Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili – A hearty, comforting, and incredibly easy chili recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights and game days. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it from being too spicy for the kids. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Steak Cheese Quesadillas Recipe for Quick Dinner and Easy Mushroom Spinach Lasagna for a Cozy Dinner.
Why This Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- It's incredibly easy and hands-off
- The slow cooker does all the work
- It's a crowd-pleaser that's perfect for game days
- You can customize the heat level to suit your family
What You'll Need for Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Canned black beans
- Canned kidney beans
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Buffalo wing sauce
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: Green onions
- Optional: Sour cream
- Optional: Crumbled blue cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or a combination of both.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Hands-off cooking for busy weeknights → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Smoothes the chili and blends in the buffalo sauce → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Top with black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and all the seasonings.
- Step 2: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 3: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it. Return it to the slow cooker and stir in the buffalo wing sauce.
- Step 4: Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It can become tough and dry. If you're unsure, use a meat thermometer to check that it's reached 165°F.
- Tip: For a milder version, use a milder buffalo sauce or reduce the amount of sauce you add.
- Tip: You can make this chili ahead of time and freeze it for up to 3 months.
Storing & Reheating Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to 3 months.
Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker chili, you can blend some of the beans and tomatoes before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: You can substitute ground turkey or beef for the chicken.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your chili is too spicy, you can add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt to each serving to help cut the heat.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat Thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked, tender chicken every time → Check price on Amazon
Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Canned black beans
- Canned kidney beans
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Buffalo wing sauce
Seasonings
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
Optional Toppings
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Green onions
- Sour cream
- Crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Top with black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and all the seasonings.
- Step 2: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 3: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it. Return it to the slow cooker and stir in the buffalo wing sauce.
- Step 4: Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker chili, you can blend some of the beans and tomatoes before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: You can substitute ground turkey or beef for the chicken.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your chili is too spicy, you can add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt to each serving to help cut the heat.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Cholesterol: 75mg
- Sat. Fat: 3g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make this chili ahead of time and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
The heat level of buffalo wing sauce can vary. If your chili is too spicy, you can add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt to each serving to help cut the heat.
Yes, you can make this chili in the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a natural release.
This chili is great served with a side of cornbread, a green salad, or a side of coleslaw.
For a thicker chili, you can blend some of the beans and tomatoes before adding them to the slow cooker. You can also add a cornstarch slurry to the slow cooker in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
