This Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Recipe is exceptionally versatile and insanely easy to make. In fact, you only need three ingredients to make it. Plus, this rich, buttery, and spicy buffalo chicken recipe goes incredibly well in healthy low carb lettuce wraps, keto tacos, dips, and more!
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The Best Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Recipe
Want to know the best part about this Buffalo Chicken?
The whole recipe takes just 20 minutes to make in the Instant Pot!
And this Buffalo Chicken has zero carbs too. So, all things considered, it's fairly healthy.
Anyways, most of you know that I'm a proud Buffalo native.
But what a lot of you might not know is that my dad is also the owner of the oldest family-owned and operated chicken wing restaurant in America: Duff's Famous Wings!
So, I guess you could say; I know a thing or two when it comes to Buffalo chicken.
Anyways, this recipe for low carb Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken has everything you want in a perfect buffalo chicken. It's buttery, spicy, and oh so tender!
So let's jump into what you'll need to make.
Buffalo Chicken Ingredients
As I've said, this recipe only takes three ingredients to make:
Pretty simple stuff, right?!
That said, to get the most out of this addicting low carb keto friendly recipe, you'll want to use the RIGHT ingredients.
Choosing the right hot sauce
Of course, you can use any hot sauce you want for this recipe. However, if you're trying to make the most authentic Buffalo Chicken possible, you'll want to use a classic Buffalo sauce.
My recommendations are Frank's Red Hot Sauce and – if you're in the mood for something a little less spicy – Duff's Hot Sauce is pretty excellent too.
Adding Butter To The Sauce
Making an authentic Buffalo sauce also requires using butter. Adding butter to the sauce cuts a little bit of the heat, and provides a richer, deeper flavor.
Having said that, Kerrygold Butter is what I recommend going with for your Buffalo sauce.
It has a higher milk fat content than "normal" butter. All that means is that Kerrygold Butter has less water in it. And less water means more flavor!
So, to make the best Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken, use Kerrygold Butter.
Chicken Options
Now, the recipe calls for chicken breasts, but you can use chicken thighs too. Dark meat, like chicken thighs, is a lot harder to overcook. So using them can make this recipe totally fool proof.
Also, you can use frozen chicken breasts or thighs to make the chicken too. However, if you use using frozen chicken for the recipe, it will need a few extra minutes of cook-time in the Instant Pot.
How to Make Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
Like I've said, this low carb buffalo chicken recipe is crazy simple but also insanely delicious.
So to make it, the first thing you'll want to do is set your Instant Pot to sauté mode.
Then, you'll want to add the butter and hot sauce. Once those are added to the Instant Pot, you'll want to use a spatula to work them into each other as they melt.
Now, once the butter and hot sauce have combined well, you'll want to remove half of the sauce – we're going to save that for later.
At this point, you can add the chicken breasts or thighs in one even layer. And make sure to turn the meat around a little bit to get everything coated in that buttery hot sauce mixture for maximum flavor impact!
Now, set the Instant Pot to high pressure and pressure cook for 12 minutes – you'll want to add an extra 3-5 minutes if you're using frozen chicken breasts – then let the pressure naturally release for about 5 minutes.
The natural pressure release keeps the cooking the chicken gradually, so don't try to cut time by choosing quick release.
Now, once the pressure has been released from the pot, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and use two forks to shred them. Like I mentioned in my Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe, you can also use a hand mixer or stand mixer to do this.
Finally, switch the Instant Pot to sauté mode and stir the sauce for about 3-5 minutes until it gets thick. Once it thickens up, add the shredded chicken back in along with the reserved sauce from earlier.
And that's it.
You're done!
Oh, by the way, it makes about five servings of buffalo chicken so it's perfect for keto meal prep or a super quick family dinner!
Also, each serving is just 0 net carbs too, so you get to indulge in all of that spicy, bold & buttery flavor without any guilt. Yep, it's a pretty healthy buffalo chicken recipe too.
Going The Extra Mile Is Worth It
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Joe, why can't we just dump all the ingredients into the Instant Pot and be done with it?"
Well, the beauty of this super simple recipe is how we can get a lot of depth out of just three ingredients by reintroducing the rest of the sauce at the end.
You get the intense bold flavor from the cooked sauce that's blended with the flavors from the chicken. And you also get that rich buttery flavor from the reserved sauce too.
Seriously, taking those couple extra steps is a game changer so try not to skip out on them.
Buffalo Chicken on the Stovetop or In The Crockpot
If you don't have an Instant Pot, this recipe is totally doable on the stovetop and the Crockpot too!
For the Crockpot or other slow cookers, sauté the sauce in another pot if you don't have a sauté option. Then, you can cook the chicken for 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.
For the stovetop, use a large pot with a lid. The cooking time will be about 45 minutes.
Oh, and if you have a stovetop pressure cooker, you can follow this recipe exactly as stated.
Recipes to Eat with Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
There's seriously so much you can do with this shredded buffalo chicken.
As I've said, it works great in tacos or a wrap – use my keto tortillas recipe and add some mozzarella cheese or blue cheese crumbles for the best buffalo chicken tacos.
You can also make it into a healthy, pulled buffalo chicken sandwich. You can use the time waiting for the chicken to cook to make an insanely delicious & quick 2 minute keto bread.
Or you can eat it with this cauliflower rice for a low carb high protein meal.
And, of course, this is the perfect protein for a healthy keto lettuce wrap.
Feel free to experiment and see what flavor combinations work best for you!
How To Store Shredded Buffalo Chicken
This Instant Pot Buffalo chicken recipe will make about 5 servings. So it's the perfect meal prep recipe to have some delicious shredded chicken with a Buffalo flavor for the week.
You can store the shredded chicken in an airtight container or separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
And it's delicious leftover, so you're in for some great meals.
Wrapping It Up
That is how to make Instant Pot Buffalo chicken! This shredded chicken with buffalo wings sauce is so juicy, and flavorful, and is one of my favorite healthy recipes to make when I'm in a pinch.
It's delicious on it's own and goes great with literally anything you want!
So I hope you like this shredded chicken with a delicious Buffalo flavor as much as I do.
If you make it, don't forget to tell me about it in the comments below!
More Chicken Recipes
If you like healthy chicken recipes, I have a ton on the blog that I think you'll love!
Give one of these a try next:
- Flavorful chicken thighs
- Chicken bacon ranch casserole
- Instant Pot shredded chicken
- Instant Pot BBQ chicken
- Air fryer chicken breast
- Buffalo chicken soup
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
This Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Recipe is exceptionally versatile and insanely easy to make. In fact, you only need three ingredients to make it. Plus, this rich, buttery, and spicy buffalo chicken recipe goes incredibly well in healthy low carb lettuce wraps, keto tacos, dips, and more! Not to mention, you can make it in more than just the Instant Pot. This recipe works great in your crock pot slow cooker, or just in a big pot on your stove top.
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 12 Minutes
- Total Time: 17 Minutes
- Yield: 5 Servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Keto Low Carb
Ingredients
2 Lbs. (907g) Chicken Breasts or Chicken Thighs, Trimmed
1 Cup (240g) Hot Sauce
¼ Cup (57g) Unsalted Butter
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode.
- Add the butter and hot sauce to the bottom of your Instant Pot and use a spatula to work the butter into the hot sauce.
- Once the butter has combined into the sauce, remove half of the sauce, and set aside for later.
- Now add the chicken breasts - or thighs - to the Instant Pot In a single layer, and coat the chicken with the sauce that’s in the pot.
- Cook for 12 minutes on high pressure, then let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes.
- Remove chicken to the cutting board and use two forks to shred it.
- Stir the sauce on sauté mode for about 3-5 minutes to thicken it.
- Add the chicken back along with the rest of hot sauce and stir to coat.
Notes
If cooking frozen chicken breasts you’ll need to add 3-5 minutes of cook-time depending on the size of your breasts. If they are below 2.5” thick opt for 3 minutes, and if they’re above, 5 minutes.
Other Cooking Options:
For the Crockpot or other slow cookers, sauté the sauce in another pot if you don't have a sauté option. Then, you can cook the chicken for 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.
For the stovetop, use a large pot with a lid. The cooking time will be about 45 minutes.
Oh, and if you have a stovetop pressure cooker, you can follow this recipe exactly as stated.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ½ a Cup
- Calories: 310
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 0
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 42
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