If you're looking for that perfect appetizer for your game day noshing you can't do better than this! It's easy, absolutely delicious, and definitely game day party worthy!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- A favorite appetizer for game day or casual family gatherings
- Tastes like buffalo wings but in an addicting dip form
- So versatile, great with veggies, chips, bread—you name it
Easy buffalo chicken dip is made with simple ingredients but packs a major punch when it comes to flavor and creamy texture. It's not really spicy off the bat, though you can easily amp up the heat to mouth-watering perfection!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Poach and shred the chicken breasts. Set aside.
- Fry the bacon, then remove it and saute the diced onion in the fat.
- Add the hot sauce, ranch dressing, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese.
- Stir to melt, then add the bacon and shredded chicken. Combine and serve, topped with green onion and bleu cheese.
🥫 How to store Buffalo Chicken dip
Made too many delicious appetizers? No worries! Leftover buffalo chicken dip is just as tasty as it is fresh.
The best way to store the leftovers is in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature, first. Then, spoon the leftover dip into an airtight container. Consume it within four days for the best results!
To freeze:
Just spoon into a freezer safe container, then let the dip cool for 30 minutes or so uncovered. Once it's cooled you'll cover it and put in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat:
For smaller portions, reheat in the microwave in 30-second bursts. If the texture of the dip separates a little bit, just give it a good stir. You may choose to add a splash of milk to loosen it up a bit.
Creamy dips are great when reheated in the oven. So, if you have a lot of buffalo chicken dip left over, spoon it into an oven-safe dish. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Stir and enjoy your delicious dip!
📖 Variations
This is sooooo good just the way it's written but different people have different tastes. Here are some ways to change it up.
- Make it a vegetarian cream cheese dip by omitting all of the meat.
- Add garlic to the onion. Or, use onion and garlic powder, instead.
- You can also stir in some corn, diced bell peppers, or serrano peppers depending on the flavor you like.
- For an extra spicy, hot dip recipe, stir in more hot pepper sauce or cayenne pepper. Start with a half teaspoon or so, and proceed accordingly.
- Use your favorite brand or variety of buffalo sauce—it doesn't matter.
- If you really like the flavor of blue cheese, you can swap the ranch for a blue cheese dressing.
- On the other hand, substitute the dressing for sour cream for a milder, slightly lighter flavor.
- Not eating right away? Once you add the chicken and bacon, spoon everything into a baking dish and cover it with foil. Keep it warm in the oven until you're ready.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: If you have time and don't like to poach chicken, you can precook it in your slow cooker on low for eight hours. It'll shred super easily!
- You don't need to add much (if any) salt to the cooked chicken, since the cheeses and dressing are already seasoned!
- Don't keep buffalo chicken dip out for more than an hour or two, unless it's in the crock pot on the warm setting.
- This easy appetizer is a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken.
- Load up on the dippers! We like tortilla chips, corn chips, sliced bell peppers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, baguette slices, and pita bread!
- The great thing about this buffalo dip recipe is that there are many different ways to enjoy the leftovers. Spoon it over some rice or make a buffalo chicken sandwich! Yum.
👩🍳 FAQs
Buffalo chicken dip tastes best for 2-3 days, but it's safe to eat up to 4 days later. Make sure it's in a sealed container for the best results!
You can! Be aware that sometimes creamy cheese-based dishes don't thaw super well. Though the dip will be safe to eat for up to three months, the texture might be a bit grainier. Let frozen dip thaw in the fridge overnight, then use the reheating methods and tips above.
I get this question all the time! For the best buffalo chicken dip, I use regular cream cheese—the taste and texture are simply unmatched! However, you can get away with a low-fat variety in this recipe. Beware - the texture will be a bit different.
📚 Related recipes
- Not only is Buffalo Chicken Pasta packed with zingy flavor, but it's really easy to assemble—even days in advance! Weeknight dinner score!
- For your next gathering, try Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip with Smoked Gouda—it's one of our favorite appetizers for a special occasion.
- With just three ingredients and ten minutes, you and your guests can enjoy delicious, gooey, and hearty Rotel Sausage Dip.
- Don't forget the game day standard - easy Velveeta queso!
🍽️ Serve with...
Put this out on a countertop with other make ahead foods like sausage balls and crispy oven baked chicken wings and your Super Bowl or March Madness party is going to be a hit!
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
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📞 The last word
This dip is legendary.
I honestly try to make extra because I love the leftovers mixed with cooked macaroni and turned into mac and cheese!
SO GOOD!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buffalo Chicken Dip for Super Bowl Snacking
Print Pin Recipe SaveIngredients
- 2 boneless chicken breasts, or thighs
- ½ lb bacon
- ¼ cup onion
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ¾ cup Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce, or your favorite
- ½ cup Ranch Dressing
- 2 cups shredded cheddar, or Colby-Jack, or Monterey Jack cheese
- ½ cup bleu cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup chopped green onion, for garnish
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Instructions
To poach chicken
- Add the chicken to a heavy saucepan.
- Cover with water or chicken stock. You can also add chunks of celery, onion, carrot, and/or garlic if you wish.
- Bring to a boil over medium high heat then turn heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 10-15 minutes - or until the chicken registers 165F on an instant read thermometer.
- Shred it and set aside. (Save the broth for soups, stews, and to cook vegetables in!)
To make dip
- Fry bacon until crisp. Drain off the fat, leaving about a teaspoon or so in the skillet.
- Sauté the onion in the same skillet until transparent.
- Add the cream cheese, sauce, Ranch, and cheese to the pan.
- Heat, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted and ingredients are completely mixed together.
- Spoon into serving dish and top with green onion and bleu cheese.
- Serve warm with chips, celery, carrot sticks, cauliflower, soft tortillas, toasted baguette slices, or even in sandwiches.
Crockpot
- You can also toss everything except the bleu cheese and green onion into a crock pot set on low for a couple of hours. Then add the bleu cheese and green onion before serving.
Notes
- If you have time and don't feel like poaching the chicken you can cook it in your slow cooker on low for 8 hours. It will shred like a charm!
- You don't need to add much (if any) salt to the cooked chicken, since the cheeses and dressing are already seasoned!
- This easy appetizer is a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken.
- Load up on the dippers! We like tortilla chips, corn chips, sliced bell peppers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, baguette slices, and pita bread!
- The great thing about this buffalo dip recipe is that there are many different ways to enjoy the leftovers. Spoon it over some rice or make a buffalo chicken sandwich! Yum.
Nutrition Facts
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published January 28, 2010. Last updated January 22, 2023 for better images and editorial improvements.
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