This slow cooker buffalo chicken could not get any easier. It’s a Paleo, Whole30 and Keto meal that you can just dump into the slow cooker and come back later to find dinner ready. It’s also a great meal prep recipe that can be used for buffalo chicken salads, wraps, tacos and much more.
Related: Buffalo Chicken Thighs, Jalapeno Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Smoked Buffalo Wings
Every week I like to have an easy protein ready to go in the fridge for quick lunches or to throw together for simple meals when I need them. This buffalo chicken in the slow cooker is one of them that’s heavily in rotation. Sometimes it’s a mayo chicken salad, tuna patties, taco meat or carnitas meat, but, lately usually it’s this Whole30, paleo and keto option!
To make the buffalo sauce, aside from the hot sauce itself, you’ll need ghee. My favorites are the Thrive Market brand and Organic Valley (both available on Thrive Market), for the quality for the price. You can also make your own ghee which is fairly simple for a patient, budget-minded person. I use the slow cooker to make my own ghee as well.
You can use any size slow cooker for this Whole30 buffalo chicken, but the one pictured here is my trusty 2.5 quart slow cooker. I most often go for my larger 7 quart for things like soups and big cuts of meat, but this little guy here is useful for not taking up a ton of space on my counter while I’m meal prepping, or if it’s a smaller quantity I’m cooking.
In the slow cooker I love to add 1/2 of a finely diced onion. It gives the buffalo chicken so much flavor, but you could omit and add a teaspoon or so of onion powder if you’d prefer. I like to use a white onion, but yellow or red would be a great alternative!
Other Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes:
50 Whole30 Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork & Pineapple Coleslaw
PrintSlow Cooker Buffalo Chicken: Paleo, Whole30, Keto, GF
This slow cooker buffalo chicken could not get any easier. It’s a Paleo, Whole30 and Keto meal that you can just dump into the slow cooker and come back later to find dinner ready. It’s also a great meal prep recipe that can be used for buffalo chicken salads, wraps, tacos and much more.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders
- 1/2 cup Frank’s Hot buffalo sauce
- 1/2 white onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker
- Cook on high for 3 hours or cook on low for 5-6 hours, or until chicken shreds easily with a fork
- Shred chicken, add salt and pepper to taste or additional hot sauce if desired
- Serve in buffalo chicken tacos, in a buffalo chicken salad, or even a buffalo chicken breakfast frittata!
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Ali B. says
I LOVE this recipe! I make it regularly and I think I need to start doubling it because my husband and I go through it so fast! It’s so simple to throw together but so, so good.
Deb says
I have made this many times and we love it! Question: I have a pork tenderloin I need to cook. Can I just swap that for the chicken? Thanks for any help!
paleobailey says
Yes! I think that would work really well!
SJAutry says
Thinking of doing this recipe as the foundation for your buffalo chicken casserole. Thought I would put the chicken in the slow cooker in the morning (frozen) and after work add the rest of the casserole recipe ingredients. Instead of baking in the oven, I would give it some additional time in the slow cooker. You think that would work?
paleobailey says
I do! That’s a great idea. *Technically* I can’t recommend cooking meat from frozen in the slow cooker BUT…. yes it would work and yes I do it myself 🙂 Also when you add the cauliflower rice, my only concern there is that the “casserole” would end up too watery being the slow cooker doesn’t allow excess liquid to steam off like it does in the oven. So two options for that. First would be to steam the cauliflower rice in the microwave first and squeeze out the excess liquid over the sink (wrap cauliflower rice in a tea towel or paper towels to do that), OR once you add the cauliflower rice into the slow cooker, line the lid of the slow cooker with two paper towels. The paper towels will absorb some of that liquid instead of it rising to the top of the slow cooker and dripping back down into the insert. Let me know if that makes sense!!
Kim says
Does the franks hot sauce make it hot and spicy or just a mild kick?
paleobailey says
I think it’s just a mild kick! Make sure to use the original and not the wing sauce (the bottles look almost exactly the same except the one has the word “wings” on it – it can be confusing!)
Brittney says
My husband and I love this recipe! We’ve made it multiple times. It’s easy, has simple ingredients and tastes great. A go-to for sure!
paleobailey says
I’m SO glad to hear this! Thank you so much for giving it a try and taking the time to come back and leave a review!
sara says
Made it. Love it. Found my new favorite blog!
paleobailey says
Thank you!! This made my day! <3 - B
Maura says
Just made for the first time. So easy and really delicious! I’ll definitely make again. And my son loved it too so huge win!
Jennifer says
can I use chicken thighs instead of breast?
paleobailey says
Absolutely!!
Marla says
Help…. I’m so confused. Mine is done and looks to be sitting in Buffalo water. Do I take the chicken out to dump the juice from the chicken
paleobailey says
No, just shred the chicken and the buffalo sauce will incorporate to become the sauce on the shredded chicken!
Elizabeth says
Can I make this with frozen chicken breasts?
paleobailey says
Yes! You can! The cooking time will be longer, so I’d recommend cooking on low for 6-8 hours
Nicole says
So good!
paleobailey says
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed!
Miranda says
I’ve made this twice now and it’s definitely a keeper! So easy and great for meal prep!
paleobailey says
Thank you so, so much Miranda! So happy you enjoy it!
Bridget says
Just made this for the first time and, wow, SO GOOD! I’m eating it straight out of the crock pot. Thank you!
paleobailey says
Thank you so much, Bridget!! So happy you loved it!
Carolina R. says
I was trying to double up the recipe and I accidentally put in 8 tablespoons (!!!) of ghee. I’m feeling very Paula Deen right now. Do you think this will still be good?
paleobailey says
Haha – too funny. I think it’ll be okay. If it’s too oily at the end you can mix in more hot sauce to counter the extra ghee. It’ll be more saucy, but still good!!
Mary says
This was one of the very first things I have made that I actually look forward to eating! It was DELICIOUS! Thank you, I will for sure be making again!
paleobailey says
I am SO happy to hear this. Thank you, Mary!!
Kathy says
Do I need to double the time if I double the recipe?
paleobailey says
You don’t! They should still all cook through at about the same time. I’d just keep an eye on it and give it a bit longer if needed, but once it shreds easily with a fork, it’ll be good to go!
Jenny says
Is there a way to make this dairy free? We have soy, almond, peanut, dairy and wheat allergies in our home!
paleobailey says
This is dairy free, unless you’re referring to the ghee. Ghee is clarified butter so the lactose is removed. If that’s problematic for your family still, you can just omit the 2 tbsp.
Steph says
Delicious! Needed a good paleo option I could make in the slow cooker & this is it!
paleobailey says
So glad to hear that, Steph!! Thank you!
Brittany Innes says
The best! A weekly staple for me. I throw left overs over pretty much anything for an easy lunch to take to work.
paleobailey says
Thank you, Brittany!! That’s exactly what I do with it too haha! Can’t go wrong with buffalo chicken thrown over stuff ;)! <3 - B
Jay says
Really good Bailey makes the best slow cooker/instant pot recipes!!!
paleobailey says
Thank you so much, Jay! I so appreciate that (and you)!!