Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowl (2024)

Looking for a simple and delicious dinner idea? Try these crockpot buffalo chicken rice bowls! Super easy low effort meal idea!

Why You’ll LOVE this chicken dinner recipe

It’s REALLY EASY! – easy dinners are our absolute favourites! And this simple Crockpot buffalo chicken is super easy to prep and cook. Then load up that bowl with your favourite rice and salads. EASY!

Totally DELICIOUS! – oh… when it comes to Buffalo chicken, you just cannot go wrong! Buffalo chicken is good any way you serve it up!

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe

Serves – 4 people

Prep Time – 5 minutes

Cook Time – 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time – 3 hours 35 minutes

Our Most Popular Alternative – Crockpot Chicken Shawarma

Equipment Needed

• Slow Cooker (Crockpot)
• Tablespoon
• Two Forks
• Microwave (for the rice sachets)

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls Ingredients

To make the shredded buffalo chicken you’re just going to need three ingredients!

• 6 large boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 8 oz buffalo sauce (200ml)
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• 2 x microwave rice sachets (like Uncle Bens)

How To Make Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls

You will just LOVE how simple the shredded chicken buffalo bowls are to make – super easy, just how we like it!

Step One – load up the Crockpot

• Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker bowl in a single layer at the bottom. Pour over half the buffalo sauce, sprinkle over a pinch of salt if using.

Step Two – cook the chicken thighs in the slow cooker

• Cook on high in the slow cooker for 3 hours 30 minutes (or until cooked through properly – check with a digital meat thermometer)

Step Three – shred the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

• Once cooked – shred the chicken thighs using two forks. Then stir in the cream cheese, drizzle in the other half of the buffalo sauce, toss everything together to melt the cheese and coat the chicken in cheese and buffalo sauce.

Step Four – serve the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls

• Serve with the cooked microwaved rice and your favourite salads or vegetable side dishes.

What To Serve With Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls

• Homemade Red Slaw – to make a quick slaw, toss some shredded red cabbage and carrots into a bowl, add a pinch of onion powder, pinch of garlic powder and a big dollop of ranch dressing. Stir well to mix the flavours and serve.
• Sweet Potato Cubes
• Herb Butter Rice
• Tomato And Cucumber Salad
• Homemade Garlic Bread
• Bacon Potato Salad
• Some Fresh Salad – any mix of lettuce leaves, cherry tomatoes, green onions, avocado, red onions, bell peppers or chargrilled veggies or black beans.
• Cheese – I won’t lie… these Buffalo chicken rice bowls are extra nice with some blue cheese crumbles (or feta if blue cheese isn’t your thing)

Get More Chicken Recipes Here

Recipe Tips And Ingredient Add-Ins

Recipe tips, ingredient swaps and variations – plus what to do with leftovers!

Ingredient Swaps

You can go spicy with the buffalo sauce and choose a hot one, or add in some red pepper flakes or a good squeeze of hot sauce. Or you could swap to BBQ sauce and make a BBQ flavoured shredded chicken.

Use Chicken Breasts

You can swap the thighs for boneless skinless chicken breast if you prefer, however you may find it dries out a little more than thighs do when you cook them in the slow cooker. And if you’re super short on time, you can use a shredded rotisserie chicken and just mix in the buffalo sauce.

Rice

Okay, this Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowl is one of our go-to easy meals, so we use microwave cooked rice sachets to cut down on effort! (especially midweek, when we’re super busy) BUT, you can of course cook rice yourself – try brown rice, white rice, basmati or long grain. You can even try these low-carb and use cauliflower rice.

How To Store Leftovers

Leftover shredded buffalo chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-day. Chilled leftovers are great used in sandwiches, or meal prep salads.

Make Buffalo Chicken In Advance

You can make the buffalo chicken up to one-day in advance. Just be sure to store it properly in the fridge and reheat properly and thoroughly before eating in your rice bowls.

Find All Our Chicken Thigh Recipes Here

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More Crockpot Chicken Recipes To Make

• Slow Cooker Chicken Korma
• Slow Cooker Chicken And Chorizo
• Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken
• Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken
• Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Casserole