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Weeknight-style Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Creamy Jalapeño Ranch. Chicken slow cooked in homemade buffalo sauce, then mixed with cheese, stuffed into tortillas, and oven-baked. Each buffalo taco is crunchy on the outside, and spicy, saucy, and cheesy inside. Serve with a creamy, tangy jalapeño ranch and an avocado on top. These come together easily and are so delicious. The perfect crispy taco that everyone loves!
The very first full week of September and I’m already back with the buffalo chicken recipes. The second football season starts back up all I can think about is fun game night appetizers and dinners. That’s the month of September for me. Then, when October hits I move on to Halloween 24/7.
But for now, it’s fun game day style recipes. And while I know these aren’t traditional tacos, they really are so delicious!
Here are the details
These are easy you guys. I want to start out by saying you can make these in either the crockpot, instant pot, or on the stove. Either option works, so use whichever method suits you best! They will all give you the same outcome.
For the crockpot, simply add all the ingredients right into the crockpot. For the hot sauce, I like to use Frank’s Red Hot. Next, add the butter, seasoned salt, and pepper. Let it all slow cook, then shred the meat right into the buffalo sauce.
The very same with the instant pot, except the cooking time is much, much shorter (just 8 minutes).
And for the stove-top, it is slightly more involved, but it’s still easy. Just cook the chicken in a skillet until seared, pour in the sauce, butter, and seasoned salt. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through. Then shred the chicken right into the sauce.
For the crispy shells
Instead of using store-bought taco shells, I like to take corn tortillas and stuff them with the buffalo chicken and cheese. Then I throw them into the oven to bake until the tortillas are crispy.
This method is my favorite and I use it every time I make tacos for my family. We love the crispy oven “fried” shells and melty cheese. It’s the best when some of the cheese melts out onto the pan and gets crispy too. Delicious.
Of course, feel free to use store-bought shells when in a time crunch! The directions I gave in the recipe calls for store-bought, but I provided my homemade recipe too!
The creamy jalapeño ranch
I know that making homemade ranch is just another step, but it really is worth it. And it’s easier than running to the market to pick up a bottle.
I keep mine pretty simple and straightforward. Sour cream or yogurt, mayo, buttermilk, parsley, dill, onion, garlic, and of course, the jalapeños. Instead of fresh jalapeños, I like to use pickled. Using pickled jalapeños adds a subtle, tangy kick that I find especially delicious.
Finish these up with avocado on top, fresh cilantro, and extra buffalo sauce.
Simple to make, but so yummy and fun for fall nights. My family loved these crunchy, crispy tacos!
Looking for more simple game day recipes? Here are a few favorites:
Crispy Jalapeño Cream Cheese Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips
Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme
Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Lastly, if you make these Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 762 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup hot sauce (I like Franks Red Hot)
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- black pepper
- 12 hard shell tacos (see notes for homemade option)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- cilantro, green onion, and avocado, for serving
- 2 chipotle peppers, chopped
Creamy Jalapeño Ranch
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Instructions
Crockpot
- 1. In the bowl of your crockpot, combine the chicken, hot sauce, chipotle, butter, seasoned salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours.2. When finished cooking, shred the meat and toss with the sauce, then remove the chicken from the sauce, saving the extra sauce for serving. Preheat the oven to 425° F.3. Line the taco shells up in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Transfer to the oven and bake 5 minutes. Stuff the chicken in each taco shell and top with cheese. Bake 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crisp.4. Meanwhile, make the Creamy Jalapeño Ranch. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until creamy. Season with salt. 5. Serve the tacos topped with cilantro, green onions, avocado, additional buffalo sauce and Creamy Jalapeño Ranch.
Instant Pot
- 1. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the chicken, hot sauce, chipotle, butter, seasoned salt, and pepper. Seal the and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Release the steam. 2. When finished cooking, shred the meat and toss with the sauce, then remove the chicken from the sauce, saving the extra sauce for serving. Preheat the oven to 425° F.3. Continue on with the recipe as directed in steps 3-5 above.
Notes
For Easy Homemade Hard Shells: Warm 8-12 corn tortillas for 30 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave, until pliable. On a baking sheet, rub the tortillas with olive oil. Lay each flat and then layer evenly with cheese and chicken. Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling, gently pushing to adhere (see above photo). Transfer to the oven and bake for 5-8 minutes, then flip and cook another 5 minutes more, or until the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crisp.
This was delicious – my son asked for a repeat, my daughter asked if we could make it less spicy the next time. I, too, loved it, but it was a bit too much Frank’s for us. Should I just cut the full cup in half and perhaps add a little cream? Otherwise an amazing week night meal! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Hey Michelle,
So glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! Yes, that would work nicely for you:) xT
Excited to try this recipe! What can I use instead of chipotle peppers? I have dried red chilies, fresh Thai chilies, or can I use a spice? Thanks!
Hey Kiran,
You can use smoked paprika:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This is literally our favorite meal. We make it every other week and eat it for like 3+ days every time. Sometimes we mix it up and put the chicken, cheese, and ranch into quesadillas or on top of nachos or fries or something instead of just taco shells but follow the recipe to a T
Thanks so much, Julia! Love to hear that you have been enjoying this recipe, thanks for making it so often and your comment:) xT
Making these tonight – recipe says hard tacos but the video shows soft tacos. Is that the difference of making your own?
Hi Madz,
Yes, I used soft tortillas to make them into my homemade hard shells. So you can either do that or just use store bought hard tacos shells. I hope this helps! xT
hi! I made this before and it was great so I am making it again. Is there a sub for buttermilk? I bought buttermilk for the dressing and then didn’t use the remainder. Any thing else I can sub?
Hey Sarah,
Happy Monday! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a lot for making it! You could use some milk:) Xx
You can make homemade buttermilk 1 cup of milk with 1 T of lemon juice makes buttermilk. Only make what you need for your recipes
Did I miss the stovetop directions?
Hi Christina,
Sorry, I only shared the instant pot and crockpot instructions for this recipe, but you could cook on the stove top for 1-2 hours and that should work nicely for you. I hope you love this recipe! xT
These were amazing!! Like…..standout amazing!! I am obsessed with your recipes and this is no exception. I made these for my family but would feel confident hosting a group and serving these. My only change was to add the cilantro into the ranch.
Hey Samantha,
Love this!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your feedback! So glad it was enjoyed:) Xx
Hello!
This looks delicious and I’m planning to make it Sunday. For the chipotle peppers, do you mean chipotle peppers in adobo or plain?
Thanks!
Hi Allie,
So sorry for any confusion, yes you will want to use chipotle peppers in adobo:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Made these tonight. LOVED them so much!!
Hi Julie,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback! Love to hear it was a hit! xT
This recipe sounds amazing and I can’t wait to make it! I am hosting a girl’s night soon. Can I assemble the tacos im advance and just bake them when my guests arrive?
Hi Carol! I would think that the tortillas might get a bit soggy if you assemble them before! 🙂 xT
That’s what I was afraid of. Thanks for getting back to me.