• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Lynn's Way of Life
  • CCPA Notice
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Meet Lynn
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes
  • Seasonal Recipes for the Whole Family
  • Spring Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Supplemental Privacy Policy for Nevada Residents
  • Web Stories
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring
  • Recipes
  • Meet Lynn
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Spring
  • Recipes
  • Meet Lynn
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes » Spicy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

Spicy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

Published: May 9, 2022 by Lynn Polito · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Sharing is caring!

65 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe

With only 3 ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, this Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken is so flavorful and so versatile! Pile it high on a crusty roll, serve it on pizza, or add it to a taco for a spicy and simple weeknight dinner!

A bowl of buffalo chicken is in front of an Instant Pot and hot sauce.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, however this is at no cost to you. Read my affiliate links disclosure policy here.

Like most Instant Pot chicken recipes, this is a dump and go recipe. Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot, set it and forget it! Come back to it when you are ready to shred and serve!

I'm always looking for new ways to serve chicken. This easy recipe is a great change up to Taco Tuesday! Serve buffalo chicken tacos instead of traditional chicken tacos. This is a simple recipe with so much flavor!

And make sure you check out these other Instant Pot chicken recipes!

  • Instant Pot Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip
  • Chicken Fajitas in the Instant Pot
  • Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
  • Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
  • Chicken Stew- In the Instant Pot!
Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe Is Great!
  • Ingredients For Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
  • Equipment You'll Need
  • How To Make Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
  • How To Serve Shredded Buffalo Chicken
  • Tips and Tricks
  • How To Make Buffalo Chicken in the Slow Cooker
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
  • Other Recipes To Try!
  • 📖 Recipe

Why This Recipe Is Great!

  • It's a dump and go recipe! No need to chop or use any fancy equipment. You'll add the ingredients to the Instant Pot and let the Instant Pot do it's thing!
  • It's versatile! Add this buffalo chicken to pizza, tacos, sandwiches, or nachos!
  • It's great for meal prep! Make a big batch of this shredded buffalo chicken recipe and use it throughout the week on salads or over brown rice! When the flavors combine, they are even better the next day!

Ingredients For Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

Ingredients for the Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breast. Depending on the size of the chicken in your grocery store, you'll need two breasts or one pound.
  • Butter. Butter and hot sauce create a homemade buffalo sauce in this recipe.
  • Hot sauce. Frank's Red Hot is classic in Buffalo style chicken. Use your favorite hot sauce.

Equipment You'll Need

  • Instant Pot. I have a 6-quart Instant Pot that works well for this recipe.
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer, to shred the chicken.

How To Make Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

Set the Instant Pot to "saute". Add the butter to the Instant Pot and allow it to melt. Once the butter is melted, hit cancel on "saute" mode and place chicken breasts in the bottom of the pot. Top the chicken with the hot sauce.

The butter is melting in the Instant Pot
Melt the butter.
The chicken and buffalo sauce are added to the Instant Pot
Add the chicken and buffalo sauce to the Instant Pot.

Close the Instant Pot lid and set the cooking time to 22 minutes on high pressure. Make sure the knob is set to the sealing position on the lid of the Instant Pot.

After the cooking is complete, carefully quick release the remaining pressure.

Open the Instant Pot and shred the chicken to your liking. Place the shredded chicken back in the sauce and serve immediately.

The chicken is being shredded in a stand mixer.
Shred the chicken.
The chicken is ready to be served.
Add the chicken back into the Instant Pot.
Tongs are lifting chicken out of the Instant Pot.
Serve!

Pro Tip! When releasing the pressure, be careful to avoid any spray that may come out of the steam release knob on top of the lid. If that happens, close the knob and slowly continue to release the pressure.

How To Serve Shredded Buffalo Chicken

  • Add ranch! Buffalo sauce and ranch go perfectly together! Add one pack of ranch seasoning to the Instant Pot with the chicken.
  • Serve them in lettuce wraps! For a low carb option, serve shredded buffalo chicken on a lettuce wrap topped with blue cheese dressing or blue cheese crumbles!
  • Add buffalo chicken to pizza! I love buffalo chicken pizza and this is so easy to add to pizza!
  • Make them sliders! To make Instant Pot buffalo chicken sliders, simply add the shredded chicken to your favorite slider buns.
  • Make Loaded Buffalo Sweet Potatoes! For a healthy, loaded buffalo sweet potato, pile the chicken high on a cooked sweet potato and add blue cheese crumbles and green onions.
A close up of the bowl.

Tips and Tricks

  • If you have a favorite buffalo wing sauce, feel free to use that. Simply add the sauce and the chicken to the Instant Pot. You can skip the butter because there is butter already in most buffalo sauces.
  • I have found the easiest way to shred the cooked chicken is to transfer the chicken into a stand mixer and turn the mixer on medium speed. In a matter of minutes, you will have perfectly shredded chicken!
  • If you don't have a stand mixer, use a hand mixer! Unplug the Instant Pot and use a hand mixer to shred the chicken.
  • The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure before it begins cooking.

How To Make Buffalo Chicken in the Slow Cooker

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker. Mix to the hot sauce fully coats the chicken.

Place the lid of the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Shred the chicken once it is fully cooked and place the chicken back in the sauce. Serve immediately.

A bowl of chicken is in front of the Instant Pot.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

Can I use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes! Use one pound of thighs instead of chicken breasts. The time would remain the same for both types of chicken.

What should I do with leftovers?

Place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place the chicken on a microwave save plate and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

Can I freeze Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken?

Yes! This chicken is very freezer friendly. Allow the chicken to cool and then place it in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag. Freeze the chicken for up to 3 months. To defrost, place the container in the refrigerator until it is defrosted and then reheat as you would like.

Can I use frozen chicken breasts?

Yes! You do not have to defrost the chicken breasts for this recipe. If you are using frozen chicken breasts, increase the cook time to 26 minutes instead of 22 minutes.

Other Recipes To Try!

Did you love this Spicy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Recipe? If you did, don't forget to tag me on social media on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!

  • The Instant Pot Sausage and Potatoes are on a plate on a cutting board.
    Instant Pot Italian Sausage and Potatoes
  • A plate of Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls is in front of the Instant Pot.
    Soft Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls
  • A plate of Instant Pot German Potato Salad is on a cutting board.
    Instant Pot German Potato Salad
  • The pork tenderloin is on a plate covered in gravy in front of the Instant Pot.
    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (From Frozen!)

📖 Recipe

A bowl of buffalo chicken is in front of an Instant Pot and hot sauce.

Spicy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

With only 3 ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, this Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken is so flavorful and so versatile! Pile it high on a crusty roll, serve it on pizza, or add it to a taco for a spicy and simple weeknight dinner!
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 158kcal
Author: Lynn Polito

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoon Butter
  • 1 cup Hot Sauce Frank's is classic
  • 1 lb Chicken Breast Boneless, Skinless

Instructions

  • Set the Instant Pot to "saute". Add the butter to the Instant Pot and allow it to melt.
  • Once the butter is melted, hit cancel on "saute" mode and place chicken breasts in the bottom of the pot.
  • Top the chicken with the hot sauce.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and set the cooking time to 22 minutes on high pressure. Make sure the knob is set to the sealing position on the lid of the Instant Pot.
  • After the cooking is complete, carefully quick release the remaining pressure.
  • Open the Instant Pot and shred the chicken to your liking. Place the shredded chicken back in the sauce and serve immediately.

Notes

  • If you have a favorite buffalo wing sauce, feel free to use that. Simply add the sauce and the chicken to the Instant Pot. You can skip the butter because there is butter already in most buffalo sauces.
  • I have found the easiest way to shred the cooked chicken is to transfer the chicken into a stand mixer and turn the mixer on medium speed. In a matter of minutes, you will have perfectly shredded chicken!
  • If you don't have a stand mixer, use a hand mixer! Unplug the Instant Pot and use a hand mixer to shred the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 1205mg | Potassium: 340mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 321IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LynnsWayofLife or tag #lynnswayoflife!
« Sweet Potato Casserole With Walnuts
Easy Instant Pot Pizza Dough »

Sharing is caring!

65 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Subscribe

for your weekly recipe fix.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Annie

    January 11, 2023 at 3:32 pm

    4 stars
    This was a delicious alternative to less spicy instant pot meals. One thing that could be improved was that the "sauce" was too thin. Maybe next time I will cook it down a bit after the instant pot is done with pressure cooking.

    Reply
    • lynnswayoflife

      January 11, 2023 at 7:22 pm

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Cooking down the sauce would be a great idea too!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hey there! I'm Lynn and I'm based just outside of Boston. I'm a wife and mom of two with a passion for cooking and creating homemade food for my family.

Whether it's creating new recipes, or exploring tried and true classics, I am constantly trying to show that homemade doesn't have to be hard

More about me →

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Pinterest

People are Loving!

  • A piece of the stack of pancakes with self-rising flour is on a fork.
    Fluffy Pancakes {With Self-Rising Flour!}
  • The banana bread with self rising flour is cut into slices and is on a cutting board.
    Banana Bread Recipe with Self-Rising Flour
  • An overhead shot of the Instant Pot Shrimp Scamp in a bowl
    Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi Recipe
  • A fork and knife are cutting into the waffle.
    Waffles With Self Rising Flour
  • The sourdough pretzel bites are on a tray with mustard
    Sourdough Pretzel Bites
  • An overhead shot of the muffins in a muffin tin.
    Easy Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Spring Favs!

  • A lemon cheesecake bar is on a glass plate with lemons in the background
    Easy Lemon Cheesecake Bars Recipe
  • A portion of the french toast blueberry casserole is on a fluted plate.
    Blueberry French Toast Casserole
  • An overhead shot of the blueberry muffins with sour cream.
    Blueberry Lemon Muffins with Sour Cream
  • Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns are best served with tea or coffee
    Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns
  • A piece of the instant pot carrot cake is cut out
    Instant Pot Carrot Cake (with Cream Cheese Frosting)
  • A close up of one of the Instant Pot Creme Brulee pots.
    Instant Pot Crème Brulee

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • What is Lynn's Way of Life

Let's Connect!

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Contact

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Cookie Policy

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 Lynn's Way of Life