Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

5 from 12 votes

Jan 31, 2024

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This slow cooker buffalo chicken recipe is ah-maze-ing! Chicken drumsticks are marinated in a spicy, tangy sauce for 3 hours before they are cooked low and slow in a crockpot to yield incredibly tender, flavorful results.

Dipping chicken drumstick into bleu cheese dip.

I have a deep appreciation for the city of Buffalo—where would we be without their iconic buffalo sauce?! From the bottom of my heart, I thank them for inspiring some of my favorites, like buffalo mac and cheese, buffalo chicken pasta, my famous stovetop buffalo chicken dip, and, of course, these buffalo chicken drumsticks!

Whether you’re hosting a party or just preparing a fun meal, this buffalo chicken drumstick recipe is for you. Two-bite chicken drumsticks are marinated in an iconically spicy, tangy mixture of buffalo sauce, white wine, garlic, and herbs before being loaded into the crockpot. They are then cooked low and slow (with very little effort on your part) to produce perfectly tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken loaded with game-day flavor. Dip ’em in blue cheese sauce, and you’ll be hooked.

Why You’ll Love This Buffalo Chicken Recipe

Flavor loaded. The heat from the buffalo sauce, the sweet acidity of the wine, and the savory garlic come together in a combo of eye-popping flavor that will have you licking your fingers.
Minimal effort. All you have to do is marinate the chicken in a mixture of a few simple ingredients, throw everything into a crockpot, and cook for a few hours.
Versatile pairing. There are many ways you can use this buffalo chicken! Enjoy it as a party app, shredded in pasta or tacos, or even on nachos.

Labeled ingredients for buffalo chicken.

What You’ll Need

Chicken drumsticks – I like to remove the skins, but that’s up to you. You could also use chicken thighs or wings here if you’d like.
Frank’s Red Hot – Or use your favorite buffalo sauce. Any brand will do.
Dry white wine – I usually go with a pinot grigio or chardonnay. It adds depth and a subtle tang to the marinade.
Vegetable oil – Helps coat the chicken and locks in moisture while baking. Canola or avocado oil works, too.
Garlic – Use fresh garlic for bold flavor, but garlic powder can also be used.
Parsley – You’ll need dried parsley to season the chicken and fresh parsley to garnish at the end.
Green onions – The green onions are used to garnish the finished dish.

How to Make Buffalo Chicken in the Slow Cooker

Here’s a basic overview of how to make this super simple buffalo chicken. You’ll find more thorough instructions in the recipe card below.

Chicken drumsticks in buffalo marinade in a ziplock bag. — Marinade the chicken.

Adding buffalo marinated chicken drumsticks to a crockpot. — Marinade the chicken.

Marinate the chicken. Place the drumsticks in a large resealable plastic bag, add the remaining ingredients, and toss to coat the chicken. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 3 hours.
Cook. Transfer the chicken with the sauce to a slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2 hours.
Serve. Transfer the chicken to a serving plate, brush with sauce, garnish with fresh parsley and green onions, and serve with a side of bleu cheese dip.

Buffalo chicken drumsticks, carrot sticks, and celery arranged on a platter with blue cheese dip.

Recipe Tips And Variations

Pay attention to these pro tips for the best slow cooker buffalo chicken you’ve ever tasted. Don’t be afraid to play with the recipe a bit to tailor it to your taste preferences.

Don’t skimp on marinating. The buffalo marinade needs some time to sink into the chicken in order to impart significant flavor and also to tenderize the meat.
Low and slow. While you can cook this chicken on high for a couple of hours, it really is best when you cook it on the lowest setting of your crockpot for a longer period of time. The meat will be more tender and flavorful.
No sauce left behind. Don’t forget to brush the sauce left in the crockpot over the drumsticks when serving. It really drives the buffalo flavor home.
Use a different cut of chicken. I used drumsticks but you could just as easily use wings or bone in chicken thighs if you’d like. Boneless thighs or breast tenders would also work but you may need to adjust the cooking time.
Add ranch. Consider adding some ranch dip seasoning mix to your marinade for extra flavor.
Make it richer. Add a couple of tablespoons of butter to the crockpot for extra richness.

Holding up a chicken drumstick with a bite taken out of it.

How To Serve

I love enjoying these spicy chicken drumsticks as a party appetizer with ranch and/or blue cheese dip and some carrot sticks and celery to go alongside, but there are so many other things you can do with them as well. Remove the chicken from the bone, shred it, and stir it into my Buffalo chicken rice casserole or Instant Pot mac and cheese. Use it as the filling for baked chicken tacos, burritos, or sandwiches. You could even use shredded buffalo chicken as a pizza or nacho topping (ideally with ranch or blue cheese dressing as the sauce).

Closeup of buffalo chicken drumsticks topped with buffalo sauce and served on a plate with celery and carrots.

Proper Storage

To store. Allow the chicken to cool completely before sealing it in an airtight container. You can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat. Thaw the leftovers in the fridge (if frozen) before transferring them to a baking dish. Bake at 350°F, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until the drumsticks are heated through. Alternatively, microwave a few drumsticks at a time in 30-second intervals until warm.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

If you need more new and exciting ways to put your crockpot to work, here are some of my favorite low and slow recipes.

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5 from 12 votes