Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe + Video
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Crock Pot Buffalo Wings make the best appetizer, and you only need 4 ingredients! Claim the title of best wings at any party with this easy recipe.This is the perfect game day snack and a simple way to whip up an easy appetizer.
This recipe for slow cooker buffalo wings couldn’t be any simpler to achieve that sticky, delicious coating that you love.
Dump everything in the crockpot, stir, and walk away!
The lack of time needed to make this great appetizer is one of my top reasons that I come back to it time and time again.
It’s become my best friend recipe when I want something fast and simple to make for my own personal consumption or to share with friends during football season.
Crock Pot Buffalo Wings
To get the sauce extra caramelized, pop your slow cooker buffalo wings on a baking sheet and broil them for a few minutes before serving.
Don’t forget the sauce from the pot — that doubles as the glaze!
Craving more of that spicy buffalo flavor? You’ve got to try these chicken meatballs. They are perfect for game day AND dinner.
I also have an incredibly cheesy and addictive dip recipe that will be the highlight of any party. Or, spice up some of the classics like mac and cheese or pasta salad!
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wings Tips and Tricks
- Low heat is best. Unless you’re in a hurry, opt for the longer cooking time to get the best crock pot hot wings.
Cooking on High can sometimes cause them to become dry instead of tender and juicy. - Want an extra thick sauce? Transfer the liquid from the slow cooker to a pot on the stove and boil until it reduces into a glaze.
Or, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir it in with the crock pot buffalo wings when they are done.
Set it to High and cook for an additional 30 minutes. - Add some dip! My homemade ranch dressing or blue cheese dip is the perfect companion to this tangy crock pot buffalo chicken wings appetizer.
You can also add your favorite hot sauce to the top of this crockpot buffalo wings once they’re cooked to give them a little bit more heat.
Don’t forget that you can also add extra buffalo sauce, your favorite BBQ sauce, or even some teriyaki sauce in a large bowl or dipping bowl. Scatter a few sliced green onions on top for a quick burst of flavor.
Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings FAQs
Sure! You will prepare the crock pot hot wings recipe the same as directed but reduce the cooking time by half. This works with fresh drumettes or ones thawed from frozen.
I recommend slicing into one of the drumettes to ensure that it’s done first. If not, continue cooking for another 30 minutes to an hour.
Crockpot chicken wings aren’t going to have the same texture as deep frying them will. This is because of how you cook chicken wings in the slow cooker, covering them in the sauces.
If you wanted to cook them a second time after the crockpot, you could always grab a few, spread them out onto a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil, and pop them under the broiler for a VERY short time. A quick broil is one of the best ways to add a little crunchy texture to the spicy buffalo wings.
Be sure that you have them in a single layer when doing this method.
It’s always a good idea to check the internal temperature of the cooked chicken. Using a meat thermometer and inserting it into the thickest part of the chicken meat, away from the bone, will yield the most accurate reading.
As long as the temperature is 165 degrees, the chicken is cooked and ready to eat.
Leftover crockpot buffalo chicken wings can be stored in the refrigerator for 3–4 days in a sealed container. Be sure to let the chicken cool before storing. Reheat in the microwave, oven, or air fryer until warmed through.
Yes, but only if you boil it down on the stove first. Because it was cooked with raw chicken, the extra step of boiling helps eliminate any harmful bacteria that may occur.
Once reduced, allow it to cool before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer. We love it on all kinds of poultry!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Crockpot Game Day Recipes
Crock Pot Buffalo Wings + Video
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken wings, fresh or frozen (See Notes)
- 1 cup buffalo wing sauce, I use Franks
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- To a 5 quart slow cooker, add buffalo sauce, butter and honey. Stir to combine. Add chicken wings. Stir until wings are well coated. Cook on low 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.
- Remove wings from slow cooker and place on a baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle sauce from the slow cooker over wings.
- Set the oven to broil. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce starts to caramelize. Remove from oven, serve, and enjoy.
Video
Donna’s Notes
- If you like a thick sauce coating (as seen in photos), transfer the sauce to a saucepan and boil it until it cooks down, approximately 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then brush or drizzle the sauce over the wings. Layer the sauce on the wings by coating the wings with sauce, broil for 1 minute, remove from the oven. Coat with sauce, broil 1 minute. Add more sauce and broil again, until sauce is caramelized.
- Instead of cooking the sauce down and broiling it you can combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a resealable container and shake it really well. Pour slurry into crockpot then cook an additional 30 minutes on high.
- If using fresh wings, cook time is 3-4 hours on low or 1-2 hours on high.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published February 2014. Updated and republished January 2024
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Do you have to put them in the oven ?
do you have to broil them??? TY
I think you have an awesome site here!
I love wings!
I use Cajun Chef Hot Sauce & butter in equal parts for Buffalo sauce. Cook plain wings on the charcoal BBQ till done, coat twice (coat, cook a little, coat, cook a little) and done. Add real blue cheese dressing for the wings and a side salad (w/different dressing) to balance wing intensity and boom great ezy stuff!
Not my intent to hijack just sharing experience.
hi. You don't mention about all the fat and grease that will render out of the wings?
I made these yesterday and they were excellent! I used my InstantPot slow cooker. I had 6 lbs. of frozen wings so I doubled the sauce and cooked them on high for 5 hours. I removed the wings and transferred the sauce to a saucepan and boiled it down for about 12-15 minutes and used that to coat the wings for broiling. I used regular salted butter and since I only had a 12 oz. bottle of Frank's Buffalo sauce, I used Frank's regular hot sauce to make up the difference. I am really glad I doubled the sauce for that amount of wings. They were zippy and just right. I will be making these again!
We are so happy you enjoyed them!!! Sounds like you made them perfect!
Could you use boneless chicken breast cut into chunks or chicken tenderloins?
Just made sirachi honey wings fantastic recipe
Oh my goodness! These were delicious! I went by the recipe well almost, to thaw my "frozen" wings, i put them in the oven first (totally unnecessary) the reducing at the end would have taken all the water (from the ice glazing)out. And yes sometimes i stumble over my own feet!
Anyway, the reducing of the sauce and broiling made it! Thank you
I love being able to throw these in the crockpot while I’m cleaning and have a nice hot meal waiting for me when I’m done. Definitely on a weekly rotation.
these look and sound amazing for my wing eating husband but the picture looks more like b.b q. wings are they supposed to turn darker after cooking? and do you also have a yummy b.b.q. wing recipe? thanks so much for sharing. 😊
what can i use instead of buffalo sauce, i cant eat anything spicy
Hi Ang!
Any sauce of your choice! I hope this helps.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn