Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili

Looking for a different spin on the classic chili recipe? This Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili is just the ticket! It’s a set-it-and-forget-it crock pot recipe that’s supremely satisfying, with chicken, cannellini beans, and a creamy sauce that’s just spicy enough thanks to the addition of buffalo hot sauce. This is a recipe that’s destined to be part of your family’s regular weeknight dinner rotation!

this Recipe

Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili – The EASY Way!

Crock pot dinners are always winners! I love that not only is the slow cooker an incredibly easy method of cooking, it also produces amazing results. When everything’s left to cook low and slow for several hours, the flavors have time to really come together. And with a chili recipe, that’s exactly what you want.

But this isn’t an ordinary chili! Oh no! This Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili has all the flavors of buffalo wings, but in the form of a cozy, hearty chicken chili. You’ve got your chicken (white meat or dark—take your pick), the zippy hot sauce, celery, and seasonings, but to make it a proper chili, we add tomatoes with chiles and white beans.

Swirl in cream cheese to temper the spicy flavor, then garnish with some blue cheese on top for the true buffalo chicken chili experience—or go with traditional chili toppings like melty shredded cheddar, sour cream, and crispy corn chips.

Why I LOVE this recipe!

• Dump-and-Go – Pile everything into the crock pot except the cream cheese, give it a good stir, and let your slow cooker work its magic.
• Family-Friendly – Yes, even picky eaters will love this one! If you’re cooking for kiddos, use less hot sauce and let everyone in the family add it to their own serving so they can customize their Buffalo Chicken Chili to their tastes.
• Customizable – And speaking of customization! Who doesn’t love a dinner that can be personalized?! Set out a board full of toppings and let everyone go to town.
• Perfect for a Party – I love this Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili as an easy weeknight dinner, but it’s also great for game day get-togethers. 
• Oh-So-Satisfying – Between the beans and the chicken, this chili is hearty, filling, and cozy. Just the kind of meal everyone loves on a chilly evening! (Or a chili evening—get it? Sorry, I had to.)

What to Serve with Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili

Since this dish has the classic flavors of buffalo wings and traditional chili, it will pair well with many of your favorite chili side dishes. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.

Side Dish Ideas

• Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice – Serve your Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili over the rice or alongside it.
• Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread – Perfect for sopping up that extra sauce at the bottom of the bowl!
• Garlic Cheese Bread
• Instant Pot Baked Potatoes – Stretch this slow cooker chicken chili for another night by serving it with fluffy baked potatoes.
• Easy Mexican Cornbread– When you need a recipe that is extra quick!

You can choose one or add a few sides to make a wholesome, well rounded dinner. 

Recipe Notes

This Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili recipe is as simple as promised! Just a few minutes of prep time and your trusty slow cooker for a family friendly meal.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients + Substitutions

• Chicken – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts if your family prefers white meat; if you plan on cooking this chili towards the longer end of the cooking time, use chicken thighs, which stay juicy, delicious, and flavorful even after several hours in the crock pot.
• Onion – Yellow or white onions will both work in this recipe.
  Celery – Because you can’t have buffalo chicken without celery, right?
• Cannellini beans – Feel free to substitute another variety of white beans if you prefer.
• Tomatoes with green chiles – AKA Rotel.
• Tomato sauce
• Buffalo sauce – Frank’s Red Hot is the traditional (and original) choice for buffalo sauce, but if you have your own favorite, use it!
• Garlic
• Chili powder and ground cumin – This will add some traditional chili flavor to the recipe.
• Granulated sugar – This is the secret ingredient that brings everything together. The tomatoes, tomato sauce, and hot sauce (which is made with vinegar) are all acidic; the sugar will cut the acid and balance all the flavors in the recipe. Don’t skip it!
• Salt and pepper
• Cream cheese – Key to the creamy, dreamy sauce in this Buffalo Chicken Chili. Although I like using full-fat cream cheese for the richest flavor and texture, you can substitute low fat or Neufchâtel cheese if you prefer.

Topping Ideas

• Sour cream
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Cheddar cheese
• Corn chips
• Cilantro
• Green onions

Recipe Tips

1. Finely dice the onion and celery – This will allow the veggies to cook up soft and tender in the slow cooker without having to sauté them separately on the stovetop first. No one wants crunchy onions and celery in their chili!
   
2. Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness of the chicken – This recipe takes 2 to 3 hours on high, or 3 to 4 hours on low, depending on how thick you cut your chicken.
   
   Pro tip: If you want to speed things up, cut the chicken smaller for a quicker cooking time.
   
3. Don’t stir in the cold cream cheese – You’ll take the chicken out of the pot, then place the block of cream cheese in, and let the cheese sit while you shred the chicken. Do not stir the cream cheese in immediately after adding it! Doing so will give you little lumps and clumps of cheese throughout the sauce, which isn’t very appetizing. Letting it warm up and then stirring it gives you a smooth, creamy sauce for your Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili.
   
4. Make it as spicy (or not spicy) as you like – With 1/2 cup of hot sauce, this Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili has a kick, but it’s not super spicy. That said, you can use 1/4 cup of hot sauce for a milder version, or amp things up by adding even more hot sauce.

Recipe Short Cuts

If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!

• Use thinly cut chicken breasts – If you want your Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili done and ready to eat at the 2 hour mark, choose chicken breasts instead of thighs and cut the chicken smaller so it takes less time to cook.
  
• Take advantage of your grocery store’s prepared foods section – You’ll often find finely diced onions and celery in the refrigerated case in the produce section at the grocery store. Score! Now your prep work is even easier.
  
• Swap in rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken – With the chicken pre-cooked, you simply need to let all the flavors meld together in the crock pot, rather than worrying about whether the raw chicken has cooked through. 

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

• Swap the cream cheese for sour cream – Use 1 cup of sour cream instead of the cream cheese for a Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili that’s a little less rich and a bit more tangy. 
  
• Or try Greek yogurt – Want to put a healthier spin on this recipe? Substitute 1 cup of Greek yogurt for the cream cheese for a protein boost.
  
• Omit the beans – If your family prefers chili without the beans, you can leave out the cannellini beans and double the chicken instead.

Freezer Meal Instructions

Making this Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.

1. Transfer the Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili to an airtight, freezer-safe container or freezer bag.
2. When you’re ready to serve, let the chili thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat until it’s warmed through. (The amount of time needed will depend on the amount of chili you’re heating up.)

Creamy Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili Leftovers

If you have leftovers after making Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili, then it is your lucky day! It saves and reheats well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.

To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:

• in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
• in the freezer up to a month

Leftover Recipes

Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!

• Buffalo Chicken Chili Sandwiches – Think of these as a buffalo wing inspired remake of the classic Sloppy Joe! Pile the chili onto your favorite burger buns, top with blue cheese crumbles or a slice of cheddar, and watch them disappear.
  
• Buffalo Chicken Cornbread Chili Pie– Try this recipe using buffalo chicken chili- SO GOOD!
  
• Buffalo Chicken Chili Fries – Chili fries are a fast food favorite, but you might just love this buffalo chicken version even more! Make a batch of my baked potato wedges, pop them onto a big platter, ladle the warm chili over the top, and garnish with all those leftover toppings.
  
• Buffalo Chicken Chili Sheet Pan Nachos – Oh yes! Repurpose those leftovers to make the most epic batch of nachos ever. Empty a bag of tortilla chips on a sheet pan (AKA a rimmed baking sheet—you want the edges so the chips don’t slide off!), top with your leftover Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili, then sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Bake in a 400ºF oven until the chili is warmed through and the cheese is melted, then add your favorite toppings and dig in.

More Crock Pot Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!

You can check out all of my crock pot recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.

• Easy Crock Pot Chili {Best Thick & Chunky Beef Chili}
• BEST Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken
• Easy Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops