Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe

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Spice up the ultimate comfort food recipe with our Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Pasta! This dish combines tender chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, and creamy cheese, all cooked to perfection in a slow cooker, making it an easy and delicious meal for any night of the week.

A white bowl of buffalo chicken pasta with a crock pot in the background.

Why our recipe Works

Easy Recipe-Great for Meal Planning: When planning weeknight meals, you want a recipe that is simple to bring together with little effort. This one calls for simple-to-find ingredients you can grab from your pantry, freezer, or local grocery store. Once everything is added to the slow cooker, you have a meal ready to go on the table in as little as 4.5 hours.
Versatile: This dish is perfect for the whole family. It’s mild enough for all family members and easy enough to swap things up. Check out our Variations and Substitutions for ideas and our Recipe FAQs to answer any questions you may have.

Add this pasta dish to your meal plan along with my Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken Pasta and our Chicken Parmesan Penne Pasta.

And if you love all things wings – try our Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip, Chipotle Honey BBQ Chicken Wings, or Air Fryer Honey Garlic Wings!

Ingredient Notes

Labeled ingredients needed to make buffalo chicken in the slow cooker.

Chicken Breasts: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for easy shredding.
Ranch Seasoning: Adds a zesty flavor that complements and balances the buffalo sauce.
Olive Oil or Avocado Oil: Optional for pan-searing the chicken to add extra flavor.
Medium Yellow Onion: Diced for a subtle, sweet flavor base. If you have a large onion on hand, just use half of it.
Garlic: Minced, to add a rich, aromatic depth.
Diced Tomatoes: Use undrained canned tomatoes to add moisture and acidity. This adds a great texture as well as flavor.
Chicken Broth: Provides a savory base and helps cook the pasta.
Penne Pasta: Holds the sauce well and cooks evenly in the slow cooker.
Buffalo Sauce: Be sure to get a buffalo wing sauce and not a hot sauce. I like Franks Buffalo Sauce or Sweet Baby Rays Buffalo sauce for a nice spicy kick.
Cream Cheese: A brick of cream cheese cubed and softened, to create a creamy, tangy sauce.
Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded, for a melty, cheesy finish. You can use any cheese you love.
Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Enhances the flavor and adds a peppery bite.
Green Onion: For a fresh, colorful garnish.

How To Make Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Pasta

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!

Collage image of step by step instructions for crock pot buffalo chicken pasta.

For added flavor, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with ranch seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Sear the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
Transfer to the crockpot. If you prefer to skip step 1, simply place the raw chicken breasts directly into the crockpot and season.
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, can of diced tomatoes (with juice), and chicken broth to the crockpot. Stir to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreds with a fork.
Remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot.
Stir in the penne pasta and buffalo sauce. Cover and cook on high for 30-40 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Stir occasionally to ensure the pasta cooks evenly.

If preferred, you can cook pasta to package al dente instructions in salted boiling water on the stovetop. Then add cooked pasta, buffalo sauce, and cheeses to the chicken mixture and cook for 20 minutes for the flavors to combine and cheeses have melted.
Once the pasta has cooked, add it to softened cream cheese and shredded mozzarella. Stir until the cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot.

A crock pot filled with creamy buffalo chicken pasta.

Tips

Searing the chicken breasts before adding them to the crockpot enhances their flavor, but this step is optional. Want to keep it simple? Just skip this step for a “throw it all in” the crockpot version (it’s still delicious)!
When cooking the pasta in the slow cooker, stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the crockpot.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or buffalo sauce as needed before serving.

Variations and Substitutions

Cream of Celery: Want a hint of that celery flavor we love with buffalo chicken? Add a can of cream of celery soup in step 3 when you add your tomatoes, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker to cook the chicken.
Shredded Cheese: Mozzarella cheese is used in this recipe, but cheddar cheese, a blend of Colby jack cheese, muenster, or your favorite cheeses will work.
Healthier Version: To lighten this up a bit, use reduced-fat light cream cheese (in place of full-fat cream cheese) and use low-fat shredded cheese (made with 2% milk – or 1% if using cheddar cheese). You can also substitute whole-grain pasta.
Adjust Heat level: If all your family members don’t love spicy food, use a mild buffalo sauce to bring down the heat factor. All the heat lovers can add a little extra to their serving.

A serving spoon removing pasta from a crockpot.

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Recipe FAQs

Can I cook frozen chicken in the slow cooker?

No. You will want to defrost the chicken before using it. This ensures it cooks at a safe temperature the entire time while it is cooking and that it is cooked completely.

Can I use pre-cooked chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use pre-cooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken. Shred or dice the cooked chicken and add it to the skillet in step 6 when you combine it with the sauce and pasta.

What can I substitute for ranch seasoning?

If you don’t have ranch seasoning, you can make your own by combining dried parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you can use a pre-made ranch dressing mix.

Can I use a different type of pasta?

While penne works great for this recipe, you can substitute it with any short pasta like rotini, rigatoni, or even macaroni. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time according to the pasta package instructions.

Can I add vegetables to this pasta?

Adding vegetables is a great way to enhance the nutrition and flavor of the dish. Bell peppers, spinach, broccoli, or zucchini would all be excellent additions. Add them in step 4 when sautéing the onions and garlic.

Storage

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezing: Freeze in individual portions in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of chicken broth if the pasta has absorbed too much sauce.

A silver fork picking up a bite of buffalo chicken pasta.

Ways to Serve this CrockPot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

You can always serve it as is or garnish it with diced green onion. We love to sprinkle it with blue cheese crumbles and a drizzle of ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing. You could even add some crumbled bacon and a dollop of sour cream on top for a more loaded chicken and bacon dish. To add some more heat, sprinkle on red pepper flake or additional buffalo wing sauce or hot sauce.

This pasta can be served in the slow cooker and kept on the warm setting or moved to a serving dish or on individual plates. Any way you serve it- it’s a meal your family is sure to love!

More Slow Cooker Recipes

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