Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches are the perfect meal for dinner, parties, and game day food. This shredded chicken has a nice kick and smokiness to it from the Buffalo sauce which is super easy to mix together. Definitely a family favorite!
Recipe updated with new images and more detailed information for the reader – June 16, 2023
Slow Cooker Buffalo Sandwiches are the easiest to make and really hits the spot when you’re craving that buffalo sauce flavor but don’t want to be frying wings. A few years ago I tried a new flavor of my favorite line of BBQ sauces, Sweet Baby Ray’s. It was their Buffalo wing sauce and I used it on wings that I baked till crispy in the oven. So good and it gave me an idea to use it on chicken breasts in the slow cooker. I served them with some homemade creamy coleslaw. What a winning idea that was!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Uses the slow cooker so basically it cooks itself.
- Just 5 ingredients.
- The Buffalo chicken is great to use in sandwiches, over nachos, and more.
- Great to serve a crowd.
What is Buffalo Chicken?
Traditionally, Buffalo chicken refers to fried chicken wings covered in a tangy Buffalo sauce. Buffalo sauce is a mixture of butter and cayenne hot sauce. The heat level of the sauce can be from mild to hot, or even hotter.
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken
Some recipes for Buffalo chicken use a ranch dressing mix and a sauce like Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, but this recipe does not. I chose to use a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s Wing Sauce, some cumin to give it a bit of smokiness, and sliced onion. Such a great recipe and so easy!
For our family, this is the perfect amount of heat and spice. If you prefer a spicy sauce, add a bit of cayenne or red pepper flakes.
The best bun for this sandwich to soak up the extra sauce without making the bun soggy is a brioche bun. Soft, sturdy, and delicious.
Because you’re making this buffalo chicken in the slow cooker, dinner will be ready when you are. The leftovers are great for quesadillas, nachos, or turning the spicy chicken into a sandwich wrap.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs?
Chicken breasts are recommended for this recipe, but thighs can be used. Use 2 pounds of boneless and skinless thighs.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken?
Yes, you can freeze the shredded Buffalo chicken. Allow the chicken to cool completely and put it in a Freezer safe food storage container with an airtight lid or freezer bag and place it in the freezer for up to three months. Defrost the chicken by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight when you want to eat it. Reheat the chicken mixture on low heat for best results.
Equipment
- 6-quart slow cooker
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (about 4-6 pieces)
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup of Sweet Baby Ray’s Wing Sauce
- Rolls of your choice (we like to use Brioche Buns)
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken
Step 1
In a 6 quart slow cooker, add sliced onion on the bottom and top with chicken breasts.
Step 2
In a small bowl, add 1 cup of the wing sauce, the minced garlic, and cumin and stir to combine. Pour over the chicken.
Step 3
Cover and cook on low for about 5 hours, or until the chicken is cooked and can be shredded. Remove chicken to a plate and shred with two forks and place back into the crock pot.
Step 4
Mix chicken with sauce in crockpot and cover. Let cook an additional hour to allow the chicken to soak up the sauce and flavors even more.
Step 5
Serve on brioche rolls. If desired, toast rolls in the oven before filling them with buffalo chicken. Also, you can top the chicken with coleslaw for a crunch.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover Buffalo chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Tips, Tricks, and FAQs
- Chicken breasts work the best but chicken thighs can be used.
- Substitute a turkey tenderloin in this recipe for the chicken.
- For more heat, add red pepper flakes.
- This recipe does not use a ranch seasoning mix.
- Use this recipe to make slow cooker buffalo chicken sliders.
- Serve with ranch dip and celery sticks.
Other Slow Cooker Recipes You May Enjoy
- Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
- Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Printable Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts boneless and skinless (about 4-6 pieces)
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 2 – 3 cloves garlic. minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup of Sweet Baby Ray’s Wing Sauce
- Rolls of your choice
Instructions
- In a large slow cooker, add sliced onion and top with chicken.
- In a small bowl, add 1 cup of the wing sauce, the garlic and cumin and stir to combine. Pour over chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for about 5 hours, or until the chicken is cooked and can be shredded.
- When done, remove chicken and shred with two forks and place back into crockpot.
- Mix chicken with sauce in crockpot and cover. Let cook an additional hour to allow the chicken to soak up the sauce.
- Serve on rolls. Toast rolls in oven if desired before filling with buffalo chicken. Also, you can top the chicken with coleslaw for a crunch.
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Enjoy!
This looks fantastic! I am a sucker for anything buffalo chicken! It just so happens I have chicken breasts in the fridge… I may give this a try today! I am trying the low carb thing so I have special low carb wraps I will use. =)
Thanks for stopping by Emily! The wrap is great with this chicken, too. I had some leftovers and wraps for lunch the next day. Enjoy!
Hello cute lady! I’m stopping by to let you know that I have chosen your post as my favorite! Woo hoo! We will be featuring it tonight at 7 pm at our party. I hope to see you then~ Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Thank you! I’ll be checking it out and linking up this week again!
I love a good crock pot recipe and sweet baby rays sauce. Looks yummy!
Thanks for stopping by Theresa. I can’t wait to try the other new sauces from Sweet Baby Ray’s
I love making these sliders on the weekend, so tasty and filling! Hope you are enjoying your week. #TurnitupTuesday
I love buffalo sauce and this sandwich looks amazing! I’m definitely going to have to give it a try! I would love for you to link up with us at Talented Tuesdays…Our party goes live at 9am CST
Thanks Sydney for stopping by. I’ll definitely check out the party this week, thanks! The buffalo chicken sandwich just may make another appearance this week here as it was that good!
This looks delicious. I can’t wait to give this one a try 🙂
I hope you’ll come back and let us know how you like it, Anne!
Saw your recipe at LouLou Girls and had to come for a visit. Lovely blog you have here, Lisa. I love simple, delicious recipes and this one looks terrific. Have a great day.
Thank you Robyn! I appreciate your kind words.
Your Buffalo Chicken will make a wonderful sandwich! Thanks so much for sharing your post with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you for hosting Full Plate, I love stopping by and drooling! Now that I see you have a Red Velvet Pie recipe, I”m heading there now!
My son loves buffalo wings, but let’s be real–wings are kind of a pain to make. Now a delicious sandwich filling out of the slow cooker sounds like an easy, no-fuss solution.
Thank you for sharing.
Totally agree with you Michelle! My daughter loves them too and I hate making them because of the mess! This sandwich is the answer for us! Hope you enjoy it when you make it. Thanks for stopping by!
Wanted to let you know that I made this for my son earlier in the week. We all liked it and will make again. Easy, no fuss fun dish!
That’s great Michelle! I’m so glad you all liked it. I love the easy, no fuss meals! Makes cooking so much easier when it’s simple yet delicious.