Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

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When it comes to casual get-togethers, you'll want something that is easy to make and really delicious. In other words, you want this easy buffalo chicken dip.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Photo:

Monica Farber

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
12

Let’s face it, every party needs at least one show stopping dip—and for your next party, this easy buffalo chicken dip is the one.

Other classic dips, such as Hot Crab Artichoke Dip, Sweet Onion and Bacon Dip, and Jalapeño Popper Dip, will always be a hit, but if you haven’t already, add this easy recipe for buffalo chicken dip to the list of favorites. After all, what’s better than a mouthwatering combination of tender chicken, creamy cheese, and spicy hot sauce?

While Buffalo wings are also popular for entertaining, easy buffalo chicken dip is a popular variation on the original concept, and it’s a whole lot easier to make.

What Is Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip? 

Buffalo chicken dip combines the ingredients and flavors of the famous namesake Buffalo wings—namely blue cheese, ranch dressing, hot sauce and chicken—to make an appetizer, especially popular for parties. While the origin of Buffalo wings is a bit murky, the dish did originate in Buffalo, New York and became popular in the 1970s and nationally in the 1980s when large franchise restaurants started serving them to customers around the country.

In the original dish, chicken wings are fried, tossed with hot sauce, and served with a ranch-style dip made from sour cream and blue cheese with celery sticks on the side. But in this easy buffalo chicken dip, the same flavors are combined in a casserole and served warm. Either way, the spicy, creamy, cheesy, and crunchy combination is irresistible.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip Ingredients 

This recipe for Buffalo Chicken Dip is made with:

  • Sharp Cheddar cheese and pepper Jack cheese, and crumbled blue cheese: Because one cheese is never enough. Add more and more to make this the ultimate gooey dip.
  • Cream cheese: The creamy base of this dip. It also provides a bit of a cooling factor against the hot sauce.
  • Ranch dressing: A quick way to add herbs and flavor without needing fresh herbs.
  • Rotisserie chicken: Rather than chicken wings, the recipe uses chopped chicken from a rotisserie chickens.
  • Hot sauce: The source of the heat and buffalo flavor.
  • Scallions: The bit of freshness to brighten up the final dish.
ingredients for Easy Buffalo Chicken DIp

Monica Farber

How To Make Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

This dip is very easy to make. Why else would we call it easy buffalo chicken dip? Here's a brief outline of the process, and the full recipe is further below:

  • Step 1. Mix softened cream cheese, shredded Cheddar cheese, shredded Jack cheese, ranch dressing, garlic powder, black pepper, and hot sauce in a large bowl.
  • Step 2. Add diced chicken and scallions; fold into cream cheese mixture.
  • Step 3. Add dip mixture to a casserole dish, and bake.
  • Step 4. Top the hot dip with additional scallions just before serving.

What To Serve With Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip 

This creamy and chunky dip is delicious with slices of crusty bread or baguette, but pretzel chips or even tortilla chips are good dippers, too. For a classic cool contrast with the spicy dip and a nod to the original Buffalo wings, serve it with celery and carrot sticks.

How To Store Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Leftover dip can be stored in the fridge up to 5 days. Keep the casserole dish well wrapped, or spoon it into an airtight container. Reheat dip in the microwave in 30-second bursts until the dip is warmed through.

We do not recommend freeze this dip. The textures of the cheeses will change after thawing, making this a less-than-ideal option for making ahead.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Monica Farber / Southern Living

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

  • 4 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

  • 4 oz. pepper Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

  • 1/2 cup refrigerated bottled ranch dressing (such as Marie's)

  • 1/2 cup hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot)

  • 3/4 tsp. black pepper

  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

  • 4 cups chopped cooked chicken (from 2 rotisserie chickens)

  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions (from 4 scallions), divided

  • Cooking spray

  • 3 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)

  • Carrot sticks, celery sticks, pretzel chips, for serving

Directions

  1. Mix dip ingredients:

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir together cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, pepper Jack cheese, ranch dressing, hot sauce, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl until well blended.

    combining ingredients for buffalo chicken dip

    Monica Farber / Southern Living

    Gently fold in chicken and half of the scallions.

    stirring chicken into dip

    Monica Farber / Southern Living

  2. Add dip to baking dish:

    Transfer to a lightly greased (with cooking spray) 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Smooth top, and sprinkle evenly with blue cheese.

    buffalo chicken dip with blue cheese

    Monica Farber / Southern Living

  3. Bake dip:

    Bake in preheated oven until center is hot and edges are bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and top with remaining scallions. Serve with carrots, celery, and pretzel chips.

    Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

    Monica Farber / Southern Living

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