Hearty Buffalo Chicken Chili: Slow Cooker Magic Recipe

Comfort food takes a spicy twist with this mouthwatering buffalo chicken chili that brings intense flavors to your dinner table.

Tender chicken simmers in a zesty sauce packed with bold buffalo-style heat.

slow cooker magic transforms simple ingredients into a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal that packs a serious punch.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance of tangy and savory notes that dance across your palate.

The recipe combines classic chili elements with the unmistakable kick of buffalo sauce, creating a dish that’s both familiar and exciting.

Chunks of juicy chicken swim in a rich, spicy broth that will warm you from the inside out.

Prepare to fall in love with this game-day worthy chili that’s sure to become a new favorite at your next gathering.

Why Buffalo Chicken Chili Brings Big Flavor

• Toss ingredients into the slow cooker and let it work its magic with minimal hands-on preparation, perfect for busy home cooks who want a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Combines the zesty kick of buffalo chicken with hearty chili ingredients, creating a bold and satisfying dish that brings excitement to your meal routine with its unique flavor profile.
• Packed with nutritious vegetables like cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and kidney beans, this recipe offers a wholesome twist on traditional chili while still delivering maximum comfort and taste.
• Easily customizable with various toppings like avocado, blue cheese, or tortilla chips, making it perfect for family dinners, game day gatherings, or casual weeknight meals that everyone will love.

Slow Cooker Ingredients for Spicy Buffalo Chili

• Chicken Breasts: The protein base that becomes tender and flavorful when slow-cooked in the chili.

• Diced Tomatoes: Provide a rich, tangy base for the chili sauce.
• Carrots, Celery, Cauliflower, Sweet Potatoes: Add texture, nutrition, and depth of flavor to the chili.
• Kidney Beans: Contribute protein and hearty texture to the dish.

• Hot Sauce, Honey: Create a balanced sweet and spicy flavor profile for the chili.
• Garlic: Adds aromatic depth and savory notes to the recipe.

• Water: Helps create the right consistency for slow cooking.

• Blue Cheese: Offers a creamy, tangy finish to the chili.

• Avocado, Greek Yogurt, Tortilla Chips: Provide additional texture and flavor for serving.

How to Prep and Simmer Buffalo Chicken Chili

Step 1: Create Flavor Base

In your slow cooker, combine diced tomatoes, hot sauce, honey, selected spices, water, and minced garlic.

Stir these ingredients thoroughly to develop a robust and zesty foundation for your chili.

Step 2: Add Vegetable Medley

• Carrots
• Celery
• Cauliflower
• Sweet potatoes
• Kidney beans

Gently mix the vegetables to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the liquid.

Step 3: Position Chicken Pieces

Carefully place whole chicken breasts into the vegetable and sauce mixture, ensuring they are mostly submerged.

The chicken will cook slowly, absorbing all the delicious flavors.

Step 4: Slow Cook to Perfection

Select your cooking preference: high heat for 2-3 hours or low heat for 4-6 hours.

This slow cooking process allows the flavors to blend seamlessly and develop deep, complex tastes.

Step 5: Transform Chicken

Remove the cooked chicken and use two forks to shred it into tender pieces.

Alternatively, dice the chicken into bite-sized cubes.

Return the chicken to the chili and stir thoroughly.

Step 6: Enhance with Creamy Finish

For an indulgent touch, sprinkle crumbled blue cheese into the chili.

Allow the cheese to melt and create a rich, tangy undertone that elevates the entire dish.

Step 7: Serve and Garnish

Ladle the steaming chili into serving bowls.

Top with your preferred garnishes.

Tips to Adjust Heat and Texture to Taste

• Add an extra splash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper for those who love a spicier kick without overwhelming the dish.
• Replace cauliflower or sweet potatoes with zucchini, bell peppers, or butternut squash to match seasonal availability and personal preferences.
• Substitute chicken breasts with ground chicken, turkey, or even plant-based protein crumbles for different dietary needs and exciting variations.
• This chili freezes beautifully for up to 3 months, making it perfect for batch cooking and quick weeknight dinners that taste freshly made.
• For a thicker consistency, mash some kidney beans against the side of the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking to create a heartier texture.

Storing and Reheating Buffalo Chili the Right Way

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep chilled for 3-4 days, ensuring maximum freshness and food safety.
• Transfer cooled chili to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty zip-lock bags. Freeze up to 3 months, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn.
• Place portion in microwave-safe dish, cover loosely with microwave-safe lid or paper towel. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.
• Pour chili into saucepan, add splash of water or broth to prevent sticking. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through completely, about 5-7 minutes.

Pairing Ideas for This Bold, Hearty Chili

• Perfectly Match Buffalo Chicken Chili's Flavors
• Pair with Crisp Beer: Select a light, hoppy pale ale to cut through the chili's spiciness and complement its tangy buffalo sauce undertones.
• Serve with Cooling Slaw: Whip up a creamy coleslaw with a hint of apple cider vinegar to balance the heat and provide a refreshing side dish.
• Complement with Cornbread: Bake a slightly sweet cornbread that absorbs the chili's rich sauce and offers a soft, comforting texture contrast.
• Add Zesty Garnish: Top with fresh cilantro, diced green onions, and a dollop of Greek yogurt to brighten the dish's deep, robust flavors.

Twists on Buffalo Chicken Chili You’ll Want to Taste

• Vegetarian Buffalo Chili: Replace chicken with plant-based protein like tofu, tempeh, or textured vegetable protein. Use vegetable broth instead of water for deeper flavor.
• Low-Carb Buffalo Cauliflower Chili: Eliminate kidney beans and sweet potatoes. Add extra cauliflower and zucchini for volume. Use less honey to reduce carbohydrates.
• Spicy Keto Buffalo Chili: Swap kidney beans for chopped bell peppers. Use jalapeños for extra heat. Add heavy cream instead of blue cheese for richness. Replace honey with sugar-free sweetener.
• Dairy-Free Buffalo Chicken Chili: Skip blue cheese topping. Use coconut yogurt or cashew cream as alternative garnish. Ensure hot sauce is dairy-free. Replace blue cheese with nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.

FAQs

• Why use a slow cooker for this buffalo chicken chili?

Slow cookers help develop deep, rich flavors by allowing ingredients to simmer and blend together gradually. The low, steady heat ensures tender chicken and allows spices to fully infuse throughout the dish.

• Can I make this recipe spicier or milder?

Absolutely! Adjust the heat level by changing the amount of hot sauce. For milder chili, use less hot sauce or choose a mild variety. For extra heat, add more hot sauce or include some diced jalapeños.

• Is this recipe good for meal prep?

Yes, this buffalo chicken chili is perfect for meal prep. It keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and can be easily reheated. The flavors often improve after sitting overnight, making it a great make-ahead meal.

• What makes this chili different from traditional chili recipes?

This version combines classic chili ingredients with buffalo chicken flavors, using hot sauce and blue cheese. It also includes unique vegetables like cauliflower and sweet potatoes, giving it a nutritious and innovative twist on traditional chili.

Buffalo Chicken Chili (slow Cooker) Recipe

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4.6 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Buffalo Chicken Chili brings fiery southwestern comfort straight to your dinner table. Packed with tender shredded chicken, zesty buffalo sauce, and rich spices, this slow cooker marvel promises a flavor-packed meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 can kidney beans, drained

Vegetables:

• 4 carrots, diced (about 2 cups)
• 4 celery stalks, diced (about 1.5 cups)
• 2 cups cauliflower, chopped
• 2 cups sweet potato, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Liquid and Seasoning:

• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Franks Red Hot Sauce
• 1 cup water (add more for a thinner chili)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1.5 tablespoons cumin
• 1.5 tablespoons paprika
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

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Instructions

1. Craft the flavor foundation by blending diced tomatoes, hot sauce, honey, aromatic spices, water, and minced garlic in the slow cooker, creating a robust liquid base for the chili.
2. Incorporate colorful vegetables including carrots, celery, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and kidney beans, stirring thoroughly to ensure even ingredient distribution.
3. Gently place whole chicken breasts into the vegetable mixture, ensuring they are mostly submerged in the liquid to promote even cooking and flavor absorption.
4. Program the slow cooker to high temperature for 2-3 hours or low temperature for 4-6 hours, allowing ingredients to simmer and develop deep, complex flavors.
5. After cooking, extract chicken and break into tender shreds using two forks, then reintegrate the meat back into the chili’s rich sauce.
6. Enhance the dish’s creaminess by folding in crumbled blue cheese, which will melt and introduce a tangy, luxurious dimension to the chili.
7. Serve in individual bowls, garnishing with optional toppings like diced avocado, dollops of Greek yogurt, additional blue cheese crumbles, or crunchy tortilla chips for textural contrast.

Notes

• Choose bone-in chicken breasts for extra flavor and moisture, ensuring the meat stays juicy during slow cooking.
• Swap hot sauce with mild sauce if you prefer less heat, allowing kids or spice-sensitive folks to enjoy the chili.
• Add quinoa or brown rice directly to the slow cooker during the last hour for a heartier, protein-packed meal that’s filling and nutritious.
• For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with extra firm tofu or plant-based chicken alternatives, maintaining the same cooking time and seasonings.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 10 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg