Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
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This Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe is a cheesy showstopper loaded with chicken, tasty buffalo sauce, and creamy ranch or blue cheese dressing for your favorite wing flavors. It’s just the appetizer for game days, casual gatherings, and fun parties. This zesty dip is easy to make in the oven or slow cooker and is ready in less than 30 minutes.
The bold zest of buffalo wings meets the smooth flavor of a cheesy dip in this tantalizing recipe! A go-to in my kitchen since I first shared it in 2011, this Buffalo Chicken Dip is a staple with easy prep and amazing taste. It’s delicious served with celery sticks, tortilla chips, or pita chips and is a sure-fire winner for any gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes with very little preparation.
- Bold Tastes: Has a combo of zesty buffalo sauce, creamy cheese, and savory dressing.
- Convenient Cooking Methods: It’s versatile as it can be made in oven or slow cooker.
- Customizable Flavor: Change dressings and adjust spice level to suit your tastes.
- Crowd-Hit: Great for holidays, watching the game, or casual parties.
Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Dip
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Chicken: Cooked, shredded leftover, rotisserie, or canned chicken.
- Buffalo Sauce: Use this easy, flavorful homemade or store-bought.
- Cream Cheese: Softened for creamy smoothness. Use full-fat or low-fat.
- Cheddar Cheese: Freshly grated for best melty cheesy goodness.
- Blue Cheese or Buttermilk Ranch Dressing: Use homemade or store-bought to customize to your favorite wing flavor.
- Stone House Seasoning: Use my homemade house seasoning recipe, or 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and a pinch of garlic powder.
Optional Toppings:
- Green Onions: Sliced for additional fresh flavor.
- Blue Cheese Crumbles: Extra tang and creamy texture.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped for colorful presentation.
Ingredient Swaps
- Chicken: Use shredded turkey or canned chicken in a pinch.
- Dressing: Swap ranch for blue cheese according to your favorite flavor profile.
- Cheese: Swap cheddar with a Mexican blend or Monterey Jack.
- Spice Intensity: Use a mild buffalo sauce for less heat, or spice it up with extra hot sauce.
What To Serve with Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Celery Sticks
- Carrot Sticks
- Pita Chips
- Tortilla Chips
- Fritos
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip
This fabulous dip is a snap to make with two cooking methods: in the oven for quicker baking or in a slow cooker for cooking ease.
Step by Step Instructions
Oven Method:
- Preheat oven. In a medium mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, cream cheese, buffalo sauce, choice of dressing, cheddar cheese, and Stone House Seasoning and stir until well blended.
- Spread dip mixture into an oven-safe baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and hot.
- Serve warm dip topped with optional green onions, parsley, or blue cheese crumbles and a choice of dippers.
Slow Cooker Method:
- Lightly spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Combine chicken, cream cheese, buffalo sauce, dressing, cheddar cheese, and Stone House Seasoning in a mixing bowl and stir until blended. Pour into the slow cooker insert.
- Cover with lid and cook on Low or Warm setting for up to 4 hours. Stir occasionally and cook until bubbly and heated through.
- Serve warm, topped with optional garnishes. You can serve directly from the slow cooker if you want.
Recipe Variations
- Extra Spicy: Add 1/2 tsp cayenne or extra hot sauce for more spicy heat.
- Low-Carb: Serve with all veggies like celery or carrot sticks, cucumber or bell pepper slices.
- Mexican Variation: Swap cheddar for a Mexican cheese blend.
- Leftover Makeover: Use leftovers in buffalo chicken enchiladas, potstickers, or on a fresh green salad.
Recipe Success Tips
- Prep in Advance: Assemble up to 2 days ahead for easy game days, holidays, or party prep.
- Use Softened Cream Cheese: Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes for easier mixing.
- Freshly Grated Cheese: Grate the cheddar yourself for the best results, as pre-shredded cheese may not melt as well.
- Custom Spice Level: Taste to decide to add more buffalo sauce or hot sauce for desired heat.
- Keep Warm to Serve: Use a slow cooker on the Warm setting for gatherings and parties to keep dip hot and creamy.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Cool dip and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, place in freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge (Note: the texture may change a bit since it is a cheese dish).
- Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or microwave in 20-30 seconds at a time, stirring until heated.
- Make-Ahead: Assemble recipe without baking, then cover well and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Then bake or cook as directed.
More Favorite Dip Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
It should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours per USDA guidelines. Keep it warm in a slow cooker on the Warm setting for a longer serving time.
It should be eaten within 3-4 days when stored in the fridge, as aligned with USDA standards for safe food storage. If you wish to extend its shelf life, you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
Use mild buffalo sauce and use 1/2 cup for less spiciness. You can also add extra dressing or cream cheese.
Yes, drain it well. Rotisserie or leftover chicken does give better flavor, though.
Why This Buffalo Chicken Dip is a Crowd-Hit
With its spicy zest, smooth and creamy texture, and simple preparation, this Buffalo Chicken Dip is a party go-to. It’s a favorite for gatherings, holidays, and game days!
Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing, homemade or store-bought
- 3/4 cup buffalo sauce recipe, homemade or store bought
- 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Stone House Seasoning
- bleu cheese crumbles, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Mix together all ingredients except bleu cheese crumbles (if using) and pour into a medium baking dish.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with bleu cheese crumbles, if using.
- Serve with celery sticks, fritos, pita chips, or tortilla chips.
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Lightly spray the insert to the slow cooker with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Mix together all ingredients except blue cheese crumbles (if using) and pour into the insert of the slow cooker. Top with remaining cheddar cheese and bleu cheese crumbles. Place lid on the slow cooker and turn on to the low or warm setting for up to 4 hours.
Notes
- Store: Cool dip and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, place in freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge (Note: the texture may change a bit since it is a cheese dish).
- Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or microwave in 20-30 seconds at a time, stirring until heated.
- Make-Ahead: Assemble recipe without baking, then cover well and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Then bake or cook as directed.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally published 2011.
My neighbor makes something similar and it’s fantastic!! I didn’t even know how easy it is to make!! Perfect game day food.
This is almost too yummy! I want a whole batch to myself!
What a great way to handle the messy hands situation. I know what you mean. Especially if you are eating these
and aren’t at a table. Ick on the furniture. Picture makes this REALLY look good!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds good to me! I’m also partial to ranch vs bleu cheese. Pinning it to try!!
Oh man, this looks delicious!!
I’m the same way about mess – it’s to the point where I don’t even like ribs, no matter how succulent they are. Getting sauce all over my face and hands drives me absolutely batty.
You know, another way I avoid the wing sauce fiasco is making buffalo chicken calzones. Give it a try sometime, it’s nom!
Oh yum! I am going to have to give that try. It sounds delicious!
Have you tried making it wit ranch dressing instead of bleu cheese? While the hubby loves it no one else is really fond of it but love ranch with their wings. Thanks!
Hi Maggie,
You can easily switch out the bleu cheese with ranch in equal quantities. It tastes delicious with the ranch, too. My husband just prefers the bleu cheese.
Thanks Robyn!
Making this for the big Steelers game today!
My “kids” will love it!
Maggie
I love all of your dip recipes! 🙂
Happy New Year!
mmm…looks so yummy!!! Wishing I had my own bowl of some right now, you know just to try. Not much 8 cups would do 🙂
I LOVE THIS! I make a simpler version of it (and use ranch instead of blue cheese). Its ALWAYS a fave at parties. and now several of my friends are sharing it with their friends at parties. I love it! My fave is to make some- then eat it for lunch with chips. IT has chicken in it- its good for me, right?
Oh, wow! Another one to add to my appetizer list. This sounds simply amazing. And, I think that two of my three littles will like it, too. 🙂