Description
This easy buffalo chicken dip is creamy, spicy, and loaded with tender chicken, tangy buffalo sauce, and melted cheese. It’s the ultimate party appetizer that comes together in just 30 minutes and feeds a crowd! Perfect for game day, potlucks, or any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ½ cup buffalo sauce (Frank’s RedHot recommended)
- 2½ cups cooked chicken, shredded (about 1 rotisserie chicken)
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 green onions, sliced (optional, for garnish)
For Serving:
- Tortilla chips
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Crackers
- Sliced baguette or pita chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Mix the base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ranch dressing, and buffalo sauce. Use a hand mixer or sturdy wooden spoon to beat until smooth and creamy with no lumps. Make sure the cream cheese is fully incorporated – this creates the creamy base of your dip.
- Add seasonings and chicken: Add the garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to the cream cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Add the shredded chicken and mix until the chicken is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Add most of the cheese: Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, reserving ½ cup for topping. Mix until the cheese is evenly distributed throughout the dip.
- Transfer to baking dish: Spread the buffalo chicken mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to smooth the top into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the dip is hot and bubbly throughout and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. You should see the edges bubbling.
- Broil for extra golden top (optional): For an extra golden, slightly crispy cheese topping, turn your oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with sliced green onions if desired. Serve hot with tortilla chips, celery sticks, crackers, or your favorite dippers. Enjoy immediately while hot and bubbly!
Notes
- Soften cream cheese: This is crucial! Leave cream cheese at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before mixing, or microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften. Cold cream cheese won’t mix smoothly and will leave lumps.
- Adjust heat level: For mild dip, reduce buffalo sauce to ⅓ cup. For extra spicy, increase to ⅔ cup or add cayenne pepper.
- Rotisserie chicken shortcut: This is the easiest option! Remove skin and bones, then shred the meat with two forks or your hands.
- Slow cooker method: Mix all ingredients except the topping cheese. Pour into a greased slow cooker, top with cheese, and cook on low for 2-3 hours or high for 1-1.5 hours, stirring halfway through.
- Keep warm: Transfer finished dip to a slow cooker set to “warm” to keep it hot throughout your party.
- Cheese substitutions: Try Monterey Jack, pepper jack (for heat!), mozzarella, or a Mexican blend instead of cheddar.
- Blue cheese option: Replace ranch with blue cheese dressing for a more traditional buffalo flavor pairing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ⅓ cup
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 55mg