Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Drumsticks

Jun 04, 2018Updated Jun 25, 2025

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These Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Drumsticks mix the spicy kick of Buffalo sauce with the cool flavor of ranch, all cooked up easily in the crockpot for a super tasty and hearty meal. Perfect over mashed potatoes along with corn.

If you love chicken drumsticks, also try my Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks, Slow Cooker Bang Bang Chicken, or Chicken in a Hurry.

cooked drumsticks in a slow cooker in buffalo sauce with chives on top.

Buffalo wings are easily one of my top 10 favorite foods, and this recipe nails it with skinless drumsticks. Skipping the skin means I don’t have to worry about browning it, plus it keeps the sauce from getting too greasy. I like to kick up the heat with a little cayenne and throw in some minced garlic for extra flavor. It’s a simple but tasty twist on classic wings!

What you need:

Drumsticks: You will need 4 pounds of chicken drumsticks, which is great because they seem to be the cheapest cut of chicken. I remove the skins, but this is optional. If you want wings, try my slow cooker buffalo wings recipe.
Buffalo Sauce: I use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (original). This is what restaurants use when they make buffalo wings. Frank’s red hot sauce is found near the barbecue sauce at the store.
Butter: Butter is a common ingredients in buffalo wings, it helps soften the cayenne pepper sauce and adds so much flavor.
Other Seasonings: Ranch Dressing mix, garlic and cayenne pepper.

skin taken off drumsticks on a yellow plate.

Taking the skin off the drumsticks takes a bit of work, but once you get the rhythm down it’s no problem.
I start by pulling the skin down, then when it gets too tough to pull, I grab the skin with a paper towel. Some were too tough even with that trick and I had to cut the skin off with a knife.
Place the chicken into the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the garlic, cayenne, pepper, and ranch dressing mix. Pour over the Frank’s Red Hot and the melted butter. Stir.
Place the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.

How to Serve

Serve the drumsticks with a side of ranch for drizzling or dipping.
I serve these Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Drumsticks with mashed potatoes and corn. Try my slow cooker mashed potatoes and slow cooker corn on the cob.

cooked drumsticks in a slow cooker with corn and mashed potatoes on the side.

More buffalo recipes:

drumsticks in buffalo ranch sauce in slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Drumsticks

5 from 15 votes

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 4

Total Time: 4 10

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

Chicken drumsticks cooked in buffalo sauce and ranch seasoning in the slow cooker, these make a great dinner!

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How to Video

Equipment

Slow Cooker – 5 quart or larger (I own and use this one from Crock-Pot)

Ingredients

Instructions

Remove the skin from the drumsticks. I do this by pulling the skin as far down as I can, then when I can pull any further I grab onto the skin with a paper towel and the skin usually comes right off. I did have to cut the skin off of a few.
Place the chicken into the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the garlic, cayenne, pepper, and ranch dressing mix. Pour over the Frank’s Red Hot and the melted butter. Stir.
Place the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.