Description
This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe combines the spicy zest of buffalo sauce with hearty white beans and tender shredded chicken, creating a comforting and flavorful chili that’s perfect for busy weeknights, game days, or cozy meals. It offers a balanced blend of protein, fiber, and bold spices with minimal effort, all slow-cooked to tender perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Ingredients
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Shredded cheese (for topping)
- Sour cream (for topping)
- Sliced green onions (for topping)
- Diced avocado (for topping or dairy-free creaminess)
- Diced bell peppers or corn (for added veggies)
Instructions
- Prep Your Ingredients: Chop the onion and mince the garlic. If using canned beans, rinse and drain them well. Set all prepared ingredients aside to create the flavor base.
- Combine in Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Add chopped onions, minced garlic, white beans, chicken broth, buffalo sauce, cumin, and smoked paprika. Gently stir everything together to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours to allow the chicken to become tender and for the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker and stir well to combine with the chili mixture.
- Final Touches and Serve: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. If desired, garnish with fresh chopped cilantro before serving. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, or avocado for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use fresh buffalo sauce for more authentic, bright spicy flavor without overpowering.
- Do not skip slow cooking; low and slow heat tenderizes chicken and deepens flavors.
- Shred chicken after cooking to ensure moist, juicy pieces that absorb buffalo sauce well.
- Season gradually and taste frequently to avoid over-salting or over-spicing.
- Customize spice level by adding hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes according to preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 85mg