Fiery Buffalo Chicken Chili

The culinary world often presents us with delightful fusions, and this **Buffalo Chicken Chili** stands out as a true masterpiece. Imagine the comforting warmth of a hearty chili combined with the unmistakable, zesty kick of classic buffalo wings. This isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience designed to tantalize your taste buds and warm you from the inside out. Packed with lean ground chicken, wholesome vegetables, and an explosion of that beloved buffalo flavor, this chili is surprisingly easy to prepare, making it a perfect candidate for a cozy weeknight dinner or the star attraction at your next game day gathering or tailgating event.

It’s no secret that buffalo chicken holds a special place in our hearts (and on our plates!). From creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip to crispy Buffalo Chicken Taquitos and even savory Buffalo Chicken Pasta, this flavor profile consistently delivers. Now, our latest obsession, this incredible **Buffalo Chicken Chili**, officially joins the ranks of our most cherished recipes. It’s more than just a dish; it’s a celebration of bold flavors and comforting textures that come together in a bowl of pure deliciousness.

Every recipe shared here is a labor of love, a culinary creation that has passed rigorous taste tests and earned its place. Yet, some recipes truly capture the imagination and become instant classics. This **Buffalo Chicken Chili** is precisely one of those. It surpassed all expectations, delivering a depth of flavor and a satisfying texture that is simply irresistible. Its simplicity belies its complexity, making it a fantastic choice for busy evenings while still impressing guests at a lively gathering. Whether you’re hosting a game night, preparing for a tailgate party, or simply craving a delicious and hearty meal, this chili is guaranteed to become a household favorite that you’ll want to whip up time and time again. It’s the kind of dish that creates memories and earns rave reviews with every spoonful.

Ingredients for the Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Chili

Crafting this flavorful Buffalo Chicken Chili begins with selecting quality ingredients that contribute to its rich, zesty, and creamy profile. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect balance of heat, tang, and hearty satisfaction. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each ingredient is essential:

• Oil: The foundation of any great sauté. We recommend using a good quality extra virgin olive oil for its flavor and health benefits, but any neutral cooking oil like canola or vegetable oil will work perfectly. Butter can also be used to add a richer, more indulgent flavor to your vegetables.
• Carrots & Celery: These classic chili vegetables, often referred to as the “holy trinity” when combined with onion (though we use onion powder here), are essential. Beyond their texture, carrots and celery are the traditional accompaniments to buffalo wings, making their inclusion here a delightful and fitting tribute to the dish’s inspiration. They add a subtle sweetness and earthy depth that balances the buffalo sauce.
• Ground Chicken: We’ve opted for ground chicken to ensure a lighter yet incredibly satisfying chili. Its fine texture allows it to blend seamlessly with the other ingredients, absorbing all the vibrant flavors. While shredded chicken is a viable alternative, ground chicken offers a distinct mouthfeel that truly shines in this recipe. Look for lean ground chicken for the best results.
• Seasoning: The secret to infusing that unmistakable buffalo wing flavor into our chili lies in two key seasonings. First, dry ranch seasoning is crucial for its savory, herby notes that complement buffalo sauce beautifully. You can easily find it in most grocery stores. Additionally, we use a classic blend of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to enhance the overall savory profile and bring all the flavors together harmoniously.
• Chicken Broth: This liquid gold forms the base of our chili, providing essential moisture and flavor. Using unsalted or low-sodium chicken broth allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dish, ensuring it’s perfectly seasoned to your preference. It helps to create a rich, simmering liquid that marries all the ingredients.
• Beans: Adding beans to chili not only provides a wonderful creamy texture and heartiness but also boosts the fiber content, making it even more filling and nutritious. We prefer white beans, such as navy beans, cannellini beans, or great northern beans, as their mild flavor doesn’t overpower the buffalo notes. You can use one can for a slightly thinner chili or two cans for a thicker, more substantial stew – both variations are equally delicious!
• Fire Roasted Tomatoes: For an extra layer of complexity and a subtle smoky undertone, fire-roasted diced tomatoes are a game-changer. They add a delicious char-like flavor that elevates the chili beyond ordinary. If you can’t find them, regular diced tomatoes will work, but you’ll miss that unique smoky depth.
• Buffalo Sauce: This is where the magic truly happens! It’s vital to use classic buffalo sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, our go-to choice) rather than a pre-made “buffalo wing sauce,” which often contains butter and other additives. The pure, tangy heat of traditional buffalo sauce is what gives this chili its authentic kick. Feel free to use your favorite brand to tailor the heat level to your liking.
• Cream Cheese: The unsung hero that brings unparalleled richness and a luxuriously creamy texture to the chili. As it melts, it transforms the sauce into a smooth, velvety consistency, perfectly balancing the tang and spice of the buffalo sauce. Ensure it’s softened and cubed for easier melting.
• Cilantro & Blue Cheese: These toppings are crucial for serving, adding fresh, vibrant notes and a classic buffalo flavor pairing. Freshly chopped cilantro offers a bright, herbaceous counterpoint, while crumbled blue cheese provides a pungent, creamy contrast that is iconic with buffalo dishes. If blue cheese isn’t to your taste, shredded cheddar cheese is a fantastic and popular alternative.

How to Master Buffalo Chicken Chili

Creating this tantalizing Buffalo Chicken Chili is a straightforward process that yields incredibly rewarding results. Follow these simple steps to bring this comforting and flavor-packed dish to life:

STEP 1: Sauté the Aromatics
Begin by heating the oil in a large Dutch oven or a sturdy soup pot over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the diced carrots and celery. Cook these vegetables, stirring frequently, for about 5-7 minutes, until they begin to soften and become slightly translucent. This step is essential for building a flavorful base for your chili.

STEP 2: Brown the Ground Chicken and Season
Next, add the ground chicken to the pot with the softened vegetables. Use a wooden spoon or a spatula to break up the chicken as it cooks, ensuring it browns evenly. Continue cooking until no pink remains, typically 8-10 minutes. Once the chicken is fully cooked, drain any excess fat from the pot to keep the chili from becoming greasy. Stir in the ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, allowing the spices to toast and release their aromatic flavors.

STEP 3: Introduce Liquid and Simmer
Pour in the chicken broth, then add the drained and rinsed white beans, the undrained fire-roasted tomatoes, and the buffalo sauce. Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 15-20 minutes. This simmering time allows all the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a more cohesive and delicious chili.

STEP 4: Achieve Creamy Perfection and Serve
Once the chili has simmered and the flavors have deepened, add the softened cream cheese cubes to the pot. Stir continuously until the cream cheese has completely melted into the chili, creating a wonderfully rich and creamy texture. This might take a few minutes, but persistence is key! Once everything is heated through and well combined, your Buffalo Chicken Chili is ready to be enjoyed. Ladle it into bowls and top generously with fresh cilantro and crumbled blue cheese for the ultimate experience. Prepare to be amazed by the depth of flavor!

Tips for a Perfect Buffalo Chicken Chili Every Time

Even though this Buffalo Chicken Chili recipe is wonderfully straightforward, a few key tips and tricks can elevate your cooking experience and ensure every batch is absolutely perfect. Pay attention to these details for an effortlessly delicious meal.

• Room Temperature Cream Cheese is Key: This is a crucial step for achieving that silky, smooth consistency. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before adding it to the chili. Cold cream cheese will take much longer to melt and can sometimes create small lumps. If you find it’s not melting seamlessly, simply continue stirring patiently over low heat; it will eventually incorporate beautifully into the chili.
• Serving Suggestions: While this chili is incredibly satisfying on its own, pairing it with warm, fluffy corn muffins is a match made in heaven. The slight sweetness of the muffins provides a delightful contrast to the chili’s savory heat. Beyond muffins, consider serving it with a side of crusty bread, a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, or even over a bed of fluffy rice or baked potatoes for an even heartier meal.
• Fresh Cilantro for Brightness: Don’t skip the fresh cilantro! It’s more than just a garnish; it adds a burst of vibrant freshness and an herbaceous note that perfectly cuts through the richness of the chili. A sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro right before serving truly brightens the overall flavor profile.
• Make Ahead for Enhanced Flavor: This chili is a fantastic make-ahead meal. In fact, it often tastes even better the next day! Preparing it a day in advance allows all the flavors to meld and deepen overnight, creating an even more cohesive and robust dish. Simply reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth if it’s too thick, and serve.
• Adjusting Spice Levels: The amount of buffalo sauce used can be adjusted to your personal preference. If you like it extra spicy, feel free to add a bit more. For a milder version, start with a slightly smaller amount and taste as you go, adding more if desired.
• Storage and Freezing: Leftovers store wonderfully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. This chili also freezes beautifully. Allow it to cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Explore More Chili Favorites

If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting warmth of chili, we have a treasure trove of other recipes waiting for you. From classic to innovative, there’s a chili for every craving:

• Slow Cooker Classic Chili: A timeless recipe perfect for busy days, letting your slow cooker do all the work for a rich, flavorful result.
• Hearty Ground Turkey Chili: A lighter take on traditional chili, offering all the robust flavors with lean ground turkey.
• Butternut Squash Chili with Beef: An intriguing blend of savory beef and sweet butternut squash, adding a unique depth and creamy texture.

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Buffalo Chicken Chili

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

This Buffalo Chicken Chili is the ultimate comfort food mashup, perfect for warming you up! It’s loaded with ground chicken, tender vegetables, and that irresistible buffalo flavor. Easy to make and fantastic for dinner or tailgating events.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ¾ cup diced carrot
• ¾ cup diced celery
• 1 ½ pounds ground chicken
• 3 tablespoons ranch seasoning
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
• 2 (15.5 oz) cans white beans, drained and rinsed (navy, cannellini, or great northern)
• 1 (14.5 oz) can fire roasted tomatoes, undrained
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (not buffalo wing sauce)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes
• Chopped cilantro for serving
• Crumbled blue cheese for serving

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced carrots and celery and cook, stirring often, until they begin to soften (about 5-7 minutes).
2. Add the ground chicken to the pot. Cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat. Stir in the ranch seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring.
3. Pour in the chicken broth, then add the beans, fire roasted tomatoes, and buffalo sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
4. Once simmering, add the softened cream cheese. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the cream cheese has completely melted into the chili, creating a creamy consistency.
5. Serve warm, garnished generously with fresh chopped cilantro and crumbled blue cheese.

Recipe Notes:

• This chili is delicious with either 1 or 2 cans of beans. Using two cans will provide more fiber and a heartier consistency.
• Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce to your preferred spice level. Use less for a milder chili, or a little more for extra heat.
• If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, feel free to top your chili with shredded cheddar cheese or another favorite cheese.
• Nutrition information is provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide. Nutrition information does not include cilantro or blue cheese toppings.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 500kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 32g (11%), Protein: 36g (72%), Fat: 25g (38%), Saturated Fat: 11g (69%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 151mg (50%), Sodium: 1480mg (64%), Potassium: 1051mg (30%), Fiber: 10g (42%), Sugar: 4g (4%)

Keywords: buffalo chicken, buffalo chicken chili, chili recipe