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Instant Pot Paleo Buffalo Chicken
This Instant Pot Paleo Buffalo Chicken is an absolute favorite of mine, and it’s easy to see why. It cooks in 15 minutes, all in one pot, so cleanup is a breeze. You can use frozen chicken, or you can meal prep and freeze afterward. If you follow me, you know I love a good buffalo recipe. Turkey Buffalo Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Salad, and Buffalo Spaghetti Squash Casserole, just to name a few. Buffalo sauce is packed with flavor and low in calories. Using buffalo sauce not only gives the chicken a Mike Tyson punch of flavor, it also keeps it Whole 30, Paleo and Keto (0 Carbs Yall) friendly. As with all my recipes on the blog, it’s gluten-free too!
All About That Buffalo Sauce
I just told you guys I love a good buffalo sauce recipe, and this one is no different. It’s so flavorful and probably one of the healthier of all the condiments. When you’re eating Whole 30 or Paleo, it can be hard to keep it interesting, and buffalo sauce definitely spices it up a bit. It’s also so versatile. I add it to eggs, use it for casseroles, main dishes, even sides, and lunches. My go-to compliant buffalo sauce is the New Primal. When I want simple, this meal is top of my list. I love cooking in the instant pot because it is quick, also clean up is a breeze. Just toss the pan and lid in the dishwasher and keep it moving. You can throw this chicken over a salad, turn it Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash, or use leftovers for lunch to make Buffalo Chicken Salad the next day.
What Makes This Dish Keto, Paleo and Whole 30 Friendly?
I usually take a minute to explain what makes each recipe on this site fall into the dietary categories so my readers a better idea of what each diet is about. Keto is a diet focused on keeping the body in a state of ketosis. In this state, the body starts to burn fat for fuel. You do this by consuming under a certain number of carbs per day, typically 20G or less. Where as Low Carb Dieters try and limit carbs below 50 a day. Chicken breast like almost all meats have 0 carbs. Bone Broth also has 0 carbs, as does Franks Red Hot Sauce and Ghee. Yes you read all of that right, this a 0 Net Carb Dish!! Now that is if you eat it on its own, if you add a side dish, or turn it into a casserole that will obviously change. But as this recipe it is, ZERO CARBS!
Both Whole 30 and Paleo diets focus on eating whole foods that are minimally processed, avoiding any inflammatory ingredients, like gluten, grains, dairy, and legumes. Chicken is allowed you just want to make sure that you use high quality meats, both Whole 30 & Paleo focus on quality over quantity. New Primal Buffalo Sauce is compliant for both lifestyles. While butter is not because it contains dairy, ghee is. Ghee is a clarified which most of the lactose removed so it is allowed. Be sure your bone broth is compliant, or better yet make your own Instant Pot Bone Broth, so you know exactly what’s in it.
What Ingredients Do You Need?
- Chicken Breast
- Buffalo Sauce
- Bone Broth (can also use water)
- Ghee (can also use butter if not Whole 30/Paleo)
How To Make It
- Place chicken in Instant Pot, add bone broth. Seal instant pot.
- Cook for 15 Minutes, (let it naturally release this is KEY For juicy meat)
- Shred, add melted ghee and buffalo sauce.
That Simple!!!
Helpful Equipment and Ingredients (Directly From Amazon)
What Are Some Good Sides?
I always try and include some good side dish ideas for all my main meal recipes. But this recipe can also be used as a main ingredient to complete another recipe.
- Turn into a salad by serving over lettuce with pickled red onion, and avocado.
- Cauliflower Rice (Fresh or frozen)
- Simple Sesame Roasted Asparagus
- Make into a complete dish by turning this into Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole.
- Turn into a lunch dish or sandwich by making Buffalo Chicken Salad.
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Watch Me Make It
Natural Release Vs. Quick Release What You Need to Know
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There are a few things to note about Natural Release Vs. Quick Release. First off, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, the valve at the top of the instant pot that you switch to “sealing mode” to cook, can be turned to “venting” for a quick release as soon as your cook time ends. Natural release is letting pressure release gradually without doing anything.
- Quick Release- A large and sometimes loud amount of steam will come out. Don’t be alarmed, this is normal. Be careful putting your instant pot under cabinets or near them because the steam can do some damage over time. Quick-release is great for vegetables, pasta, and other things that you don’t want to get mushy or overcook.
- Natural release is simply the process of letting the pressure slowly release by not doing anything. When the cook time is complete, the timer will start counting up. This shows the amount of time it has been naturally releasing. There is also a little thermometer icon above the time. This shows the amount of pressure left. Natural release takes 5-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when you can open the lid without any tension. Natural release soups because they’l spew all over the place, foods that have a high starch content, most meats except ones that you are worried will over cook.
To get tender, juicy pull apart meat in this recipe, we naturally release for at least 15 minutes.
| Recipe | Natural Release | Quick Release |
| Pasta |  | |
| Vegetables | | |
| Beans | | |
| Most Meats | | |
Meat that you don’t want to overcook because it will get mushy. IE; Crispy chicken wings or thighs | | |
Delicate foods like shrimp or salmon | | |
| Soups | | |
Foods that are foamy or spew | | |
High Starch content IE; Oats, Porridge | |
Tips, Recs, Subs
- For tender juicy chicken allow it naturally release for 12-15 minutes (see above)
- You can use frozen chicken just add 2 minutes to cook time.
- You can freeze in an air tight container for 3 months.
- Make sure your buffalo sauce is Whole 30/Paleo Compliant, like the New Primal.
- You can use water instead of bone broth, but it won’t be as flavorful.
- You can replace ghee with butter if you are not Whole 30/Paleo Compliant.
- If making ahead of time I live the bone broth in and add buffalo sauce, so the flavors all marinade together and it does not get dry, I get rid of the excess broth right before I use and add a little more buffalo sauce.
- If you are making right away, you can discard extra bone broth.
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Other Buffalo Recipes to Enjoy
Paleo Buffalo Chicken
Equipment
- Instant Pot or Similar Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 Lbs Chicken Breast
- 1 Cup Bone Broth (Or water)
- 1/2 Cup Buffalo Sauce (more if you prefer it spicy)
- 2 Tablespoons Ghee (can use butter if not whole 30/paleo)
Instructions
- Place chicken breast in the instant pot, add bone broth. Cover and make sure the valve is set to "sealing mode."
- Set Instant pot to Manual or pressure cook mode, Set timer for 15 minutes. Add 2 minutes if chicken is frozen. When time is complete, let naturally release for at least 15 minutes, before doing a quick release.
- Heat buffalo sauce and ghee in microwave for 1-2 minutes until ghee is melted.
- If using chicken right away, drain the excess bone broth, if meal prepping or making ahead of time leave bone broth in. Add buffalo sauce mixture, stir to combine. When ready to serve or use get rid of excess broth, may need to add a little extra buffalo sauce depending on your desired level of spiciness.
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