Slow Cooker Buffalo (or Instant Pot!) Chicken Chili has the perfect amount of spice, a smooth creamy base, lots of tender chicken, and takes only 10 minutes to prepare. Be ready to win chili contests and hand out the recipe because this is the best chili you’ll ever make!
Now with Instant Pot Directions!
Buffalo Chicken Chili
Once you make this slow cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili recipe you will be amazed how stupid easy it is and how damn good it tastes. PIN IT, print it, and tape it to your fridge because this a stress-free, delicious meal to make over and over again.
#1 It pretty much requires zero brain cells. If you have mastered operating a can opener and correctly using measuring spoons, it’s game on.
#2 If you are too busy to find ten minutes to make dinner, call for pizza and I won’t judge. But if you can manage ten minutes of prep and clean-up time, you will have the most delicious chili waiting for you in eight hours.
#3 Given how ridiculously easy this crock pot buffalo chicken chili recipe is to make, it’s uncanningly delicious. In fact, it is so impressive, I often make it for entertaining, tailgating, or to take to a friend.
They WILL ask you for the recipe, though, so be careful with feigning how much effort you put into making it. Awkward.
#4 Is there really nothing better than buffalo chicken ANYTHING?! Whatever classic dish is morphed into “buffalo chicken,” like Buffalo Chicken Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Salad, or Baked Buffalo Chicken , I am sold. You can pretty much preamble any food with “buffalo chicken” and it will merit a slow drive by me.
Learn How to Win A Chili Cook-Off!
Check out this post for tons of tips on making an award winning chili and creating your own recipe.
How To Make Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Combine chicken breasts, fire roasted tomatoes, corn, white beans (drained and rinsed), hot sauce, chicken broth, ranch dressing mix, celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried cilantro in the crock pot. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high 4 hours.
- Take two forks to shred the chicken in the slow cooker. Alternatively, used a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken to a cutting board to cut.
- With chicken back in the slow cooker, add the cream cheese. Stir until buffalo chili is creamy and smooth. Serve with blue cheese, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
Intimidated by using an Instant Pot? Learn in minutes with this Easy Start Instant Pot Guide full of tips, hacks, and tricks.
How to Make Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Combine chicken breasts, diced tomatoes, corn, hot sauce, chicken broth, ranch dressing mix, celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried cilantro in the pressure cooker. DO NOT ADD THE BEANS OR CREAM CHEESE YET. Stir to combine.
- Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 15 minutes. Naturally release for 10 minutes and then quick release remaining pressure.
- Use two forks to shred chicken in instant pot or remove chicken to cutting board to cut. Add the chicken back to pot.
- Add drained and rinsed beans and cream cheese to instant pot. Stir until chicken chili is creamy and smooth.
Tips for Making Tasty Buffalo Chicken Chili
- If you are worried about the chili being too spicy, don’t add the 1/2 cup hot sauce to the crock pot or pressure cooker. Start with adding 1/4 cup to the recipe. Serve with additional hot sauce or add more to the chili at the end.
- Boneless chicken thighs, ground chicken, or turkey may be substituted for the chicken breasts.
- To make Keto Buffalo Chicken Chili, omit the beans and corn.
- If the chili is too thick, thin it with additional broth. For chili that is too thick, check out these helpful tips.
BUFFALO CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE HAS WON…
34 chili cook-offs entered by readers! (Comment below if I should add another one to the tally!)
SAVE THIS BUFFALO CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!
And let’s be friends on Pinterest! I’m always sharing great recipes!
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
- 14.5 ounce can Great Northern beans, drained
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained (can substitute regular diced tomatoes)
- 14.5 ounce can chicken broth (read label to make sure it's gluten free)
- 1/4-1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce*, I used Frank's Red Hot
- 1 package ranch dressing mix envelope (Hidden Valley brand is gluten free)
- 14.5 ounce can sweet corn kernels, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounce cream cheese,** softened
- Toppings: tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, blue cheese crumbles, additional hot sauce
Instructions
Slow Cooker Directions:
- In a 5 quart slow cooker combine all the ingredients except the cream cheese and toppings.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
- Shred the chicken in the slow cooker using two forks. You can also use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken to a cutting board, shred it, and then return to the pot.
- Add the cream cheese and stir until it is incorporated. Serve with desired toppings.
Instant Pot Directions:
- Place all the ingredients in the instant pot EXCEPT beans and cream cheese. Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 15 minutes. Naturally release for 10 minutes and then quick release remaining pressure.
- Use two forks to shred chicken in instant pot or remove chicken to cutting board to shred. Add chicken back to pot.
- Add drained beans and cream cheese to instant pot. Stir until chili is creamy and smooth. Serve with desired toppings.
❉DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?? DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AND/OR CLICK A STAR RATING ON THE RECIPE CARD!❉
Notes
Nutrition
❊SHOP THE RECIPE❊
Items used to make this recipe:
6 quart slow cooker Instant Pot chili bowls
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Kelly says
did you use frozen or thawed chicken breasts?
Melissa says
Hi Kelly,
You can use either in the instant pot. For frozen chicken breasts add 5 more minutes to the cooking time. I wouldn’t recommend using frozen chicken in the slow cooker. Hope this helps!
Best,
Melissa
Anonymous says
Yes that really helps thanks!
Danielle says
Add another win to the books! I added the beans I on the Instant pot and it turned out great!
Melissa says
Hey Danielle,
That is so great and thank you for letting us know the tip about the beans. I will add your win to the board!
Melissa
Jesse says
I won my work chili cook off today with this recipe!! My coworkers were raving about it!
Melissa says
Way to go, Jesse! I will add the big win to the board and thank you so much for letting us know!
Best,
Melissa
Lynn says
Fast. Easy. Delish.
Melissa says
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Renee says
If you double the crockpot recipe do you need to add cook time?
Melissa says
Hi Renee,
No you leave the cook time as is. Enjoy!
Melissa
Renee says
Do you think it’s best to cook on low or high?
Melissa says
Hi Renee,
I’ve done both ways and it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference.
Best,
Melissa
Julie says
I made your chili for a chili cook off that I have been in for 5 years, and tonight I finally won! Thank you for a great recipe! People were even taking leftovers!
Melissa says
This is amazing! I’m so glad you finally won! I’ll be happy to chalk that win on the board for you. 🙂
Melissa
Holly says
I won a work chili cook off with this recipe and so many people wanted it! I did cheat and used canned chicken because I was on a budget lol but you could not tell the difference!
Melissa says
Hey Holly,
Yay for you! Good to know canned chicken works as well and will still result in a win! I’ll add your win to the tally.
Best,
Melissa
Stephanie L. says
I made this for my neighborhood chili cook-off and i won most unique! everyone loved it. i did double it since there were so many people. i also added come cayenne pepper, extra beans (mashed 1 can to add for thickness), and some extra franks red hot. I will definitely be making this again!! it was delicious!!!
Melissa says
Hey Stephanie, Way to go! I will add a tally for you. Thanks for the tip about mashing the beans. That is a very helpful suggestion!
Best,
Melissa
Mary Grace says
I won a chili cook-off with this recipe tonight!! So delicious!
Melissa says
That’s fantastic! I will add your win and congrats!
Best,
Melissa
B Lou says
I put in the beans with all ingredients as I was reading slow cooker recipe but making in instant pot. Hope turns out??
Melissa says
It should be fine. A lot of instant pot chili recipes have you add the beans before cooking. I just leave them to the end so they don’t get too mushy. Let me know what you think!
Anonymous says
It worked out fine! I have made multiple times now :).
My son loves it!! He had us use his favorite honey bbq wing sauce instead and is fabulous!
I also got the spicy ranch dressing by accident but loved.
Melissa says
That’s so great to hear! Love the idea of honey bbq wing sauce. Yum! Thanks for dropping a line!
Best,
Melissa
Emily says
Wow! This turned out amazing. I was worried it would be too runny, but once I added the cream cheese it was perfect. I used the instant pot, doubled the recipe (using this for a chili cook-off tonight) and was absolutely pleased with how it turned out! Top the chili with some frito chips and maybe some blue cheese — delish.
Melissa says
Hi Emily, I really hope your chili cook off turned out well! Good to know that a double recipe fits in the Instant Pot. Thanks for writing!
Best,
Melissa
Shannon says
Add another win to the tally. I took this to a friends chili cook off and won against 11 other chili’s so thanks for the recipe.
Melissa says
Will do right now! Thanks for letting me know, Shannon. So glad you won!