Buffalo chicken lovers will line up for this zesty chili. This Buffalo Chicken Chili has two types of beans, chicken, hot sauce, and even blue cheese.  It’s a meal that is sure to be a new favorite.

If you’re looking for more delicious chili recipes, check out my Creamy Taco Chili, Chicken Chili Bean Chowder, or my White Bean Chicken Chili. These recipes are even better the next day!

two bowls of buffalo chicken chili

Why We Love Buffalo Chicken Chili

Buffalo Hot Wings are always a favorite with my family.  Big surprise right?  I mean I’m pretty sure we aren’t the only ones.

Buffalo Chicken Chili brings all the flavors of our favorite appetizer to the table without missing a beat!  This zesty chili starts out with a base of onions, carrots, and celery, just like what is often served alongside buffalo wings. From there, the chili is seasoned with warm spices and of course, plenty of your favorite buffalo sauce, while the addition of cream cheese adds an unexpected creaminess.

The chili is bulked up with two varieties of beans, Great Northern Beans and Kidney Beans, as well as tomatoes and of course chicken.  – I like to use a rotisserie chicken I picked up at the deli to make it super easy.  Serve the chili piping hot topped with crumbled blue cheese for a true buffalo chicken wings experience.

buffalo chicken chili in a white bowl and celery in background
    photo collage of how to make buffalo chicken chili

    Topping Suggestions and Sides To Serve With Chili

    Suggested Toppings:

    • crumbled blue cheese
    • green onions
    • cilantro
    • shredded cheddar cheese, or Colby jack
    • sliced  jalapenos
    • sour cream
    • tortilla chips

    What To Serve With Chili:

    spoonful of buffalo chicken chili

    Recipe FAQs

    Is buffalo chicken chili spicy?

    Yes, this buffalo chili is spicy! You can use mild chili powder and hot sauce if you prefer less spice. If you are worried about the chili being too spicy, start with just 1/4 cup hot wing sauce to the recipe. Taste and add more to taste, or serve alongside the buffalo chicken chili so everyone can add more if they’d like.

    How do I use raw chicken in this recipe?

    This chili recipe is made using pre-cooked chicken. If you don’t have chicken that is cooked, I recommend cooking your chicken either in the crockpot or Instant Pot first and then adding it to your chili. Or, you can chop the chicken into small pieces and cook it in the saucepan before cooking the veggies. Boneless chicken thighs, ground chicken, or ground turkey may be used in this recipe.

    Can you make this buffalo chicken chili in a slow cooker?

    Absolutely! If you want a hands-off approach to this recipe, you can easily throw everything in your crockpot and let it slow cook. Cook your ingredients on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.

    Can you freeze buffalo chili?

    Yes, you can freeze this buffalo chili. In fact, chili of any kind makes for a fabulous freezer meal. Simply cook everything up, let it cool, and put it in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze it until you’re ready to eat it, and then reheat it on the stovetop or in the crockpot.

    buffalo chili with chicken in a white bowl

    Pro Tips for Delicious Buffalo Chili

    Use precooked chicken: This recipe is quick and easy if you already have your chicken cooked. If you don’t have leftover chicken you can use, I would suggest making shredded chicken the night before.

    Do a taste test: Before serving your chili, do a taste test to ensure it’s seasoned the way you want it. If it’s not, you can add salt, pepper, or even more hot sauce.

    Dice carrot into small bites: You want your carrot pieces to be tiny. Dice them up well, so that they are soft at the end of your cooking time. They will not fully cook if you make the carrot pieces too big. This goes for the celery as well.

    close up of a bowl of buffalo chicken chili

    Originally posted in December 2013. UPDATED November 2021. We spiffed up this post with more info and better pictures! No changes to the original recipe.

    two bowls of buffalo chicken chili

    BUFFALO CHICKEN CHILI

    Yield: 8 servings
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes

    Buffalo chicken lovers will line up for this zesty chili. This Buffalo Chicken Chili has two types of beans, chicken, hot sauce, and even blue cheese, this meal is sure to be a new favorite.

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 large onion, diced
    • 1 rib celery, diced
    • 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
    • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
    • 5 tablespoons chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded (I used a rotisserie chicken)
    • 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
    • 1 (15.8 ounce) can great northern beans, drained
    • 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
    • 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, undrained
    • ¼-1 cup your favorite hot sauce* (see notes)
    • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
    • crumbled blue cheese (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Heat oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrot. Cook 5 minutes; stir often.
    2. Add the garlic and dried spices and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
    3. Add chicken, beans, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes. Simmer 20-25 minutes.
    4. Stir in hot sauce and softened cream cheese until smooth.
    5. Serve topped with crumbled blue cheese, if desired.

    Notes

    If you are worried about the chili being too spicy, start with just 1/4 cup hot wing sauce to the recipe. Taste and add more to taste, or serve alongside the buffalo chicken chili so everyone can add more if they’d like.

    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 645mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 6gSugar: 5gProtein: 21g

    Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.

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    buffalo chicken chili in a white bowl