Buffalo Chicken Soup (3 Ways To Cook!) Recipe
Introduction
This Buffalo Chicken Soup is a creamy, spicy comfort food perfect for chilly days. You can make it in three different ways: Instant Pot, slow cooker, or stovetop, ensuring it fits any cooking style. Each method yields a rich, flavorful soup with tender chicken and the signature kick of buffalo sauce.

Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1/2 large Onion, diced
- 1/2 cup Celery, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 lb Shredded chicken, cooked
- 4 cups Chicken bone broth (or any chicken broth)
- 3 tbsp Buffalo sauce (or 2 tbsp for less heat)
- 6 oz Cream cheese, at room temperature, cubed
- 1/2 cup Half and half (or heavy cream)
Instructions
- Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Instructions: Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot. Add olive oil, diced onion, and celery. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and beginning to brown.
- Instant Pot Step 2: Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Press the Off button.
- Instant Pot Step 3: Add shredded chicken, chicken broth, and buffalo sauce to the pot. Cover and seal the lid. Press the Soup button and set the timer to 5 minutes.
- Instant Pot Step 4: After cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then do a quick release and open the lid.
- Instant Pot Step 5: Ladle about one cup of liquid (without chicken) into a blender. Add the cubed cream cheese and blend until smooth. If needed, add a little more liquid to help blend.
- Instant Pot Step 6: Pour the cream cheese mixture back into the Instant Pot. Stir in the half and half or heavy cream until the soup is smooth.
- Slow Cooker Instructions: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and celery; cook for 5-10 minutes until translucent and slightly browned. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
- Slow Cooker Step 2: Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a slow cooker. Add shredded chicken, chicken broth, and buffalo sauce. Stir to combine.
- Slow Cooker Step 3: Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- Slow Cooker Step 4: Ladle about one cup of liquid (without chicken) into a blender. Add cubed cream cheese and puree until smooth, adding more liquid if necessary.
- Slow Cooker Step 5: Return the cream cheese mixture to the slow cooker. Stir in half and half or heavy cream until the soup is creamy and smooth.
- Stovetop Instructions: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and celery and cook for 5-10 minutes until translucent and lightly browned.
- Stovetop Step 2: Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stovetop Step 3: Add shredded chicken, chicken broth, and buffalo sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stovetop Step 4: Ladle about one cup of liquid (without chicken) into a blender. Add cubed cream cheese and puree until smooth, adding more liquid if needed.
- Stovetop Step 5: Pour the cream cheese mixture back into the pot. Stir in half and half or heavy cream until the soup is perfectly smooth.
Tips & Variations
- For a milder soup, reduce the buffalo sauce to 2 tablespoons or substitute with a milder hot sauce.
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken to save time without sacrificing flavor.
- For extra protein and texture, add some cooked corn or diced carrots along with the celery and onions.
- Serve with blue cheese crumbles or chopped green onions for added flavor and garnish.
Storage
Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. The soup may thicken when chilled; add a splash of broth or cream while reheating to reach your desired consistency.
How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use regular chicken broth instead of bone broth?
Yes, regular chicken broth works perfectly well if you don’t have bone broth on hand. Both provide a flavorful base for the soup.
Can this soup be made dairy-free?
You can substitute the cream cheese and half and half with dairy-free alternatives like vegan cream cheese and coconut cream to make a dairy-free version. The texture and flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.
PrintBuffalo Chicken Soup (3 Ways To Cook!) Recipe
This creamy and flavorful Buffalo Chicken Soup recipe offers three convenient cooking methods: Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, and Stovetop. Made with shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and cream cheese, this soup delivers the perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and creamy for a comforting meal any day of the week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (Instant Pot), 3-4 hours (Slow Cooker), 20 minutes (Stovetop)
- Total Time: 20 minutes (Instant Pot), 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (Slow Cooker), 35 minutes (Stovetop)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Soup Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1/2 large Onion, diced
- 1/2 cup Celery, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 lb Shredded cooked chicken
- 4 cups Chicken bone broth (or any chicken broth)
- 3 tbsp Buffalo sauce (or 2 tbsp for less heat)
- 6 oz Cream cheese, at room temperature and cubed
- 1/2 cup Half and half (or heavy cream)
Instructions
- Instant Pot Preparation: Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot and add olive oil, diced onion, and celery. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes until the onions are translucent and starting to brown, stirring occasionally.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and saute for about 1 minute until fragrant. Turn off the Saute mode by pressing the Off button.
- Add Main Ingredients: Add shredded chicken, chicken broth, and buffalo sauce into the Instant Pot.
- Pressure Cook: Seal the Instant Pot lid and press the Soup button. Adjust the cooking time to 5 minutes. Once finished, allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure and open the lid.
- Blend Cream Cheese Mixture: Ladle about a cup of soup liquid without chicken into a blender. Add cubed cream cheese and puree until smooth, adding extra liquid if needed to blend easily.
- Combine and Finish: Pour the blended cream cheese mixture back into the Instant Pot. Stir in half and half or heavy cream until the soup is smooth and creamy.
- Slow Cooker Preparation: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and celery, cooking for 5-10 minutes until onions are translucent and start to brown, stirring occasionally.
- Add Garlic: Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place shredded chicken, broth, buffalo sauce, and the cooked onion, celery, and garlic mix into the slow cooker. Stir well.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
- Blend Cream Cheese Mixture: Ladle about a cup of soup liquid (without chicken) from the slow cooker into a blender. Add cubed cream cheese and puree until smooth. Add a bit more liquid if needed.
- Combine and Finish: Pour the blended mixture back into the slow cooker and stir in the half and half or heavy cream until smooth.
- Stovetop Preparation: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and celery, sauté for 5-10 minutes until onions are translucent and begin to brown.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add shredded chicken, chicken broth, and buffalo sauce. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Blend Cream Cheese Mixture: Ladle about one cup of soup liquid without chicken into a blender. Add cubed cream cheese and puree until smooth, adding more liquid if needed.
- Combine and Finish: Pour the blended cream cheese mixture back into the pot. Stir in half and half or heavy cream until the soup is creamy and smooth.
Notes
- You can adjust the buffalo sauce quantity to control the heat level in the soup.
- For a richer texture, use heavy cream instead of half and half.
- Use bone broth for added depth of flavor and nutrition, but regular chicken broth works well too.
- When blending the cream cheese mixture, be careful to avoid hot splashes by venting the blender lid slightly or blending in batches.
- This soup can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Serve with celery sticks or crumbled blue cheese for an authentic buffalo flavor experience.
Keywords: Buffalo chicken soup, spicy chicken soup, creamy chicken soup, Instant Pot soup, slow cooker buffalo soup, stovetop soup

