Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Wings

I usually cook wings on my Char-Broil Big Easy or on my charcoal grill using the Vortex. I have to admit, I was pretty pessimistic about the idea of cooking wings in a slow cooker. Would I like the texture? Would they taste as great as wings off the grill?

One thing’s for sure, making Buffalo Ranch wings in a slow cooker really couldn’t get any easier. It was the perfect recipe for my working-from-home lunch. Toss everything in first thing in the morning and at lunch, enjoy some wings!

The Verdict Is In…

So how were they? Well, mighty tasty for starters. In fact, I loved the flavor. Big time. Texture-wise, they got barely crispy but the meat was oh-so-tender and juicy. For truly crispy skin you’ll have to leave them under the broiler for a good bit of time, but keep an eye on them. I found the skin to be melt-in-my-mouth tender and I didn’t actually miss not having super-crunchy wings. In fact, it was a nice change. I loved them!

Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Wings

They’re Easy. And Good!

Although not traditional Buffalo wings to a purist, I still enjoyed these slow cooker Buffalo Ranch wings more than I actually thought I would. No mess, no fuss and very tasty. Certainly much easier than firing up a grill or even deep fryer to make a batch of the wings you normally expect.

Also try some Poppin’ Buffalo wings!

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Wings
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Wings

Although not traditional Buffalo wings to a purist, I still enjoyed these slow cooker Buffalo Ranch wings more than I actually thought I would.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Buffalo wings, Ranch
Servings: 6
Calories: 349kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the wings into the bottom of your slow cooker.
  • Combine the wing sauce, Ranch dressing mix and salt and pepper and pour over the wings.
  • Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 hours – 3 hours until the meat is starting to pull back from the bones.
  • Carefully transfer the wings to a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with non-stick spray. Place under a hot oven broiler and broil until just starting to crisp.
  • Let cool slightly then serve.

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 460mg | Potassium: 236mg | Vitamin A: 222IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Bandit Wings

The best wings pack flavor into every bite, all the way through. These Bandit wings have flavor and then some. They are marinated overnight, picking up a light soy sauce flavor along with a hint of cumin and chili powder. Sort of southwestern meets Asian.

No Sauce Required

Bandit wings definitely do not require a sauce. You don’t want to hide the fantastic flavors. I did have a little blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping but I used it sparingly. Very sparingly.

Bandit Wings

Garnishes Are Optional

The original recipe called for garnishing these Bandit wings with black sesame seeds. Apparently they’re as rare as a unicorn here so I went with plain ole ‘normal’ sesame seeds. You get that bit of sesame seed flavor either way. You can order the seeds online, of course.

If you do decide to have a side sauce for dipping, I recommend these little cups. They’re the perfect size for dipping wings!

Also try some of my Bayou Blast wings!

Check out my always-growing list of over 100 homemade wing recipes, including sauces and seasonings!

Bandit Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Bandit Wings

Bandit wings definitely to not require a sauce.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Asian wings, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 517kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Feel free to use low-sodium soy sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 677mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 540IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Torchbearer Pineapple Papaya BBQ Sauce Wings

When I first came across Torchbearer’s Pineapple Papaya BBQ sauce, I immediately thought chicken wings. The thought of a slightly spicy, somewhat fruity sauce on wings sounded like a brilliant idea. And it proved to be exactly that, too. I found the sauce be just a bit fruity, and bit a sweet, with a bit of heat. Exactly what I was hoping for, be it on wings or smoked ribs or grilled chicken.

Torchbearer Pineapple Papaya BBQ Wings

Fruity Sweet Heat

Don’t just grab one bottle of the sauce. The bottles aren’t particularly big, and you’ll definitely want to keep some on hand at all times!

Torchbearer Pineapple Papaya BBQ sauce is the perfect consistency, no matter what you’re going to slather it on or toss it with. You’ll find yourself licking your fingers. A lot. It’s different, and it’s delicious.

Remember that if you have to refrigerate your open bottle of wing sauce to let it sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes before using. You don’t want to ‘shock’ hot, just-cooked wings with a cold sauce.

Also try Torchbearer’s Buffalo wing sauce wings.

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Torchbearer Pineapple Papaya BBQ Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Torchbearer Pineapple Papaya BBQ Sauce Wings

This sauce is just a bit fruity, and bit a sweet, with a bit spicy.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fruity, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Quaker Steak and Lube Thai ‘R’ Cracker Wing Sauce Wings

When I can’t get to the nearest Quaker Steak & Lube (about 2 hours from here in Indy), I do the next-best-thing and make my version of their wings here. This time I used the insanely good Quaker Steak and Lube Thai ‘R’ Cracker wing sauce. It’s got a bit of kick, but not so much that you’re gonna cry. And it’s got a bit of sweet to it too. It’s perfect with a bit of cool Ranch sauce on the side. Or serve the wings with more Thai ‘R’ Cracker sauce for a more kicked-up dipping sauce.

Quaker Steak and Lube Thai 'R' Cracker Wings

Asian-Inspired Greatness

Thai ‘R’ Cracker wing sauce is by far my wife’s favorite from Quaker Steak and Lube. We always keep a number of bottles of Quaker Steak and Lube Thai ‘R’ Cracker wing sauce on hand for making delicious wings!

Remember that if you have to refrigerate your open bottle of wing sauce to let it sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes before using. You don’t want to ‘shock’ hot, just-cooked wings with a cold sauce.

Also try Quaker Steak ‘N Lube’s Buckeye BBQ wing sauce wings. They did start in Ohio, you know!

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Quaker Steak and Lube Thai 'R' Cracker Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Quaker Steak and Lube Thai ‘R’ Cracker Wing Sauce Wings

This sauce has a bit of kick, but not so much that you’re gonna cry.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Asian wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Great Value Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce Wings

If you’ve been looking for a great, inexpensive store-bought Buffalo wing sauce that has just the right amount of kick but isn’t too spicy, the medium Buffalo wing sauce from Great Value (WalMart) is definitely the sauce for you. And me. Because I absolutely loved it. I decided to take a little break from hot wing sauces. This medium sauce definitely still satisfied my Buffalo wing craving without burning my mouth. It’s just barely spicy, and definitely very flavorful. Not overly vinegary. And the perfect consistency. I was really, really happy with it. This sauce is proof that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a store sauce to get a good product.

Great Value Medium Buffalo Wings

Great Buffalo Flavor without all the Heat

The Great Value mild wing sauce is also great, perfect for wings for a crowd without having to worry about it being too spicy. I’d serve these alongside some hotter wings and let people choose their heat level.

Remember that if you have to refrigerate your open bottle of wing sauce to let it sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes before using. You don’t want to ‘shock’ hot, just-cooked wings with a cold sauce.

Also try Great Value’s mild Buffalo wing sauce wings!

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Great Value Medium Buffalo Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Great Value Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce Wings

This medium sauce definitely still satisfied my Buffalo wing craving without burning my mouth.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Buffalo wings, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

The Spicy Shark Wing Sauce Wings

I’d never heard of the Spicy Shark when I came across this sauce in the store. But I knew I had to grab a bottle or ten. The sauce looked good, really good. I saw natural stuff in there, tasty stuff. And hey, the label is cool too, so why not load up and get on home and make some wings! I was definitely not disappointed, either, let me tell you. If you’re looking for a really great, spicy wing sauce that brings something a little different, not the usual Buffalo wing flavor, then the Spicy Shark original recipe wing sauce is definitely for you.

The Spicy Shark Wings

Lots of Ingredients, Lots of Flavor

The Spicy Shark wing sauce contains so many natural ingredients it’ll make your head spin. Things you might not think would be in a wing sauce. But boy did they figure out the right combination. It’s spicy, but not overly spicy. You can still taste the sauce, and I love that. I am not a fan of sauces that are so hot my taste buds short circuit and I get nothing but heat. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this sauce again (and I really want to try it slathered on grilled chicken!).

Also try my drunken’ BBQ wings!

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

The Spicy Shark Wings
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5 from 1 vote

The Spicy Shark Wing Sauce Wings

If you're looking for a really great, spicy wing sauce that brings something a little different, this is it.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Texas Pete Extra Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce Wings

If you’ve got friends that can’t handle the heat from spicy foods, then Texas Pete’s Extra Mild Buffalo wing sauce is exactly what you are looking for. It has that great Buffalo flavor but without so much of the kick. Now, there’s a bit, but it’s not going to upset anyone, even the most heat-sensitive.

Texas Pete Extra Mild Buffalo Wings

Nicely Mellow with Great Taste

This sauce is a thinner sauce, as many Buffalo-style wing sauces are. If you put it directly on super-hot right-off-the-grill or fresh-out-of-the-fryer wings you’re going to end up with some sauce at the bottom of your plate. Let the wings rest a few minutes first before saucing them. But don’t wait too long, you don’t want your wings to get cold!

Also try Texas Pete’s Fiery Sweet wing sauce wings.

Remember that if you have to refrigerate your open bottle of wing sauce to let it sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes before using. You don’t want to ‘shock’ hot, just-cooked wings with a cold sauce.

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Texas Pete Extra Mild Buffalo Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Texas Pete Extra Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce Wings

Let the wings rest a few minutes first before saucing them.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Buffalo wings, mild, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Quaker Steak and Lube Arizona Ranch Wing Sauce Wings

I’ve had a big hankerin’ for some chicken wings ever since we drove over to Cincinnati and went shopping at Jungle Jim’s. I picked up a few bottles of Quaker Steak and Lube wing sauces, including this Arizona Ranch wing sauce. We’ve actually eaten at a Quaker Steak & Lube near Cincinnati, and really enjoyed it. We can’t wait for them to open one here in Indianapolis!

Quaker Steak and Lube Arizona Ranch Wings

Don’t Worry About The Heat Too Much

I really like the Quaker Steak and Lube Arizona Ranch sauce. It is like ranch dressing, for grownups. It has some kick, but not enough to scare grandma off. Personally, I’d for more kick, but I wasn’t the only one eating wings! You can see how the Arizona Ranch wing sauce stacks up heat-wise to the other yummy Quaker Steak & Lube sauces here.

A Great Sauce At A Great Price

I was worried that for $5-$6, the sauce was over-priced, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that that isn’t the case. For the number of wings I made I used only a little sauce, without sacrificing flavor. And the sauce sticks to the wings. Not gloppy, molasses sticky, but just sticky enough to not run off and form a puddle. I liked that. A lot.

Also try some Quaker Steak ‘N Lube Golden Garlic wing sauce wings.

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Quaker Steak and Lube Arizona Ranch Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Quaker Steak and Lube Arizona Ranch Wing Sauce Wings

I really like the Quaker Steak and Lube Arizona Ranch sauce. It is like ranch dressing, for grownups.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Ranch, spicy
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Meijer Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce Wings

This right here is yet another example of why you should not poo-poo generic wing sauces. I absolutely love all of the Meijer wing sauces. Meijer’s Medium Buffalo wing sauce is lightly spicy, has that great Buffalo wing flavor, and has the perfect consistency. And consistency is important. Too many less-expensive sauces are watery. You end up with 10 times as much sauce on your plate as you do on your wings. That’s not why you made wings. You want them covered in sauce, not swimming in sauce soup.

Meijer Medium Buffalo Wings

The Right Sauce At The Right Price

Here in Indy at least, Meijer’s wing sauces are all under $3 for a 12 ounce bottle. That’s a really good price, and I often find them on sale for $2.80 or even less. That’s back-up-the-truck and load-up-on-wing sauce time for me. You can’t beat the price or the flavor, be it the Meijer medium Buffalo wing sauce or any other flavor. And they’re all-natural to boot!

Also try some Meijer spicy garlic wing sauce wings! They’re great too!

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Meijer Medium Buffalo Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Meijer Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce Wings

I absolutely love all of the Meijer wing sauces.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Buffalo wings, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Great Value Parmesan Garlic Wing Sauce Wings

I often make my own chicken wing sauces. And then sometimes I don’t. I recently made it a goal of mine to try all of the wing sauces from the big grocery stores in our area: WalMart, Meijer, and Kroger. And far, I’ve been super impressed with the store sauces, like this Great Value Parmesan Garlic wing sauce. It’s thick enough to stick to the wings (it’s very thick, actually!) and it has great Parmesan and garlic flavor.

Great Value Parmesan Garlic Wings

A Great Sauce That’s Great On More Than Wings

Great Value Parmesan garlic wing sauce isn’t just great on wings. I like to roast or grill chicken breasts, chop or slice them, and toss with a bit of this sauce. It makes for the perfect creamy chicken over a salad.

Remember that if you have to refrigerate your open bottle of wing sauce to let it sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes before using. You don’t want to ‘shock’ hot, just-cooked wings with a cold sauce.

Also try the Thai curry wing sauce wings from Great Value!

Check out my always-growing list of over 200 favorite store-bought wing sauces and seasonings!

Great Value Parmesan Garlic Wings
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4.50 from 2 votes

Great Value Parmesan Garlic Wing Sauce Wings

Great Value Parmesan garlic wing sauce isn’t just great on wings.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: garlic, Parmesan, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.