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This Whole30 buffalo chicken ranch meal prep is Whole30 meal prep perfection! Totally loaded with flavor, protein, healthy fats, and fiber, this is a great meal prep idea for lunch. With cauliflower rice and homemade ranch dressing, this will definitely become one of your favorite meal prep recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is the first thing I ever fed my assistant.
We’d decided to work together as a sort of last-minute thing. I knew I needed to hire someone to help out with the day-to-day tasks here but was a bit terrified. But then one of my oldest friends came to me, it made sense, and working with one of your besties sounded like a damn good idea. So I hired her.
The first day she came to the office, I begged her to take one of those Whole30 buffalo chicken ranch meal preps off my hands. I’d been eating them for 5 days straight at that point and couldn’t stomach the thought of another bite! She agreed readily and devoured the meal prep recipe at the kitchen counter.
“You seriously… have… to give me… this recipe,” she stated simply between bites.
“I would seriously… make this… all the… time.”
And I get why this is her favorite meal prep recipe! Tender shredded buffalo chicken over cauliflower rice, topped with sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy avocado, and drizzled with a homemade ranch dressing? I’m exceptionally partial to my Greek healthy meal prep, but this buffalo chicken ranch Whole30 meal prep recipe is a very close second.
Bonus points: preparation is the #1 piece of advice for any Whole30, forever and ever. Prep! Prepare. Make preparations. Do all the things that will help you go into each and every meal, that will help you meet every little hunger pang with an answer. And for lunch, your answer is a fervent
Whole30 buffalo chicken ranch meal prep recipe.
This Whole30 meal prep idea comes together pretty easily on a Sunday, requiring just a bit of chopping and prepping, mostly relying on the punch of flavor that comes from the tender, shredded buffalo chicken and the richness of a homemade ranch dressing.
What Makes It So Good
- It requires very little hands-on cooking time, making it quick and easy to throw together on Meal Prep Sunday!
- This buffalo chicken Whole30 meal prep recipe happens to be naturally keto, too! Loads of protein and veggies, light on the carbs (Only 5 net!).
- The shredded buffalo chicken is super easy to make, thanks to the Instant Pot.
Variations
- Substitute in whatever veggies you like! Ideas include mini peppers, whole snacking cucumbers (Less chopping!), raw zucchini sticks, or baby carrots. For this meal prep idea, it’s all about what you like, and have on hand!
- If you’re not on a Whole30, try blue cheese dressing in place of the ranch.
- Replace the mayonnaise in the creamy shredded buffalo chicken with ranch dressing for an extra hit of buffalo-ranch flavor.
Chef’s Tips
- Use frozen pre-riced cauliflower to make this meal prep idea even easier.
- Dice the avocado right before you eat it, otherwise, you’ll end up with a browned mess.
- Make my Whole30 dump ranch recipe for the best-ever buffalo chicken ranch meal prep idea experience!
How To Make It
In your Instant Pot, combine the chicken breasts, hot sauce, salt, and ghee. Seal the lid and cook on Manual High Pressure for 20 minutes. Quick Release and remove lid.
Remove the chicken breasts from the Instant Pot and shred. Return to the pot and add mayonnaise. Stir to coat in sauce and let absorb, a couple of minutes.
Heat cauliflower rice in a large skillet, covered, over low heat until they are steamed. Season with salt and a pinch of turmeric for color; stir well.
Assemble your Whole30 and keto meal prep idea for the week! Spoon cauliflower rice into half the meal prep container; place sliced romaine in the other half. Place shredded buffalo chicken down the middle, then top with cucumber, tomatoes, green onions, and ranch dressing. Wait until just before serving to dice and eat the avocado.
What are the best meal prep recipe containers?
I personally prefer to use glass containers, since there’s no threat of chemicals from the plastic migrating into my food. We currently use these glass meal prep recipe containers (<<< affiliate link!).
They’re not too big and stack on top of each other nicely in the fridge. Big fan!
Which Instant Pot should I get?
Ohh, sister, if you don’t have an Instant Pot, I can’t wait for you to get one. It’ll be a total game-changer with your meal prep ideas for the week, and it makes dinner so dang easy, too! I personally like the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Quart, since it’s big enough but not too big. The functionality is all I need, too. Grab one for yourself! Click here to check out the one I love (<<< affiliate link!).
Other recipes you’ll love
- Whole30 Dump Ranch Dressing Recipe
- Greek Healthy Meal Prep
- Healthy Mexican Chicken Meal Prep
- Egg Roll in a Bowl Meal Prep (Whole30, Paleo, Keto)
- Whole30 Breakfast Meal Prep
- Healthy Mexican Chicken Meal Prep (Whole30, Paleo, Keto)
- 35 Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes
Did you make and love this recipe? Give your review below! ? And make sure to share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!
Buffalo Chicken Ranch Whole30 Meal Prep (Whole30 Meal Prep)
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Meal prep containers
Ingredients
- 2 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Whole30 mayonnaise
- 2 12-ounce bags frozen cauliflower rice
- salt
- pinch turmeric if desired
- 1 head romaine lettuce shredded
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1 bunch green onions sliced thin
- 2 avocados peeled, seeded, and diced before serving
- Whole30 ranch dressing for drizzling
- celery sticks for garnish
Instructions
- If you do not have an Instant Pot, see Note for alternate directions for chicken using a slow cooker.
- Make your shredded chicken: combine chicken breasts, Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, ghee, and salt in the pot of an Instant Pot. Do not add water. Secure lid and cook on Manual, high pressure for 20 minutes. Quick release pressure and remove chicken breasts from the pot. Shred with two forks then return to pot. Add in 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and cook on Sauté mode a few minutes until sauce is absorbed.
- Put frozen cauliflower rice in a saucepan with a lid and place over low heat. Cook until thawed and cooked through, seasoning with salt. Add a pinch of turmeric for color, if desired, and stir very well to combine. Remove from heat.
- Assemble your meal prep: evenly divide all ingredients among 4-6 meal prep containers. Spoon cauliflower rice into 1/3 of each container, place romaine into 1/3 of each container, then place chicken in other 1/3. Top with tomatoes and cucumbers, then sprinkle with green onions. Serve with freshly diced avocado, cucumber sticks, and plenty of Whole30 Ranch dressing.
Video
- If you do not have an Instant Pot, make chicken in a slow cooker instead: In the pot of a slow-cooker, combine chicken, Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, ghee, and salt. Do not add water. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. After about 3/4 of the time, shred the chicken breasts with two forks then add 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise. Stir to coat and let the chicken cook for a few minutes longer, or until sauce is absorbed.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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I really wanted to love this but this recipe was not good. It literally tasted like hot sauce chicken soup with a side of ranch. I had to throw everything away none of my family liked it
I’m sorry to hear that you did not enjoy this recipe. I appreciate your feedback.
Can you cook the chicken from frozen instead of thawed already?
We recommend this for cooking frozen chicken breasts! https://40aprons.com/instant-pot-frozen-chicken-breast/
Do we heat any of this up before eating or just eat it all cold?
It’s up to you! You can heat the chicken up if you’d like!
If I want to add the ranch dressing how much do I add in each container? I am trying stick to the exact macros you listed .
No more than a tablespoon or so!
Are the calories for the entire meal or just the chicken?
For the entire meal.
I prep this recipe all the time, wether on a Whole30 or not! Super easy & tasty. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Dakota!
SO good! I modified just a bit by omitting mayo and added cilantro and shredded cheese (I eat keto). I portioned out my rice and chicken together and topped with cheese. Then mixed the veggies all together in a separate container and will add those after I reheat each individual meal. So many good flavors going on and nice and filling!
Oh, cilantro and shredded cheese work perfectly here (so long as you’re not paleo/Whole30 that is!). Great additions, Laura! So happy you enjoy this one so much!
My instant pot requires 2 cups liquid to come to pressure. How is 1/4 cup of sauce and a little ghee going to be enough? Just curious what you do since you make it all the time.
I love this recipe! Need to double it, any idea on timing with FOUR chkn breasts? Thanks!
Should be about the same!
If you add extra chicken, do you have to go longer on the instapot?
The cooking time should remain the same!
Is this meal to be eaten cold?
It can be enjoyed hot or cold!
This is my favorite Whole30 recipe on the WHOLE internet!!! My mom and I go crazy for it. Question: What do I need to do differently if I want to use frozen chicken breast for this recipe?