Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili is delicious, simple and award winning! This is the go-to when you are tired of boring chili recipes!
You guys might tell me I’ve been living under a rock, and honestly that might not be far from the truth. But did you know that on Friday nights there is like a marathon of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on the Food Network? I go to turn on the TV and my six year old gears up for one of her favorite cartoons and I have to crush her dreams. I can’t take even one more episode of kid TV. Despite this somehow, at some point during the evening, the whole family ends up curled up in front of the TV drooling over all the amazing (and sometimes weird!) food and trying to figure out if it would be at all possible to plan a trip to whatever location Guy Fieri is featuring. Yep. We know how to party. Now I’m going to share with you something that you should have while you are watching your marathon TV session…. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili. Yum! A great meal to come home to on a Friday night after a busy week. Easy to make! Easy to love this spicy, creamy goodness!
Heartier than a soup but different than a traditional chili this would be fun to serve up at a party, to take along to a tailgate, or to take to a potluck. Ground chicken instead of beef and white beans instead of chili beans make the base of this chili.
Lots of flavor from chicken broth, ranch dressing mix and fire-roasted tomatoes and some heat from the buffalo sauce are balanced out with some sweet corn and cream cheese. Top it all of with some cilantro for some super fresh flavor. And I can’t forget the blue cheese crumbles on the top! I leave them out of the soup since not everyone is a fan but I can guarantee you I have my bowl topped of with some!
So park yourself on the couch with a big ‘ol bowl and watch endless episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives until you are convinced you should open your own funky restaurant so you can be featured on the show too. Or wait…is that just me? Yeah, I’m weird like that :). But at least it helps me dream up recipes like Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili!
MY LATEST VIDEOSThis recipe was originally published on April 7, 2014 and has been updated to reflect fresh photos and updates to the recipe based on reader feedback and re-testing.
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili is delicious, simple and award winning! This is the go-to when you are tired of boring chili recipes!
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 15 oz canned white navy beans drained and rinsed
- 14.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes drained
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce start with 1/4 cup and add more at end if needed
- 1 package ranch dressing mix
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 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 oz cream cheese
- Blue cheese crumbles optional
- Brown ground chicken until fully cooked, place in crock (or brown ahead of time and store in fridge until ready to assemble)
- Add remaining ingredients except for cream cheese and blue cheese and give it all a stir to combine
- Add block of cream cheese on the top and cover
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8
- Stir to incorporate cream cheese and add additional wing sauce as desired
- Top individual bowls with blue cheese crumbles if desired
Can’t get enough buffalo chicken?
Slow Cooker Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Original photos:
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This was DELICIOUS. nice change to the usual turkey/black bean chili I normally make. I just wanted to D.R.I.N.K. it. I doubled the chicken to make it heartier and used cannellini beans which I had on hand. Definitely more soupy than I’d like so I’ll only use 1 cup of broth next time to make it more chili-like. I only used 1/4c. of hot sauces (used sriracha) which gave it a kick but wasn’t too spicy for my son. Also used roasted corn from Trader Joes and sprinkled fresh cilantro on top.. Husband LOVED it (he’s VERY picky!) and my 12year old (even pickier when it comes to mixed foods in 1 bowl) even liked it (gave it an 8.5 out of 10).
Thank you so much for the feedback! So glad you enjoyed it!
I made this for lunch today in the instant pot. Made it to your recipe put elbow macaroni on the bottom That’s usually how we eat chili I guess its chilly mac , topped with the blue cheese crumbles celery and cilantro. Browed the meat first, then high pressure for 10 minutes let it rest for about 5 minutes added the cream cheese stirred it up put it on slow cook high for about 20 minutes and mixed it up some more. Came out great. We will be making this again. Thanks
I love the idea of adding the noodles! Yum!
Have you tried this in an instant pot yet? I have made it a few times and my family LOVES it! However, I’m terrible with mornings and remembering dinner before… well dinner time 😂 so I was just wondering if you had any idea what the time would be for IP time verses the slow cooker time?
I haven’t yet, but plan to!! I’d think 10 minutes on high pressure and then adding the cream cheese after would be where I would start.
I have been making this for awhile now so I just had to come say THANK YOU! It’s one of my favorite soups!! It’s in my crock pot now and I’ve doubled it so I can share with a friend at work who just had a baby. It’s so easy and delicious. Always feels like finding a golden ticket when you can find a recipe that passes all the taste, ease and “works with our crazy schedules” tests and can go into the dinner rotation. Thanks so much for sharing! We will continue enjoying it for years to come!
Thank you so much Debbie!
I also won the chili cookoff at work with this recipe! Only changes I made were to use spicy ranch seasoning packets instead of regular, and to add half a red onion and a clove of crushed garlic. (I also thickened it slightly with a spoon of cornstarch). Went heavy on the wing sauce, and it was a winner!
That’s amazing!! Congrats! Those additions sound delicious!
This turned out great!! I used turkey (seasoned with smoked paprika) instead of chicken, and I just won first prize at our company chili competition. 😀
That’s great news!! Congrats!
I only recently found this recipe- about 2 months ago & tonight is my 5th time making it. I am obsessed! I’ve made it for a group of 8 & also for just me & my husband- which is my favorite way to make it because then I get leftovers for days. 🙂
Every time I make it I’ve used 2 whole chicken breasts & then shred the chicken at the end.
Thanks for such an easy & delicious recipe that is now a family favorite! 🙂
Thanks Lacee! I’m so glad you love it!!
Wish I read through all the comments first. So runny I had to pour it all out. Waste of money and now have nothing to dinner. I even used half recommended liquid and added flour it was still runny.
Interesting… I’m making this tonight for my 5th time & ive never had an issue with it being too runny.
I should have commented a while ago, but I made this chili for a chili cook-off at my office last December (2017) and won first place! It was AMAZING and everyone loved it. This is definitely a go-to recipe for my family. Thanks for sharing!!
That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing!
How many ounces of ranch dressing mix should be used? I could only find a large packet at the store. Looking forward to trying this recipe!
one ounce. Enjoy!!