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Crockpot Buffalo Chicken and Broccoli, a cozier weeknight slow cooker meal. This comforting spicy chicken and broccoli is tossed in a creamy buffalo white cheddar cheese sauce. Then finished with extra buffalo sauce and chopped green onions, so delish. A simple weeknight dinner everyone really enjoys. Serve over rice with a side of yummy beer bread. It’s especially fun for game night too!
As a kid, the buffalo chicken pizza we’d order from our local pizza spot used to be one of my favorites. Anytime we’d do an at-home pizza night I’d request the buffalo chicken. Most of the time we stuck with cheese and pepperoni, super average. But then there were nights we’d order from our local in-town pizza place in Ohio, Pelicanos. It was my best friend, Stephanie, who first introduced me to this saucy, spicy, cheesy chicken pizza.
I first had it at Stephanie’s, loved it, and then got my family hooked. Anytime that pizza was on the menu, everyone was excited for dinner.
Obviously, this is not a buffalo chicken pizza recipe, if you need that I already have one on the site. But this slow cooker buffalo chicken reminds me so much of that pizza.
The pizza I remember had a creamy chicken base with lots of sauce. It was not thick or heavy, just super saucy and spicy. The cheese on top held everything together.
It was loaded up with green onion, which I think was part of their secret.
At the moment, I’m very into green onions, so I did the same here. I piled green onions onto the chicken and made sure to have lots of sauce. Not only was this the easiest to create, but it’s delicious and saucier than you’d expect.
Details – these are quick
Step 1: layer the chicken
Working in the bowl of your crock pot, layer the onions, boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs, and ranch seasoning. I like to use dried parsley, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Then pour over your favorite hot sauce and add some water.
Add the butter for the sauce, and then if you like it spicy, we do a chopped jalapeño.
Now cover the crockpot and let the chicken cook. I usually cook for 1-2 hours on high or 3 to 4 hours on low.
Step 2: make the chicken creamy
Once the chicken is cooked, mix in a block of cream cheese, a couple of handfuls of cheddar cheese, and lots of fresh broccoli. Aside from the broccoli, this is very similar to how you would make buffalo chicken dip.
Let the chicken and broccoli cook on high for 5 or 10 minutes. Just until the sauce is very creamy and the cheese has melted.
Step 3: extra buffalo sauce, top, and serve
Before serving, you can mix up a homemade buffalo sauce with equal amounts of melted butter and hot sauce, and a good pinch of seasoned salt. This is my go-to sauce. I love to drizzle it over the chicken for extra spiciness. You can also use your own buffalo wing sauce.
This is “extra” and while you don’t need it, it makes every bite of this dish that much yummier. Of course, if you like less heat, adjust as you please!
I love to serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce over rice. Or have fun and make a big plate of nachos for the family with queso on top. That would be so yummy too!
If you decide on rice, beer bread on the side is a must. You can mop up all the sauce with a slice of beer bread. Sounds a little different, but it’s so good.
This would be a great dish to meal prep with keeping leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Leftover chicken would also be great to use in sandwiches or wraps.
Looking for other easy family dinners? Here are a few ideas:
One Pot Buffalo Chicken “Helper”
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
One Pan Autumn Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Easy Southern Style Baked Mac and Cheese
Pumpkin Cheese Stuffed Pasta Bolognese Bake
One Skillet Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Buffalo Chicken and Broccoli be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken and Broccoli
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 527 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/2 cup hot sauce
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
- 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3-4 cups chopped broccoli
- 4 green onions, chopped
- buffalo sauce, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Crockpot
- 1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, layer the onion and then the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with paprika, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the hot sauce and 1/4 cup water. Add the butter and jalapeño. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours.2. Crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Stir in the cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. Add the broccoli. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until the sauce is creamy.3. Serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce topped with green onions. Enjoy!
Stove
- 1. In a large skillet with sides, layer the onion and then the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with paprika, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the hot sauce and 1/4 cup water. Add the butter and jalapeño. Turn the burner to medium. Partially cover the skillet and cook, stirring around the halfway point, 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. 2. Stir in the cream cheese and cheddar cheese, then add the broccoli. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the sauce is creamy.3. Serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce topped with green onions. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on October 9, 2023
Can this recipe be doubled in a large crockpot?
Hi there! I think that should work well Susan! xT
This looks amazing!! Any suggestions for replacing the cream cheese?
I made the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken and Broccoli recipe tonight. It was so delicious! And oohhhh, that sauce! We loved it! Your recipes rock!!
Made this for my, usually very fussy, family last night. They loved it! I left out the jalapenos as I was concerned that they might find it too spicy (I had already used lots of Franks). It’s super saucy, the broccoli cooks up beautifully, and the chicken shreds nicely. A big easy dinner win for my family and definitely one to be repeated!
Thank you! So glad to hear you’re enjoying this recipe! xT
Delicious! Perfect for cool fall nights.
Thank you so much! Hope you have a great fall season! 🙂 xT
Made this tonight. It was very good. I cooked my broccoli separately and shedded the chicken. The only other change is my sauce was a little thin so I thickened it with some cornstarch. Will make it again for sure
Thank you so much! Hope you have a great fall season! 🙂 xT
Do you think you could omit the cream cheese? Too much dairy hurts my stomach.
Hi there! Yes, that should be fine!
Delicious! Just made this tonight. I used over 3lbs of thighs. I didn’t have chipotle Chile powder, so I used one chipotle in adobe sauce. Will make again. Thank you!
Thank you so much! Hope you have a great fall season! 🙂 xT
SO GOOD! One can never have enough buffalo recipes and this one was the best ever! Roasted cauliflower florets and added them in at the end (had it on hand and it needed to be used), but followed everything else as directed. So yummy, thank you!!!
Thank you sooo much for trying out the recipe! Love to hear that it was enjoyed! xT
You think this would work in an instant pot?
Eileen, my instant pot has a slow cook function that has low, intermediate and high temperature options. When I see “crockpot”, I just use my instant pot on the slow cook function and the recipes work perfectly.
Hi. I have this function too and tried it for the first time this week for a pork roast. I picked “low” and the roast was not cooked after 8 hours! Do you think the “normal” level is the correct level for slow cooking on low?
As for the pork roast, thank god for the instapot. Just did a quick instapot cook on the roast and it was good.
Hi Eileen! I haven’t ever tried this in an instant pot! Sorry! xT
It does! I used the slow cooker function on my Instant Pot to make this. It was a real triumph.
Oh yay! Another chicken and rice dish! My favorite
Made this tonight for dinner. Both my husband and son said this recipe is definitely a keeper!
Thank you so so much Liz! xT
so excited to try this tonight! also, thank you for providing me a new pizza place to try! it’s not too far from me! 🙂
Hope you enjoy this recipe Carly! xT
Can regular chili powder be substituted for the chipotle chili powder?
Of course you can. Chipotle powder is hot and smoky but if you want less heat use a mild chili powder and maybe some smoked paprika to give it the smoky taste with no heat.
Yes, that should work just fine! xT
So I’m confused by the Broccoli I do not see it in any pictures. Do you serve as a side dish?
It gets mixed in for the last 15 minutes. It’s probably under the sauce in the photo
Please provide the nutritional information on this dish. Thank you
She did on the top of the recipe