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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!

Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch | halfbakedharvest.com

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

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes
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

Creamy Jalapeño Ranch

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. 
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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So delicious! Huge hit with the family! I’ll be using this method for crispy tacos with other recipes as well.

    1. Hey Sherri,
      Happy Wednesday!! Thanks a bunch for testing this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was a hit! xx

    1. Hey Jessica,
      I do, I use soft corn tortillas and then you can just follow the directions in the notes:) Let me know if you have any other questions! xT

  2. 5 stars
    Honestly, there has not been one of your recipes that I have tried and not liked….. I love all of it. I just made this a couple days ago. The creamy jalapeño ranch is a sauce that should just be available from my fridge all the time! You are an amazing creator of spectacular recipes.

    1. Hey Lori,
      Happy Friday!!🌼🐰 I really appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx

  3. 5 stars
    So tasty! And so easy!
    Thanks for a stellar mix up of a buffalo chicken recipe.

    For anyone having issues with getting them crispy- check your baking sheet. This is not the time for non-stick because you want that toasty-ness. I’ve done this twice and the non-stick baking sheet ones are just not as good.

    1. Hey Caitlin,
      Happy Wednesday!!🌈 🐇 I am so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you! Thanks for sharing your feedback and trying it out! xT

  4. What brand corn tortillas do you use? Mine always split and crack when I fold them even after heating them and making them pliable.

    1. So sorry to hear this Leigh-Ann! I like to use Whole Foods 365 brand, also try coating them in oil:) I hope this helps! xx

  5. 5 stars
    I love making this! With my corn tortillas I drizzle with olive oil and bake accordingly, I had one question as to why mine do not look as crispy, they still taste delicious but I can not figure out what I am doing wrong

    1. Hey Tiffany,
      Perfect!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad it was a hit! Are they crispy? Or do they just not look crispy? Have a great weekend:)

  6. Hi Tiegan,

    Super excited to make these! Would it work with your homemade flour tortillas and then putting them in the oven like you have in the notes?
    Not sure if the homemade ones will be too soft!

    1. Hey Eryn,
      I would recommend using corn tortillas for this recipe for best results:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love these tacos! xT

  7. 5 stars
    Made these Super Bowl Sunday and they were so delicious!! The jalapeño ranch dressing was the icing on the cake! So good!

    1. Hey Chris,
      Wonderful!!😊 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was delish! xT

    1. Hey Jessica,
      So sorry, I don’t have those directions written out, but you could simmer on the stove top for an hour or two! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it’s delish! xx

  8. 5 stars
    “Jackpot” Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos! What a delicoius, easy-to-make, and serve hot to a large group, Super Bowl hit! 4 hrs. on low/Crockpot for the chicken. This recipe will be on repeat. Don’t miss making the Ranch Dressing. Stellar!!

    1. 5 stars
      Extra Ranch Dressing? So much better than store-bought! Loved it on my salad today. So many uses. Made it with fresh herbs.

      1. Hey Kym,
        Happy Valentine’s Day! 💌 I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xT

    2. Hey Kym,
      Happy Valentine’s Day! 💌 I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xT

    1. Hey Sandra,
      Happy Sunday!!🏈 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx

  9. Hi I’m going to make these. Looks wonderful. Question- Can I make the chicken and dressing the day before and keep in refrigerator till we make them? ? Thanks Kathy B

    1. Hey Kathy,
      Sure, that will be just fine for you to do! Let me know how this recipe turns out, I hope you love it! xT

    1. Hi Danielle,
      Sure, whole milk will work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx

      1. 5 stars
        Thanks. Very easy to make & everyone liked it. I cheated & used Primal Kitchen Buffalo Sauce because I had on hand & needed to use. I poured about 1 cup over the chicken in crockpot & used about 3 chipotle peppers from can w/adobo sauce that I chopped up. Also made your homemade hard shells, very good. Next time I’ll just make a 1/2 batch of ranch we had a lot left over. Thanks for a good recipe!

        1. Hey Barb,
          Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx

  10. 5 stars
    Tieghan, you truly outdid yourself with this recipe! These are easily the best chicken tacos I have ever had, nonetheless made. One thing I love about you is your love for chipotle peppers, you add them to recipes without it being over powering and they always add just the perfect touch. The jalapeño ranch is next level delicious. Will I be making this once a week for the rest of my life? Probably! Thank you, Tieghan!

    1. Hey Shelby,
      Happy Sunday!!❄️ I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it out and sharing your feedback! xx