Buffalo Chicken Dip

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This Buffalo Chicken Dip is pure indulgence — comfort food at its finest. Tender shredded chicken, creamy buffalo sauce, and a sprinkle of scallions come together for a dip you'll crave again and again. For more delicious options, take a look at my dip recipes.

So, if you're a fan of buffalo chicken wings and want to try something a little different, this recipe is perfect!

Why you'll love this buffalo chicken dip recipe

The creamy ranch dressing is absolutely delicious!
If you're in need of a little comfort food, it doesn't get much better than this
It's the perfect game day food and will go down a treat with friends and family.
This recipe is really easy to get right

Equipment needed

There are a few essential items you'll need to make this delicious baked buffalo chicken dip recipe:

Sauce pan – a good quality sauce pan comes in handy for preparing your delicious ranch dressing sauce
Baking dish – the central piece of equipment needed for making this buffalo chicken dip recipe, a good quality baking dish makes all the difference

How to make buffalo chicken dip

You need shredded chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, ranch dressing, cheese, scallions and spices for this recipe.

Place the cream cheese, ranch sauce, hot sauce and spices in a pot.

Stir over a medium heat until the sauce is smooth.

Stir in the chicken, scallions and half of the cheese to the sauce.

Tip the contents into a baking dish.

Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and bake.

Bake until the edges are golden, the cheese has melted and the top turned golden. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Top Tip

One your buffalo chicken dip is fully baked, broil it in the oven for an extra two to three minutes in order to make sure that the the top is deliciously crispy and golden brown.

How to eat buffalo chicken dip

Let's take a look at some of the best foods to serve with this delicious chicken dip:

Tortilla Chips: Chips and dip are a match made in heaven, so load up the tortilla chips for this recipe.
Carrot Sticks: Healthy, tasty and with a satisfying crunch, carrot sticks are easy to prepare and the slight sweetness and freshness makes an excellent contrast to the chicken dip.
Celery Sticks: Crisp and refreshing, celery sticks are always a great option when it comes to dips, but even more so with buffalo chicken.
Sliced Bell Peppers: Colorful and bursting with flavor, sliced bell peppers are a great option. Whether they're red, yellow or green, chop them up and serve them with your creamy buffalo chicken dip.
Pretzels: Salty, chewy and excellent for dipping that goes well with buffalo chicken dip.
Crackers: Any kind of cracker will do!
Bread: Go for crusty bread or a baguette... perfect as an appetizer at a party.
Wraps: You could even use your buffalo chicken dip as a sensational spread for tortilla wraps.

Popular Substitutes

Chicken

Substitute rotisserie chicken with poached, grilled, or baked chicken breasts.
Use canned chicken for a quick alternative (approximately 2 cans, drained and shredded).

Ranch Dressing

Substitute with blue cheese dressing for a different flavor profile.
Use a mixture of Greek yogurt or sour cream and a ranch seasoning packet for a healthier option.

Hot Sauce

Substitute Frank's RedHot with your favorite hot sauce (e.g., Sriracha, Tabasco, or a homemade hot sauce).

Cheese

Use other cheeses such as Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, or Gouda for different flavors.
Substitute with dairy-free cheese for a lactose-intolerant option.

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Variations for this recipe

Add some bacon

Add ½ cup of cooked and crumbled bacon to the dip mixture for a smoky flavor.

Add some spinach

Stir in 1 cup of chopped, cooked spinach or a package of thawed and drained frozen spinach.

Make it healthier

Use reduced-fat cream cheese, low-fat ranch dressing, and reduced-fat cheeses. Substitute some of the cream cheese with Greek yogurt for a lower-calorie option.

Make it extra cheesy

Stir in ½ cup of crumbled blue cheese to the mixture for a more intense flavor. Top with additional blue cheese crumbles before baking.

What is buffalo chicken dip made of?

The wonderfully creamy, rich, and delicious dip is made from various ingredients, all of which bring a harmony of flavor that's truly spectacular!

The centerpiece is the shredded rotisserie chicken, which is really the dressing. The cream cheese and ranch add an irresistible creaminess and taste-bud-tingling flavor, making it the star of the show. The hot sauce adds a little sizzle to the dish – you can add more or cut back a little, depending on your preferences.

A little garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a few turns of the pepper grinder add an extra dimension to the flavor profile, making this buffalo chicken dip truly sensational.

Then, the top of the dish is scattered with scallions and a mixture of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. This cheese blend brings a fabulous final flourish and a wonderful golden brown finish, adding an element of excitement to the dish.

Where does buffalo chicken dip come from?

Well, the original buffalo chicken comes, not surprisingly, from Buffalo, upstate New York. It was popularised first by an Alabaman named John Young, who opened Wings ‘N Things in 1961 before Anchor Bar owner Teressa Bellissimo made special hot sauce wings a few years later.

As for buffalo chicken dip, the dish gained popularity throughout the state of New York in the early 2000s before taking social media by storm.

Can you use canned chunk chicken for this recipe?

I don't recommend it. Shredded rotisserie chicken is the way to go. It's far better quality, with a better flavor, and definitely better for you.

How do you stop buffalo chicken dip from getting greasy?

If you follow the steps of the recipe below, your buffalo chicken dip recipe shouldn't end up greasy. However, if it does, it could be a number of issues.

First of all, make sure you don't use too much cheese! My recipe calls for 8 ounces of cream cheese, together with (8-ounce) a cup of mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese combined.

Another key step is to thoroughly drain the shredded chicken to remove any excess oil. Also, be mindful of the meat you use, as darker meats can contribute to a greasy texture. Consider removing the chicken's skin as well.

Be sure not to overcook your buffalo chicken dip, even if you notice grease accumulating on top of your dish. Instead, use a spoon to skim any excess grease from the top of the dish.

Why is my buffalo chicken dip runny?

It could be that you've got the ratios wrong. When making buffalo chicken dip, it's crucial to stick to the measurements listed in the recipe below. That way, you'll get the correct consistency.

Another potential cause of the problem is using reduced-fat cream cheese. Substituting a full-fat cream cheese for a reduced-fat version often affects the thickness of a dish and, in this instance, leads to a runny buffalo chicken dip.

Storage Instructions

Refrigeration

Allow the buffalo chicken dip to cool to room temperature.
Transfer the dip to an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Freezing

Allow the dip to cool completely.
Transfer to a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags.
Label with the date and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheating

Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the dip in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.
Microwave: Place a portion of the dip in a microwave-safe dish. Cover loosely and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated thoroughly.

More delicious dip recipes

If you enjoyed making this easy buffalo chicken dip recipe, why not try one of these?

Muhammara – a Middle Eastern marvel, this dip is the perfect blend of sweet, savory and smoky sensation flavors
White bean dip – quick, easy and healthy with a fantastic flavor
Melitzanosalata – a traditional Greek dish that's based on eggplant, with a fresh, smoky flavor that's hard to resist
Guacamole – this classic Mexican dip never goes out of style
Roasted carrot hummus – fresh, healthy and full of flavor, this roasted dip recipe is so simple yet so effective
Chilli and lime yoghurt dip – one of the most versatile dips you can make, this can be paired with anything from chips, nachos and crisps to vegetables and all kinds of canapés.

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