Ingredient Shredded Buffalo Chicken Recipe

This easy shredded buffalo chicken is made in the slow cooker with just four simple ingredients: chicken breasts, buffalo wing sauce, ranch seasoning, and butter. The chicken cooks low and slow until tender enough to shred, then gets tossed back into the flavorful juices for a juicy, spicy finish. Serve it on toasted hoagie rolls, baked potatoes, salads, lettuce wraps, or straight from the crockpot for an easy weeknight meal or game-day spread.

Add the Chicken to the Slow Cooker

Lightly coat the inside of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken breasts in the crockpot in a single layer as much as possible.

Pour the buffalo wing sauce over the chicken and sprinkle the ranch seasoning evenly across the top. There is no need to brown the chicken first, which keeps the preparation especially simple.

Slow Cook Until Tender

Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or on HIGH for about 3 hours.

The chicken is ready when it reaches 165°F in the thickest part and can be pulled apart easily with a fork. Avoid relying on time alone, since chicken breast sizes can vary.

Shred the Chicken

Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and use two forks to pull it into bite-sized shreds. Working on a cutting board makes shredding easier and keeps the slow cooker from moving around while you work.

Return all of the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it through the buffalo cooking juices so the meat becomes evenly coated.

Stir in the Butter

Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot if you have not already done so. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and let it melt into the hot chicken and sauce.

Stir well until the butter is completely incorporated. The finished chicken should look moist, saucy, and evenly coated rather than dry.

Build the Sandwiches and Serve

Spoon the warm buffalo chicken onto soft hoagie rolls. Finish with a drizzle of ranch dressing if desired.

For a fuller spread, serve the sandwiches with celery sticks, carrot sticks, potato chips, or coleslaw. If you prefer a lower-carb option, serve the buffalo chicken over lettuce or coleslaw instead of bread.

SERVING / LEFTOVERS / CLOSE-UP