Healthier Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Recipe
Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken is a delicious combination of your favorite hot sauce, a creamy base, and tender chicken. It is ideal for sandwiches, wraps, and atop salad greens. This healthier version gives you great flavor without the guilt of a high-fat meal.
You’ll also want to try these crockpot favorites, Crock Pot Crack Chicken, made with cream cheese, and White Chicken Chili, which is so easy! Or try any one of these Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes!
Watch The How-To Video
From the first bite of this buffalo chicken, you’ll wonder why you haven’t made it sooner—it’s that delicious! If you love the tangy heat of buffalo or hot sauce flavors, you’ll absolutely savor the bold kick from Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. My family can’t get enough of it!
Sometimes, this is considered a “dip,” but I much prefer it as a sandwich spread that can go on toasted buns, in lettuce wraps, or even on top of a nice blend of spinach and kale.
My Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken recipe is another excellent option for parties and easy meals. So flavorful and easy to prepare! If you need something more kid-friendly, check out this 3-Ingredient Grape Jelly Meatballs recipe.
If you like cream cheese like me, chicken, and buffalo sauce, definitely try Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese!
What Makes This a Healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe?
- Instead of the rich, high-fat cream cheese, cheddar, and sour cream often found in this recipe, we substitute healthier options. Using reduced-fat or fat-free cream cheese makes a huge difference in both fat and calories.
- We also added protein-laden Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to the mixture. This adds a creamy texture without the higher calories but more protein, which is great for keeping you full longer.
How to Make CrockPot Buffalo Chicken
This Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken recipe is great for busy weekends when guests come over to hang out or watch the game. That’s when I usually make it. Grab your ingredients, dump them into the CrockPot, and forget about it until it’s time to enjoy!
- Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, Frank’s Red Hot sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Stir everything together to coat the chicken, then cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker, shred with forks and then return to the slow cooker to stir and mix with the cheese mixture.
- If desired, add blue cheese and let it sit for 15 minutes to let the chicken absorb all of the yummy flavors.
- Turn the slow cooker to the warm setting until ready to serve. This is great as a party dip with chips or veggies, as you can leave on warm for a few hours to stay at a safe temperature while guests help themselves.
How To Serve
- in sandwiches, burger buns, or sliders
- wraps or lettuce wraps
- in potato skins
- as nachos
- atop a salad
- as a dip with carrots, celery, and potato chips (so good for game day!!)
My Tips & Tricks
- The Cheese: The cheese will appear to separate as it cooks, but don’t worry; it will be the right consistency after the chicken is shredded, and then the mixture cools.
- Blue Cheese: Adding the blue cheese is optional. If you’re not a fan, you can leave it out.
- Leftovers: This Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken is wonderful for leftovers. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Just reheat and eat!
- Spice Level: We don’t find this recipe overly spicy, but you can adjust the amount of hot sauce to your liking.
- Hot Sauce: Frank’s Redhot Sauce really is the best for this recipe. You can usually find it at your local grocery store.
- Freezer Meal: If you want to create a freezer meal, add all the ingredients (except cream cheese and Greek yogurt) to a freezer-safe container. Label and date. When ready to use, thaw and place in your crockpot. Add cream cheese and Greek yogurt, and cook per the instructions.
- Slow cooker variations: The exact heat and speed of cooking can vary between different crockpots. Some crockpots, especially newer models, may cook hotter and faster than others, so modify the recipe accordingly.
- Equipment: This 6-quart programmable crockpot is a kitchen workhorse you’ll use year after year.
Recipe FAQs
While not all cheeses are good for melting when reduced-calorie, this is one that we love. Fat-free cream cheese isn’t as good as the low-fat version, but both will blend well and melt down just as you want for this recipe.
Whole grain options like brown rice or quinoa are great or in lettuce wraps.
More Healthier Crockpot Recipes
I have rounded up the best Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes! Or try one of these!
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Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken (healthy version)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 ounces reduced-fat, or fat-free cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- ½ onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ cup Frank’s redhot sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Equipment
Instructions
- Add the chicken to your crockpot. Add softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, hot sauce, garlic, and onion powder. Then, stir to mix and chicken is completely coated.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, until cooked through.
- Remove the chicken breasts, shred with two forks and return the shredded chicken to the crock pot. Stir into the sauce until well mixed.
- Add in the blue cheese (if using) and allow the mixture to sit for about 15 minutes to let the chicken absorb all the juices and flavors. You can either turn off the crock pot or use the warm setting. Enjoy!
Notes
- The cheese will appear to separate as it cooks, but don’t worry. It will be the right consistency after the chicken is shredded and the mixture cools.
- Adding the blue cheese is optional. If you’re not a fan, you can leave it out.
- This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken is wonderful leftover the next day. Just reheat and eat!
- Storing: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Wow I have always loved buffalo chicken but I love it even more because you made a healthier version. Thank you thank you!
We love this recipe because it tastes great, but is a little healthier!
Where has this recipe been all my life?? So easy and SO good!
So easy is right! So good is double right!
I love the healthier buffalo chicken. The recipe is so easy to prepare and leftovers are just amazing.
So true, the leftovers are amazing. The whole family loves this chicken!
This is a great recipe to make and have on hand through the week for different recipes or lunches. Love it!
It’s great for super bowl Sunday as well!