Instant Pot buffalo chicken is an amazing morphing meal. You can make this buffalo chicken and turn it into so many different dishes like these buffalo chicken taquitos. Let’s talk about how to make this delicious chicken and how you can turn it into 10 different recipes.
This Instant Pot buffalo chicken is the perfect base meal for meal prep. It goes well with so many different recipes.
I have been on a huge buffalo chicken kick the last couple of weeks. I love making Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps or Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad. The slightly spicy flavors go so well with a cool ranch or crisp lettuce. All you need is some Frank’s Red Hot Wing Sauce and you can make so many different recipes!
Let me show you how to make this delicious buffalo chicken in the Instant Pot and 10 different ways to serve it!
What is a Morphing Meal?
I love to make this in bulk and then freeze it in individual portions for morphing meals. Don’t know what a morphing meal is? Well let me explain.
A morphing meal is a dish that you make one portion of the meal in bulk and then morph it into something entirely different. Think reinventing leftovers, but on a whole other level.
Most of my morphing meals consist of making the protein in bulk. For example I love making a big batch of turkey meatball mixture and use them for Baked Turkey Meatballs With Wheels or turn the meatball mixture into Healthy Hawaiian Turkey Burgers.
This system works great for big families or couples who want to have all their lunches or dinners done for them. Morphing meals can also easily be turned into freezer meals to have on hand for when you really don’t want to make dinner. We do this in the More Momma Meal Plans so you don’t have to cook every day!
Freezer Tips:
This dish is perfect for a freezer meal prep. I freeze the chicken mixture into individual servings with soupercubes. That way I can thaw one portion as needed to make one of the 10 meals. Depending on how many people are in your family you may need to adjust how many cubes you take out.
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken 10 Ways:
1. Taquitos
Buffalo chicken taquitos with homemade healthy ranch is the perfect way to use up this delicious Instant Pot buffalo chicken. Head to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for this easy buffalo chicken taquito recipe.
2. Pasta:
Turn the buffalo chicken into a quick and easy easy weeknight meal with buffalo chicken pasta!
Cook 1 pound of your favorite pasta (I like shells for this dish). Drain the pasta and combine with 2 cups warmed meal prepped buffalo chicken and 2 cups mixed Italian cheese blend. Stir to combine and enjoy.
You could put some bread crumbs on top and place it under the broiler for a crunchy crust option.
3. Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip:
This is one of my favorite appetizers for game day. To make this buffalo chicken dip add 2 cups of the meal prepped chicken to small cast iron skillet or baking dish. Mix in 2 cup Italian cheese blend and 1/4 cup buffalo sauce.
Top with extra cheese and cook in the oven at 400 F for 10-15 minutes or until melted and warmed through. Serve with celery, carrots and pretzel thins.
4. Pull Part Bread:
Pull apart bread is a great way to utilize this buffalo chicken as a quick and easy appetizer. Grab a large loaf of sourdough bread and cut in 1 inch slices through the bread (don’t cut all the way through to the bottom). Then cut perpendicular slices to create 1 inch cubes. The bread should stay intact because you will not be cutting all the way through.
Fill the crevasses with the chicken mixture and mixed Italian cheese blend. Place in the oven at 400 F for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.
5. Sliders or Sandwiches:
I love buffalo chicken sandwiches. For a healthy version try Dave’s Killer Bread burger buns and fill them with the warm buffalo chicken mixture, some crisp lettuce and sliced red onion. Drizzle with ranch and extra buffalo sauce.
You can also do little mini buffalo chicken sliders on Hawaiian rolls.
6. Quesadillas:
Buffalo chicken quesadillas are so simple and so delicious!
Fill a flour tortilla with the buffalo chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mixed Italian cheese blend. Place on a griddle pre-heated over medium heat and cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until the tortilla becomes crisp and the cheese is melted. Serve with a side of carrots and celery.
7. Rice Bowls:
Rice bowls are another great way to utilize meal prepped buffalo chicken.
Add cooked white or brown rice to your bowls. Top with warmed buffalo chicken. Then top with finely diced celery, shaved carrots, shaved red onion or pickled red onion, chopped romaine lettuce, buffalo sauce and ranch sauce.
8. Pizza or Flatbreads:
One of my favorite ways to use up this meal prep chicken is to use it on top of a pizza or flatbread!
For the pizza version par-bake a pre-made pizza dough (I like the one from Trader Joe’s) for 7 minutes at 400 F. Top with the buffalo chicken mixture, Italian mixed cheese blend and thinly sliced red onion. Bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and crust is golden brown. Then top with fresh cilantro.
For the flatbread version top naan bread or pre-made flatbreads with the chicken mixture (you can find these in the bakery section in the grocery store). Then top with Italian mixed cheese blend and red onion. Bake at 450 F for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted and the crust is golden. Top with fresh cilantro.
9. Tacos or Lettuce Wraps:
This is a great healthy, low carb use for this buffalo chicken! Lettuce wraps are so delicious and easy to make. Simply warm up the chicken mixture and serve in romaine or butter lettuce. Top with shaved carrots and a drizzle of ranch.
10. Stuffed Potatoes:
Warm the chicken mixture and stuff it in a cooked sweet potato or baked potato. You can top with crumbled blue cheese or melted Monterey Jack cheese along with a drizzle of ranch or extra buffalo sauce.
Ingredients For Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken:
There are only three main ingredients for the Instant Pot buffalo chicken base.
Chicken Thighs: You could also use chicken breasts. I prefer chicken thighs because they stay more moist and succulent. Chicken breasts could dry out a little quicker.
Buffalo Wings Sauce: I prefer Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce. Make sure you use the “wings” version of the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. This tastes a little different than their original version.
Ranch Seasoning: Just grab the regular ranch dressing packets at the grocery store.
How To Make Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken:
Let’s make this easy Instant Pot meal!
Grab your pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Add chicken thighs, buffalo wing sauce and the ranch seasoning packet to the Instant Pot insert.
Seal the lid and move the valve to the sealing position. Turn on manual high pressure for 17 minutes.
Quick release the pressure when the cook time is up. Manually release the pressure by carefully moving the valve to venting.
To easily shred the chicken take a hand mixer with beaters attached and turn on low inside the pot of chicken. This is a perfect way to get easily shredded buffalo chicken. Just don’t over beat the chicken or it will become mushy.
Next use the chicken for your favorite meal idea or prep to freeze in containers for morphing meal meal prep.
Other Instant Pot Favorites:
If you like this recipe try out some of my other Instant Pot recipes or you can grab my No Shop Instant Pot Cookbook with 240 easy Instant Pot recipes.
Kalua Pork Instant Pot With Pineapple BBQ Sauce
5 Ingredient Instant Pot Classic Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Recipe:
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken (Taquitos)
The perfect chicken meal prep! This buffalo chicken can be morphed into 10 different meals!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 ranch seasoning packet
- 1 cup Frank's Red Hot Wing Sauce +plus more to top
- 2 cups Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 24 corn tortillas (you could also use 12 flour tortillas)
- cooking spray
- coarse salt
- healthy ranch dressing (recipe follows)
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the instant pot insert.
- Add the ranch seasoning and buffalo sauce.
- Seal the lid and move the valve to the sealing position. Turn on manual high pressure for 17 minutes.
- Manually release the pressure by carefully moving the valve to venting.
- Easily shred the chicken with hand beaters on low speed until the chicken is shredded. Be careful not to over beat the chicken or it will turn mushy.
- Add the cheese and stir to combine.
- Spray with cooking spray and warm the tortillas on a griddle to soften and become pliable.
- Remove the tortillas to a parchment lined baking sheet and add 3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture to the tortillas. Roll tightly and place seam side down.
- Spray the taquitos with cooking spray and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake at 450 for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Drizzle with ranch and buffalo sauce.
Notes
You can freeze these taquitos for a meal prep meal.
For the other 10 ways to use the meal prep chicken refer to the blog post.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 167Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 527mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 14g
Homemade Healthy Ranch
Make ahead dressing is perfect for a quick and easy meal prep item to have on hand all week. It's a healthier alternative to the store bought ranch.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 Cup Buttermilk
- 1/4 Teaspoon Dried Dill
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon White Balsamic Vinegar
Instructions
1. Place the dressing ingredients into a mason jar, seal and shake to combine. Remove the lid and secure your Ergo Spout®.
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