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This Buffalo Chicken Dip with Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing is creamy, tangy, cheesy, and bursting with the flavors of Buffalo chicken wings. It’s an EASY recipe that is guaranteed to be a hit at any party!
Why You’ll 🫶🏻 this Dip
Buffalo chicken dip is an appetizer that everyone loves, blending the spicy taste of Buffalo chicken wings with rich, creamy cheese. It’s an ideal choice for parties and social events. With its simple ingredients and quick preparation, it has become a go-to for game days and relaxed gatherings. Enjoy! ~Nicole
Key Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Dip
Shredded Chicken creates a soft, tasty foundation that soaks up the spicy and creamy aspects of the dip, making it an essential component. Usually, it is prepared using cooked chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken, offering a hearty flavor that pairs well with other ingredients such as cream cheese and hot sauce.
Buffalo Wing Hot Sauce is a spicy condiment known for its bold, tangy flavor. It consists of a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce blended with melted butter. The most popular store-bought option is Frank’s RedHot® Buffalo Wings Hot Sauce.
Cream Cheese provides a rich and creamy texture that helps to hold the other ingredients together, resulting in a smooth and tasty base. Additionally, it adds to the dip’s overall richness, balancing the spiciness of the hot sauce while enhancing the cheesy flavor.
Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing contributes creaminess and an extra layer of flavor that pairs well with the Buffalo sauce. Ranch dressing brings a tangy, zesty taste that helps to mellow the heat of the dip, whereas blue cheese dressing offers a rich and robust flavor that enhances the cheesy aspect.
Colby-Monterey Jack Cheese is a blend of Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses that offers a luscious, creamy texture, pairing beautifully with the dish’s spicy and tangy notes to elevate its overall flavor and mouthfeel.
Equipment Needed
- 1-quart gratin dish
- Medium saucepan
Tips for Making Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Place a 1-quart gratin dish on a baking sheet for easy removal from the oven.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the chicken and Buffalo wing hot sauce.
- Add the cream cheese, your choice of dressing, and half of the grated Colby-Jack, stirring until the mixture is melted.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake until cheese has melted, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.
Substitutions
- I use reduced-fat cream cheese, but you can opt for full-fat or fat-free cream cheese, although this will slightly alter the flavor. Full-fat will give the dip a richer flavor, while fat-free will make it slightly tangier.
- Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, and even Gouda can be used as a substitute for Colby-Jack cheese in equal amounts. (Note- using reduced-fat cheese will result in an oily dip because reduced-fat cheeses are made with more water.)
- Light Ranch or light Blue cheese dressing can be used. They will still provide flavor while reducing fat and calories.
- When on hand, I prefer to use my homemade Ranch and Blue Cheese Dressing, but a high-quality store-bought dressing works well too.
Serving Suggestions
Traditionally, Buffalo Chicken Dip is served with carrot and celery sticks, tortilla chips, crostini, and pretzel chips. It also pairs well with other dippable snacks, such as French fries, pita chips, or soft pretzels. All dippable snacks pair well with either version of the dip.
When serving at a party or gathering, consider making two batches: one with Ranch dressing and one with Blue cheese dressing. That way, your guests can choose their preferred dish of goodness! Make sure to label each dish correctly!
I like to garnish the dip with either chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or chopped green scallions. Either one provides freshness and color.
Yes. After the mixture has been heated through in a small saucepan, stir in half of the cheese. Transfer the mixture to a small crockpot and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover and cook on LOW until the dip is hot and bubbly, about 30-35 minutes.
Yes! Use a 2-quart gratin dish or larger crockpot and increase the cooking time slightly.
Yes, but ensure that the chicken is drained well to prevent the dip from becoming watery.
This has a mild to medium heat, but for a spicier flavor, add cayenne pepper to taste.
Leftovers can be creatively used to make quesadillas and grilled cheese. They can also be stirred into pasta or topped on a baked potato.
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Buffalo Chicken Dip with Ranch or Blue Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) package of ⅓ less fat or reduced fat cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken, breast, thigh, or a mixture of both
- ½ cup Buffalo wing hot sauce
- ½ cup Ranch or Blue cheese dressing
- 4 ounces (about 1 cup) freshly grated Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
Garnish
- 1 green scallion (light and green parts only), finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
Accompaniments
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Crostini or toasted baguette slices
- Pretzel chips
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Stir the chicken and hot sauce together in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until heated through, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the cream cheese and choice of dressing, and cook until heated through, about 3 more minutes. Mix in half (½ cup) of the grated cheese.
- Transfer the mixture to a 1-quart gratin dish set on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the remaining half (½ cup) of the grated cheese over the top.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Garnish with scallions or parsley and serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
