Prepare to dazzle your taste buds with these Slow Cooker Buffalo Wings, a delightful main dish or starter made simply in your slow cooker! Tender to the point of falling apart, irresistibly succulent, and drenched in a zesty buffalo sauce. You only need 5 minutes of prep time!
I absolutely adore making chicken wings at home, and my preferred method is using the slow cooker!
While my honey BBQ wings recipe is utterly scrumptious, it’s impossible to overlook buffalo – a true chicken wing staple.
Throwing together crockpot buffalo chicken wings is a breeze, an ideal choice for a hassle-free dinner or for feeding a crowd at a get-together!
What Makes This Recipe Special?
- Basic components – These are essentials you’ll likely have in your pantry or fridge right now!
- Effortless cooking – Spend just five minutes getting everything ready, and let the slow cooker do the rest.
- Exceptional quality and taste – The extended cooking time allows the chicken to fully absorb the spice blend while becoming incredibly tender.
Insider Tips for Recipe Excellence
This crockpot buffalo chicken wings recipe is as straightforward as it gets! Just a swift five-minute preparation for a meal the entire family will enjoy.
In this part, I’ll share a few of my secret techniques for crafting the ultimate buffalo wings in the crockpot to guarantee you enjoy the tastiest results.
Don’t forget to browse down to the recipe card for complete details.
Ingredients & Alternatives
- Chicken Wings – You can use either fresh or previously frozen wings. Ensure that frozen wings are thawed in the refrigerator before use.
- Hot Sauce – While I prefer Frank’s hot sauce, feel free to use any brand you like.
- Melted Butter – This mixes with the hot sauce to whip up our homemade buffalo sauce.
- Spice Mix – We create our dry rub with ingredients like chili powder, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Consult the recipe card at the post’s end for exhaustive measurements and a detailed ingredient list.
Creative Twists on the Original Recipe
If you’re enamored with this dish and looking for some clever ways to spice it up, these modifications will serve you well.
- BBQ Chicken Wings – Substitute your preferred BBQ sauce for the hot sauce. Whether it’s a store-bought version or a homemade concoction, it’ll be delicious!
- Oven-Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings – If you prefer not to use a crockpot, bake the wings at 425ºF for about 30 minutes, or until they reach a safe internal temperature of 165ºF. Flip them halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Honey Sriracha Wings – Mix honey and Sriracha together for a wing sauce that’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, a tasty alternative to traditional buffalo sauce.
A Step-by-Step Walkthrough of the Recipe
I invite you to take a glance at a few key portions of the process here, but be sure to refer to the recipe card below for detailed steps on how to make these scrumptious slow cooker buffalo wings.
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- Begin by arranging your chicken wing pieces cozily into your crockpot. Whip up a flavorful concoction by blending your chosen spices in a separate container.
2. Dust the wings evenly with your spice mixture, then stir to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated. Set your slow cooker to high and cook for 4-5 hours or select low to let them simmer for 6-7 hours.
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3. Once the chicken has finished cooking, set the oven temperature to 425ºF. Shift the wings into a mixing bowl, and toss them evenly with a combo of zesty hot sauce and rich melted butter.
4. Distribute the wings on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 15-18 minutes. Once they’ve achieved a nice crispness, take them out of the oven, brush on a bit more sauce for extra flavor, then go ahead and relish your sumptuous wings.
Recipe Tips
- Select low heat – Ideally, chicken reaches peak tenderness when slow-cooked on a low setting. This method helps preserve moisture, ensuring the meat remains juicy and delicious. If you’re short on time, cooking on high can be just as effective.
- Seek a drier surface – For optimal sauce adherence, aim for wings that are more on the dry side. As you transfer them from the slow cooker to the bowl, try to drain off any excess moisture.
- Amp up the heat – The included hot sauce gives a fiery touch, but if you’re after an intense kick, consider dusting with a bit of cayenne pepper to raise the spice level!
Recipe Short Cuts
In a hurry but still crave these heavenly wings? Here are some shortcuts to whip them up even quicker!
- Opt for fresh wings – Skip the defrosting and use fresh chicken wings right away.
- Pre-mix your spices – Blend your seasonings in advance and keep them at the ready in your pantry, so they’re set for use at a moment’s notice.
- Prep, then pause – Proceed with the slow-cooking portion of the recipe, but hold off on the baking. Cool the wings and freeze them for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready, then simply bake and toss with sauce before serving.
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Ideas for Accompaniments to Buffalo Chicken Wings
This dish’s bold buffalo taste is a match made in heaven for a variety of classic and contemporary side dishes alike.
Handpick from this list to curate a diverse and satisfying meal. There’s a mix of traditional favorites and lighter options to maintain balance.
Suggested Appetizer Combinations
- BBQ Chicken Naan Pizza – A delightful partner to the wings, this BBQ chicken pizza on naan bread combines the sweetness of barbecue sauce with savory cheese, tender chicken, and onions.
- Bite-sized Pigs in a Blanket – Iconic and scrumptious, these mini pigs in a blanket are an absolute joy to share, offering a simple delight that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Roll-Ups – Balance the zing of the wings with these flavorful sliders stuffed with a rich ranch chicken blend, served on sweet Hawaiian rolls with a buttery glaze.
Recommended Side Dishes
There’s a treasure trove of side dishes that complement chicken wings. Here are some select favorites:
- Classic Green Bean Casserole – Pair the tang of buffalo wings with this smooth casserole, using any variety of green beans, and throw it together in only 5 minutes.
- Luxurious Million Dollar Dip – This opulent dip made with an array of ingredients like cream cheese and bacon is a velvety companion for your wings. Present it with bread slices, crackers, or veggies.
- Divine Deviled Egg Potato Salad – Indulge in a comforting meal that entwines the flavors of buffalo wings with a heap of this heavenly, easy-to-prepare potato salad.
Repurposing Leftover Buffalo Chicken Wings
Lucky you if you’ve got leftover wings! They store and reheat fantastically, offering you a head start on yet another tantalizing meal.
To keep leftovers, divide them into meal-sized servings, seal them in a container, and stash:
- in the fridge for up to 3-4 days
- in the freezer for a maximum of one month
Frequently Asked Questions about the Recipe
How can you ensure buffalo sauce adheres well to wings?
The key is in the dryness of the wings; a moist surface may cause the sauce to slide off. For optimal adhesion, pat the wings as dry as possible before saucing them up.
Is it necessary to add liquid to the slow cooker for chicken dishes?
No liquid is needed in this particular recipe—you simply place the chicken and seasons into the crockpot for a moisture-rich result!
What’s the technique for crisping slow cooker wings?
After they’re tenderized in the slow cooker, give the wings a brief oven bake at high temperature for about 15 minutes to achieve that desired crispiness.
A Collection of Effortless Chicken Recipes
Should you find yourself smitten with this recipe, do take a moment to explore a host of other uncomplicated dishes for those hectic evenings!
Each recipe is designed to offer both ease and enjoyment—discover all my simple chicken recipe secrets or dive into some of the fan favorites listed below.
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Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wings
Immerse yourself in the irresistible allure of these Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Wings, a beloved dish that takes minimal effort to prepare in your slow cooker! Every bite offers a blend of textures from the delicate, fall-off-the-bone tenderness to the succulent moistness, all wrapped in a fiery sauce that tingles your taste buds. And all you need is a mere 5 minutes of preparation!
Instructions
Start by blending together chili powder, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a small dish.
Next, layer the chicken wings in the crockpot and scatter the blended spices over them, tossing to ensure a uniform coat on each piece.
Secure the lid on the crockpot, and let the wings cook on a high setting for 4-5 hours, or switch to a low setting for a longer cook time of 6-7 hours.
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Firstly, set your oven to 425˚F to preheat. Then, take the chicken wings out of the slow cooker and put them in a big bowl.
Hint: For the sauce to adhere well to the wings, make sure they are as dry as possible by shaking off excess moisture before placing them in the bowl.
Blend the spicy sauce with the melted butter until they are fully mixed. Next, pour this mixture over the wings, ensuring they are evenly coated.
Place the wings onto a baking tray and bake on the oven’s upper shelf for 15-18 minutes. When done, baste them with the remaining sauce from the mixing bowl and serve while they’re hot.
Recipe Notes
4 pounds of wings should yield approximately 20-24 wings in total.
Nutrition Information
Serving:
4
wings
,
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Sugar:1g (1%), Vitamin A:1250IU (25%), Vitamin C:37mg (45%), Calcium:38mg (4%), Iron:2mg (11%)
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