Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
Shredded Buffalo Chicken
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken that can be served in so many different ways! Buffalo chicken sandwiches has always been a favorite of mine! Back in the day I would always jump for a fried buffalo chicken anything!
This recipe is a healthy clean version of your old school buffalo chicken dish.
Below you will find instant pot buffalo chicken directions as well as healthy crockpot buffalo chicken directions.
You can make this buffalo chicken in the instant pot or slow cooker!
There is some extra special flavor in this buffalo sauce because some ranch flavorings are added. I did not go as far as adding ranch seasoning to it, though you could. Rather I took some promonent flavorings in ranch like dill and parsley and added those in for amazing flavor!
Why you will love this instant pot buffalo chicken.
- 10 Minutes to Prep
- Super Easy
- Extremely Tasty
- Healthy (Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Preservative Free)
- Family Friendly
Is franks hot sauce healthy?
Ingredients you will need for this healthy crockpot buffalo chicken.
- chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)
- franks hot sauce
- coconut aminos
- apple cider vinegar
- garlic cloves (or garlic powder)
- olive oil
- dill
- onion powder
- salt
What are coconut aminos? What can I use instead?
How to make the buffalo sauce?
How to make this buffalo chicken in the slow cooker?
What kind of meat can I use?
What goes good with buffalo chicken?
- Baked beans
- corn on the cob
- potato salad
- potato wedges
- broccoli bacon salad
- breads
- corn bread
- grilled veggies
- fresh slaw
How to store this instant pot buffalo chicken?
Do I need a slow cooker for this recipe?
Can I use an instant pot?
*See FAQ’s and specific tips following recipe below. (so you don’t have to scroll for a million years to find the food 😉 ).
How do you make this Instant Pot or Crockpot Buffalo Chicken? 👇
Buffalo Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker or Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken breasts or chicken thighs
Buffalo Sauce (Blend Together):
- 1/2 cup franks hot sauce or your favorite hot sauce
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic or garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 tsp dill
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Add sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrap sides once or twice).
- Add chicken into slow cooker and pour sauce over chicken.
- Cook on low 4-6 hours.
- Remove chicken, shred (removing bone if necessary), then mix shredded chicken back into buffalo sauce in slow cooker.
- Serve in your favorite bun and enjoy!
Freezer Directions:
- Label Freezer bag with recipe name, cooking from frozen directions and expiration date (todays date plus three months).
- Add sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrap sides once or twice).
- Add all ingredients to labeled gallon freezer bag.
- Store in freezer for up to three months.
Cooking from Frozen Directions:
- Thaw overnight in fridge or in the morning in some warm water (meal may not be 100% thawed but that is ok).
- Add freezer bag contents into slow cooker.
- Cook on low 5-6 hours. (May need an extra 30 minutes if completely frozen when placed in slow cooker).
- Remove chicken, shred (removing bone if necessary), then mix shredded chicken back into buffalo sauce in a slow cooker.
- Serve in your favorite bun and enjoy!
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Place chicken thighs in Instant Pot and pour sauce over chicken.
- Cover pot with lid, seal and set to manual mode.
- Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Pot may take a few minutes to get up to pressure.
- Quick release pressure.
- Remove chicken, shred (removing bone if necessary), then mix shredded chicken back into buffalo sauce in instant pot.
- Saute for 5 minutes to incorporate chicken and thicken sauce a bit.
- Serve in your favorite bun and enjoy!
Notes
- Coconut aminos are used as a soy sauce substitute for those with gluten sensitivity or anyone following a specific diet. Soy sauce can be used as a replacement.
- If desired use garlic powder instead of garlic cloves. 1 garlic clove = 1/2 tsp garlic powder.
- This recipe is a buffalo sauce so it does have a kick to it.
if you liked this recipe give it a share!
Tag @My_FamilyDinner or #MyFamilyDinner
How freezer meals will change your life.
Makes homecooking Easy
Only spend one hour in the kitchen for a whole week of dinners. Day of, throw your freezer meal in the slow cooker or instant pot and enjoy dinner!
feel confident
Knowing you have a fool proof systen for something that is easy and works gives you confidence in the kitchen. So wether you're a seasoned chef or occational home cook the method of freezer cooking will work for you!
Eat Healthier
Because you're prepping the freezer meals with fresh foods you're eating healthier. Anytime you cook at home instead of eating out you get the benefits of healthier food.
Enjoy less stress
Have you ever felt the pressure of forgetting about dinner, or having to cook at the end of a long day?! No more, just grab something out of the freezer and you're good to go.
Frequently asked questions
No problem! Just throw the freezer meal in your slow cooker and you’re all set. If it doesn’t fit thaw it for a few minutes in warm water. (You may need to add an extra 30 minutes cook time if completely frozen when cooking).
Yes. Be sure to cook the chicken a little bit longer on high pressure if cooking from frozen. Cook chicken for 12 minutes high pressure instead of 10.
There is an active ingredient in peppers called capsaicin, which makes them spicy, that has a whole bunch of health benefits. This makes buffalo sauce, made almost entirely out of hot pepper, to actually contain many health benefits good for you.
A serving size assumes 1 cup of shredded buffalo chicken at 334 kcal per serving.
Absolutely. There are instant pot buffalo chicken directions in the recipe above.
You may have to play around with cook times if you are using chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. If you’re interested in an instant pot cheat sheet for cook times click here!
Nothing to do with the actual animal, buffalo sauce was originated in buffalo, new York. This is why its called buffalo sauce.
Buffalo sauce if made mainly out of hot sauce with seasonings added to it for extra flavor!
A traditional store-bought buffalo sauce will contain ketchup, sugar and even additives which is why I love to create my own sauces using clean ingredients.
Add in 1-2 tbsp tapioca starch mixed with 1-2 tbsp water to make a slurry and then add to the sloppy joe mix.
Instant Pot: Saute for 5 minutes.
Slow Cooker: cook on low in slow cooker for an additional 30 minutes to thicken sauce. (you can also use cornstarch or arrowroot powder if that’s what you have on hand)
As long as you are not having negative side effects there is no downside to eating hot sauce regularly.
Here are a couple ways you can use this shredded buffalo chicken.
- As is
- Stuffed in a potato
- Stuffed in a sweet potato
- In tacos
- On a salad
- In a sandwich
- In a quesadilla
- On top of nachos
- On a pizza
Don't forget to pin this recipe and save it for later! 👇
If you liked this Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken recipe you may also like
