Buffalo Chicken Chili
7 Comments May 03, 2024
Updated Jul 15, 2025
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This Buffalo Chicken Chili is a recipe that’s as comforting as it is flavorful. You may never make regular chili again once you try my recipe.
Recipe Highlights
- My recipe for buffalo chicken chili has just the right amount of heat and creaminess
- Great for game day (especially tailgates) or any party where you need to feed a crowd.
- The leftovers are even better the next day – great for lunches all week
Key Ingredients
- Ground Chicken: This will be cooked before adding it to your slow cooker.
- Veggies: Diced yellow onion, green bell pepper, and a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes add heartiness and flavor.
- Beans: Cannellini beans add even more heartiness.
- Cream Cheese: I like to use chive and onion cream cheese to add a hint of onion flavor to the chili.
- Hot Sauce: Frank’s RedHot® Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is my preference but you can use whatever brand you prefer.
- Chicken Broth: Helps create the soup base.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, salt, and pepper are all you need for this recipe.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Brown the ground chicken in a skillet until it loses its pink color.
- Combine all remaining ingredients in the crockpot, give a quick stir, and let it gently slow-cook until rich and creamy.
- Stir until the chili is creamy, then ladle into bowls.
Serving Suggestions
- Toppings: Classic toppings are drizzle of ranch (or sour cream), sliced green onion and cheddar cheese. Blue cheese crumbles are great if you are a fan. Always offer a crunchy topping such as tortilla chips or crackers for contrast.
- The chili is great served with cornbread, on baked potatoes, nachos or in tortillas.
- If you want more buffalo recipes, try my crockpot buffalo wings, buffalo chicken dip, or slow cooker buffalo chicken.
Sarah’s Tips & Variations
Meat Swap: Ground turkey, ground beef or rotisserie chicken are great swaps for the ground chicken.
Cut the heat: You can cut the buffalo sauce in half for a milder buffalo chicken chili – and add lots of sour cream to your serving if it’s still too spicy.
Lower the Carbs: Omit the beans, double the bell pepper, and add 1 cup diced celery to keep the Buffalo flavor while cutting carbs.
Featured Comment
This is my favorite chili recipe ever! Thanks for this, it’s on a regular rotation in our house now. It’s packed with yummy flavor!
– Denise
Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken, or turkey
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup Frank's red hot sauce, (original if possible; it does not say wing sauce on the bottle)
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 15 oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 30 oz. cannellini beans, (two 15-oz cans)
- 7.5 oz. chive and onion cream cheese, (Philadelphia brand)
Topping ideas
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sliced green onions
- saltine crackers
Instructions
- Cook the ground chicken in a non-stick skillet on the stove top.
- Add the ground chicken to the slow cooker, along with the remaining ingredients. Stir, it's ok if the cream cheese doesn't incorporate yet.
- Cook on low for 5 hours.
- Stir, serve and enjoy.
Sarah’s Notes
- Nutritional values do not include toppings.
- Store any leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Slow Cooker Chili Recipes
Dig into Slow Cooker Turkey Chili for lean comfort or whip up creamy White Chicken Chili for a Southwestern spin.
Turn game night into a hit with gooey Chili Cheese Casserole, or add autumn flair with Pumpkin Chili.
For hearty variety, simmer 15 Bean Chili—or keep it classic with a crowd-pleasing Crockpot Chili.
This is my favorite chili recipe ever! Thanks for this, it’s on a regular rotation in our house now. It’s packed with yummy flavor!
Can I cook this on high? How long!
I would do 4 hours on high.
Can you do this over the stove
Yes you can just heat this on the stove top, it doesn’t take long.
Seriously? A cup of hot sauce? Just want to make sure….
It is a lot, you can start with much less and add more later if you want. The cream cheese tones it down.