Buffalo chicken is a combination that's practically synonymous with game day. Whether it's the classic Buffalo wings, Buffalo chicken pizza, or Buffalo chicken egg rolls, this flavor profile was made for party pleasing. While we'll incorporate this combo into countless party apps, this Buffalo chicken dip remains an all-time favorite. Whether it's served with a plate of carrot and celery sticks or just an open bag of tortilla chips, it's a party dip staple during Super Bowl snacking. While this dip is pretty straightforward, there are a few tiny details that will take it from being pretty good to truly incredible. Keep reading on for our top tips on how to create the ultimate Buffalo chicken dip:
Buffalo chicken dip ingredients:
All you need is cream cheese, Buffalo hot sauce, blue cheese dressing, cheddar cheese, crumbled blue cheese, and chicken breasts to bring this dip together. We prefer using shredded cooked chicken breasts in this dip, but you can also use shredded rotisserie chicken if you prefer. You can use any Buffalo sauce you prefer, but we're partial to Frank's. As far as the cheese goes, we're big fans of the sharp cheddar and blue cheese combination, but feel free to experiment with other combinations. If you're not a blue cheese fan, check out our Crockpot buffalo chicken dip which replaces the blue cheese with ranch dressing.
How to make the best Buffalo chicken dip:
— Chop your shredded chicken. During tastings, most people agreed that they wanted shredded chicken in their dip as opposed to chunks; however, we also found that the shreds of chicken were sometimes too long, making it difficult to scoop up that perfect bite. Roughly chopping the shredded chicken eliminates that issue and guarantees you pieces that are the perfect texture and scoopable size.
— Mix in stages. Most recipes call for throwing all the dip ingredients in the bowl and mixing them up. But trying to incorporate not-quite-soft-enough cream cheese with Buffalo wing sauce and shredded chicken all at the same time is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Stirring together just the cream cheese, Buffalo sauce, and blue cheese dressing until smooth before adding in the shredded chicken and cheese ensures a much easier (and less messy) assembly.
— Salt your dip as needed. With so much cheese and Buffalo sauce, most of us would probably assume that this dip doesn’t need any actual salt added. But in testing, we discovered that the dip often tasted flat unless we stirred in a little kosher salt. We found 1/2 teaspoon to be the perfect amount, but since salt levels of prepared dressings and sauces can vary (as well as personal preferences), we recommend you start by adding 1/4 teaspoon salt, then tasting and adding more as needed before you spread it into the casserole dish.
Make it in the Crockpot:
While we love this classic version, if you're looking for more of a hands-off recipe, then our Crockpot buffalo chicken dip will make your party even easier.
How to serve Buffalo chicken dip:
We love to serve this dip alongside tortilla chips and a plate of carrots and celery sticks, but your options don't stop there. Add on some crackers, pita, a sliced baguette, or an array of veggies to your tray—this dip is good with just about everything.
Storage:
Like most cream cheese-based dips, Buffalo chicken dip is best served warm, right after it’s been baked. If you want to prep in advance, you can mix everything together, spread it into the baking dish, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve, just remove the plastic wrap and bake as directed.
Did you try making this? Let us know how it went in the comments!
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- Yields:
- 4 - 6 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 15 mins
- Total Time:
- 50 mins
- Cal/Serv:
- 668
Ingredients
- 1
(8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 c.
Buffalo hot sauce
- 4 tbsp.
blue cheese dressing
- 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt, divided
- 6 oz.
sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 c.), divided
- 1/4 c.
crumbled blue cheese, divided
- 10 oz.
cooked chicken breast, shredded, chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 2 c.)
- 1 tbsp.
finely sliced chives
Carrots, celery sticks, and tortilla chips, for serving
Directions
- Step1Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°. In a large bowl, stir cream cheese, hot sauce, blue cheese dressing, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth and combined. Fold in 1 cup cheddar and 3 tablespoons blue cheese. Fold in chicken; season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, if needed.
- Step2Spread chicken mixture in a 11" x 7" ceramic baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar.
- Step3Bake dip until bubbling all the way through, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Step4Top with chives and remaining 1 tablespoon blue cheese. Serve with carrots, celery sticks, and tortilla chips alongside.
Taylor Ann Spencer
Assistant Food Editor
Taylor Ann Spencer is the assistant food editor at Delish, where she develops recipes, creates recipe videos, and styles food. With a background in writing and theater as well as professional cooking, she enjoys sharing her love for global flavors and all things baking through informational posts, hosted videos, and just plain everyday conversations. When she's not cooking, she's brainstorming her next culinary mash-up. Mac 'n' cheese chili rellenos, anyone?
