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easy slow cooker buffalo chicken

Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

I love a simple crockpot recipe, and I'm venturing to guess you do too. This easy slow cooker buffalo chicken is one of my go to summer meals that the whole family enjoys!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 35 minutes
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3-3.5 pounds chicken breasts
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp creole seasoning optional
  • 3/4 up to 1 cup hot sauce divided
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup ranch

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Method
 

  1. Place your chicken breasts (3-3.5 pounds) in your crockpot and rub with spices (1 tsp each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cumin and creole seasoning (optional)), making sure to coat them well. Cover seasoned chicken breasts with hot sauce (1/2 cup). Place lid on crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
  2. After the chicken is cooked, drain the liquid from the crockpot (you can save this to use in place of water to make rice or to use in soup). Shred the chicken using two forks, a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
  3. Add remaining hot sauce (1/4 up to 1/2 cup depending on the heat level you prefer), ranch dressing (1/2 cup) and cream cheese (1-8 oz package) to shredded chicken. Turn on low for 30 minutes to allow cream cheese to completely soften and flavors to incorporate.
  4. Serve warm on sandwiches or cold in wraps or on a salad and enjoy!

Notes

Recipe Tips
  • Don’t overcook the chicken. You can always cook it longer, but you want to avoid cooking it too long at first so the chicken doesn’t turn out dry
  • Double this recipe and save half for the freezer! This easy dinner will be even easier when all you have to do is thaw it out.
  • Shred the chicken when it is still warm as this makes the shredded process super easy. To make it even easier and get the chicken super finely shredded in a flash, use a hand or stand mixer.
 
Substitutions
Chicken breast – you can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts
Hot sauce – equal parts buffalo sauce will work well for this recipe