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    Home » Recipes

    Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

    Published: Apr 19, 2019 / Updated: Aug 27, 2020 / 10 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Instant Pot buffalo chicken recipe makes the most delicious sandwiches! If you like it spicy, you will love this. 

    two sliders with instant pot buffalo chicken, lettuce, and ranch dressing

    These buffalo chicken sandwiches are the perfect thing to throw together for a potluck, BBQ, or for game day. You don't need many ingredients for this tender shredded chicken breast recipe. The Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting. 😉 This recipe is also quick... it's ready in about half an hour.

    I kept messing up the photos, and on one occasion I actually realized that I ran out of Frank's Red Hot sauce after I put the other ingredients in the Instant Pot, so let's just say this recipe has been well tested. Pro tip: Don't substitute Frank's Red Hot with sriracha. Just don't.

    Sandwiches are my least favorite thing to photograph (it's a tie with tacos actually). Shocking, right? I think I complain about this on every single sandwich post. I tend to avoid sandwiches since I dislike photographing them, so I don't get the practice needed for my photos to improve. Oh well! We all have our issues, right.

    close-up of two easy instant pot buffalo chicken sandwiches with ranch dressing

    If you love Instant Pot shredded chicken, you may also like my Instant Pot BBQ chicken or my Instant Pot chicken tacos.

    Pro tip: Buffalo chicken and ranch dressing are a match made in heaven. You can either use my homemade ranch dressing, bottled dressing, or those Hidden Valley Ranch packets (yummmm). The ranch dressing provides a cooling effect and just makes these sandwiches 1000% better. Alternatively, you could also use a blue cheese dressing. Either would be delicious! 

    shredded buffalo chicken inside an instant pot

    How to make buffalo chicken in the Instant Pot

    1. Sauté the onion;
    2. Add Frank's Red Hot, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic to the Instant Pot;
    3. Add the chicken;
    4. Cook for 10 minutes on high pressure;
    5. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes then manually release the rest of the pressure;
    6. Stir in the butter while you're shredding the chicken, then add it all back in and coat with the sauce. 

    Recipe tips:

    • Want to make this recipe with chicken thighs? I'd give them 12-13 minutes then do the 5 minute natural pressure release.
    • If, for whatever reason, you don't want onions in here, you can definitely leave them out. I do love the extra flavor they provide.
    • Letting the Instant Pot naturally release for 5 minutes is totally worth it. I've done a lot of experimenting, and quick releasing chicken breasts in recipes like this tends to make them rubbery.

    What to serve with buffalo chicken

    I love to serve buffalo chicken in soft buns with shredded iceberg lettuce and ranch dressing (or try blue cheese). You could even add some blue cheese crumbles if you wish!

    Love buffalo chicken? Try my epic buffalo chicken soup, my easy buffalo chicken dip, these buffalo chicken tacos, this buffalo chicken chili, or my buffalo chicken flatbread pizza.

    close-up of instant pot shredded buffalo chicken sliders

    Will you make these easy Instant Pot buffalo chicken sandwiches? 

    Questions? Talk to me in the comments below!

    This Instant Pot buffalo chicken recipe is simple and crazy good. Your favorite hot wing flavor makes the best sandwiches. Perfect with ranch or blue cheese dressing!

    Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

    This Instant Pot buffalo chicken recipe makes the most delicious sandwiches! If you like it spicy, you will love this. 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Inactive time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Sandwich
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 large chicken breasts
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1/2 medium onion chopped
    • 3/4 cup Frank's Red Hot sauce
    • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 3 tablespoons butter

    For serving:

    • Buns
    • Ranch dressing
    • Shredded iceberg lettuce

    Instructions
     

    • Add the oil to your Instant Pot and press the sauté button. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes. Turn off the sauté function when it's done.
    • Add the hot sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder to your pressure cooker. Give it a good stir.
    • Add the chicken and give it a stir so it's all nicely coated in the sauce.
    • Close the Instant Pot's lid, set the valve on "sealing", and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. It'll take 5-10 minutes for it to reach pressure.
    • While the chicken is cooking, prep your lettuce and buns. Make the ranch dressing if you're using my ranch recipe.
    • Once the countdown has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, and then do a quick release for the remaining pressure.
    • Once the chicken's done, take it out of the Instant Pot. Add the butter to the Instant Pot, and while it's melting, shred the chicken using two forks. Add the chicken back into the Instant Pot and stir to coat with the sauce. Assemble sandwiches as desired. 

    Notes

    • I use Frank's Red Hot original, not their spicy buffalo. I believe that version is even spicier, so it'll really knock your socks off.
    • I use this 6-quart Instant Pot.
    • Inactive time indicates the time it takes the Instant Pot to get up to pressure and release pressure naturally.
    Keyword Instant Pot buffalo chicken
    Author Natasha Bull

     

    « Chicken Pasta Primavera
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    1. Brian says

      March 20, 2022 at 9:54 AM

      Make this!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 20, 2022 at 10:39 AM

        Glad you liked it, Brian 🙂

        Reply
    2. Cathy says

      September 14, 2020 at 8:47 AM

      Can this recipe be doubled? If so, does that change the cooking time?
      I can't wait to try this.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 14, 2020 at 11:59 AM

        Hi! It shouldn’t change the cooking time if you double it (the IP will take a bit longer to come up to pressure). Let me know how it goes. ♥️

        Reply
    3. Darcy Axe says

      June 15, 2020 at 7:50 PM

      5 stars
      Quick easy. Husband loved it. Used the Frank’s buffalo wing sauce. Just the right amount of heat that the kids even ate. Added tomatoes to the sandwich as well. Perfect cooking instructions!! Thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 15, 2020 at 8:18 PM

        I'm so glad to hear that! Thanks for writing me a comment! 🙂

        Reply
    4. tegteg says

      January 29, 2020 at 2:57 PM

      5 stars
      Hi Natasha,

      I recently found your site and am obsessed! Seriously, every single recipe I've tried has turned out amazing. I'm used to ending up with dishes that are watery or bland or that I have to tweak based on reviews. Anywho, I made this buffalo chicken a few days ago and it was a hit - I served mine over a sweet potato instead! This is going into my regular rotation for sure!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 29, 2020 at 3:30 PM

        I am so happy you enjoyed it!! So glad you found me, and thanks for leaving me a comment! 😀

        Reply
    5. Ángeles De Leon says

      August 27, 2019 at 5:12 PM

      5 stars
      How long for frozen chicken breast

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 29, 2019 at 9:49 AM

        Hi! I'd give it 12 minutes, but be sure to check the internal temperate (165F) if there's any doubt whether it's cooked or not.

        Reply

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