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.
I prepared the Buffalo Chicken Dip along with the Cocktail Meatballs (also from this site) yesterday to take to a SEC football game party. Since I did not plan in advance to cook the chicken in the crockpot, I poached 2 chicken breasts, cooled and shredded then proceeded with the recipe. I had more than 1 cup of shredded chicken so I added a little more cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese but stayed with the same amount of blue cheese dressing (Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing). I also prepared the accompanying Buffalo Sauce recipe using Franks Red Hot Sauce. I started with 3/4 cup sauce per the recipe but ended up adding the entire recipe of the Buffalo Sauce to the dish before baking. In hindsight, I would probably not add extra cheddar to the chicken mixture next time. Between what I added to the chicken mixture and what I added to the top, I used about 3/4 of a block of extra sharp cheddar cheese. The dip was a bit oily on top from the cheddar. I baked it in a quiche dish and topped only half with the blue cheese crumbles and served with celery sticks, tortilla chips, and scoops. Thank you Robyn for a tasty & easy recipe for a fun afternoon of college football.
This was so easy to make and was excellent!
I had never made buffalo dip before so I was a little nervous going in, but this was so easy to make and SO yummy! I added a little less ranch and a little more hot sauce to mine to give it more heat, but it was amazing. Thank you for this recipe!!
So glad to hear that Ariana! xo
This dip is absolutely delicious and addictive! The only suggestion I would make is to wait until the last 5-8 minutes to add the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. I found that leaving it on for the entire cook time made it rather tough and chewy. Other than that, fantastic! 👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it Patty! xo
AMAZING!
Yum yum yummy in my tummy thanks for sharing this great recipe.
So happy you enjoyed it, Treas! Thanks!
Mmm…This dip sounds delicious!
What do you think about using this as a pizza topping? Buffalo Chicken Pizza????
Absolutely delicious! xo
Great recipe for my weekend party happening on this weekend. Hope I will not make a mess ‘cos the kids are waiting for full of surprises. Thanks for shearing this one
Looks so yummy, Robyn! And perfect timing for late season baseball games, and pre-season football getting started! 🙂
Thank you!