.

What goes best with Buffalo chicken?

It's fantastic in a sandwich or sliders, in wraps, on this house salad, mixed in with this mac and cheese, or this Chipotle cilantro lime rice. Then serve it all with a side of celery sticks or carrot sticks, and don't forget the ranch dressing or blue cheese for dipping!

More Crock Pot Recipes To Try Next

• Crock pot chicken enchiladas
• Crock pot chicken casserole
• Crock pot salsa chicken
• Crock pot tater tot casserole
• Crock pot chicken wings
• Frozen chicken in the crock pot