Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
Warm up your evening with this flavorful Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili, a perfect blend of spicy buffalo sauce, tender shredded chicken, creamy cheese, and hearty beans. This easy slow cooker recipe delivers bold, comforting flavors with minimal effort — ideal for cozy dinners and customizable to suit your heat preference or dietary needs.
- Author: Mary
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Protein
- 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
Vegetables and Beans
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup buffalo hot sauce
Dairy
Spices
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Rinse and drain the black beans and kidney beans. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Set aside the chicken breasts or thighs.
- Combine in the Slow Cooker: Layer the black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, diced onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, chili powder, and cumin in the slow cooker. Place the chicken breasts on top, then pour the buffalo hot sauce evenly over everything.
- Slow Cook on Low: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Shred Chicken and Add Cream Cheese: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. Stir in the cream cheese until it melts completely and blends smoothly into the chili.
- Final Taste and Adjustments: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning as needed by adding salt, pepper, or more hot sauce to reach your desired flavor and heat level. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use fresh onion and garlic to elevate the chili’s flavor.
- A 4-6 quart slow cooker is ideal to ensure even cooking and avoid overfilling.
- Shred the chicken directly in the cooker to soak in more flavor and reduce cleanup.
- Add cream cheese at the end to maintain a creamy texture without curdling.
- Lightly toasting chili powder and cumin before adding can boost their aromatic qualities.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: buffalo chicken chili, slow cooker chili, buffalo sauce recipe, crockpot chicken chili, spicy chicken chili, gluten free chili