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This buffalo chicken sandwich will leave your hands messy and your stomach happy. Chicken is slow-cooked with ranch and buffalo sauce until tender and juicy, then topped with homemade coleslaw between two buns.

Spicy, saucy, and packed with flavor — this Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwich is about to become a new favorite! The slow cooker does all the work, turning simple ingredients into tender, juicy chicken that’s perfect for piling onto a soft bun. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just want an easy weeknight dinner with a little kick, this sandwich brings the heat (and the deliciousness) with hardly any effort.
The coleslaw on top balances the spicy chicken perfectly. You can even top it with blue cheese crumbles or ranch dressing.
Why You’ll Love This Spicy Chicken Sandwich
This is one of my favorite sandwiches ever … and that’s saying a lot! Here’s why I know you’ll love it too.
- So easy. The best part about this chicken recipe might be that it’s made in a slow cooker. That takes so much of the work out of it.
- Perfectly cooked. Because the chicken is cooked in a slow cooker, the chicken is tender and juicy every single time. You don’t need to spend any time worrying about whether it’s undercooked or overcooked!
- Balanced flavors. Buffalo and ranch is a crave-worthy combination. The coleslaw is creamy, tangy, and refreshing, which balances out the spicy flavor of the chicken.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
For the Chicken:
- Chicken breasts – Make sure to use boneless and skinless breasts.
- Ranch dressing mix
- Buffalo sauce – You can use whatever your favorite brand is.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter for this recipe.
For the Coleslaw:
- Coleslaw mix – If you don’t have a bag of coleslaw mix, you can just use shredded cabbage and carrots.
- Ranch dressing
- Mayonnaise
For Serving:
- Buns
- Blue cheese crumbles – Blue cheese is optional.
- Ranch dressing – Ranch is also optional.
How to Make This Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Making this juicy chicken sandwich couldn’t be easier. Here’s how to do it.
- Add the ingredients. Put the chicken in a slow cooker. Sprinkle ranch dressing on top, then pour in some buffalo sauce. Add butter on top.
- Cook. Put the lid on the slow cooker and turn it on low. Cook for 3-4 hours.
- Shred. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, and use a pair of forks to shred it.
- Finish seasoning. Put the chicken back in the crockpot and add the rest of the buffalo sauce. Stir to combine.
- Mix the coleslaw dressing. Put the ranch dressing and mayonnaise in a bowl, and stir to combine.
- Make the coleslaw. Toss the coleslaw mix with the dressing.
- Assemble. Put chicken on each bun, top with coleslaw, and garnish with optional blue cheese and ranch. Then enjoy!
Tips, Tricks, and Variations
Here are a few different ways that you can make this recipe your own, or simply make it the best!
- Make your own ranch. I’m a big believer in homemade items. I think the more homemade foods you use in a recipe, the better it will be. So when I make this chicken I love making my own ranch dressing mix instead of using the store-bought version. You’ll definitely notice the quality. One packet of ranch mix equals 2 tablespoons of homemade ranch mix.
- Adjust the heat. I love the spice level in these chicken sandwiches, but everybody has a different spice tolerance. If you want to make the juicy chicken extra spicy, use a spicier brand of buffalo sauce, or add a bunch of black pepper. You can also add pepperoncini peppers to this slow cooker. If this recipe sounds too spicy, you can dilute the buffalo sauce with water or vinegar.
- Use an Instant Pot. You can make this recipe in the Instant Pot if you prefer. All you have to do is add ⅓ cup of water to the recipe, and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Everything else is the same.
What to Serve it With
I like to keep it simple with this recipe. In my opinion, sandwiches are best served with some classic sides, so that’s what I recommend. Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve with this chicken sandwich.
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- Roasted Asparagus
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Tomato Mozzarella Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad
How to Store Leftovers
If you want to save leftovers, store the chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days, and the coleslaw in an airtight container for up to a week. Then, when you’re ready for a buffalo chicken sandwich, assemble the recipe.
Freezing – You don’t want to freeze them as sandwiches, because the bread will get very soggy. But the chicken can both be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Using a slow cooker for chicken almost feels like cheating. It’s so easy to get perfectly cooked chicken that’s juicy, tender, and packed with flavor every single time. Here are some more of my favorite slow cooker chicken recipes for you to try.
- Crockpot Ranch Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Fiesta Chicken
- Chicken and Gravy
Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix, 2 tablespoons if using homemade
- 1 cup buffalo sauce, divided
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups coleslaw mix
- 2 tablespoons prepared ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 6 buns
- Blue cheese crumbles, optional
- Ranch dressing, optional
Instructions
- Put the chicken in the base of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix on top, then pour in 3/4 cup of the buffalo sauce. Add pieces of butter on top.2 pounds boneless, 1 packet ranch dressing mix, 1 cup buffalo sauce, 2 tablespoons butter
- Put the lid on and cook on slow for 3-4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it with 2 forks. Return the meat to the slow cooker, and add the remaining 1/4 cup of buffalo sauce. Stir to combine.
- Mix together the ranch dressing and mayonnaise until smooth. Toss with the coleslaw mix.2 cups coleslaw mix, 2 tablespoons prepared ranch dressing, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- To serve, top each bun with the shredded buffalo chicken, the coleslaw, and optional blue cheese or ranch dressing.6 buns, Blue cheese crumbles, Ranch dressing
Notes
- If using an Instant Pot, add 1/3 cup of water and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- You can make your own ranch dressing mix using my ranch mix recipe.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days, and coleslaw for 1 week.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is such a great way to enjoy Buffalo chicken. You can’t ever go wrong with a super stuffed sandwich like this! Yummo!
This is the perfect sandwich for my lunch! It’s so rich and delicious!