Buffalo Chicken Dip
This Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe is an easy classic that features three different layers of flavors including chicken (use canned or rotisserie!) mixed with your favorite buffalo sauce (I always go for Frank’s RedHot!), cream cheese, ranch dressing and, of course, lots of cheese!
While I love wings, I always lean toward flavors like honey barbecue, teriyaki, or garlic parmesan. I’ve never been a big fan of the buffalo wings so I was never compelled to make (or even try!) this dip.
However, when I tried this buffalo dip recipe for the first time at a friend’s party over 10 years ago, I loved it! I was sold immediately and had to have the recipe. It’s a perfect anytime party appetizer, game day appetizer, and I guarantee it will be on repeat during football season.
The combination of the hot sauce with cream cheese, ranch, and all that cheese was just phenomenal. Plus, it’s EASY!
The Ingredients
- Chicken – My friend’s original recipe calls for boiling and shredding fresh chicken breasts, however you can substitute canned chicken or use a rotisserie chicken to significantly cut down on prep time (see recipe notes below for exact amounts).
- Buffalo Sauce – Use your favorite, but Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce is always my go-to!
- Ranch Dressing – Many buffalo purists will not agree with using ranch dressing (I use Hidden Valley Ranch, by the way), and you can absolutely use blue cheese dressing instead if you’d like.
- Cream Cheese – If you prefer to make this without cream cheese, you can substitute sour cream or Greek yogurt. No need to melt it, simply whisk or stir it into the ranch dressing.
- Cheese – I use a combination of sharp cheddar cheese and Monterey jack, but you can use any combination of your favorites – mozzarella cheese, blue cheese crumbles, Colby jack, pepper jack.
Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip
Baking it in the oven is how the original recipe is written. There are three simple steps for making it this way:
- Combine shredded chicken with a bottle of hot sauce. Spread in a baking pan.
- On the stove, melt together cream cheese and a bottle of ranch dressing. Pour over the hot sauce-infused chicken.
- Spread a combination of shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the top and pop it in the oven!
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Making this dip in the crock pot is a fantastic way for serving it at a party or for a big crowd.
Simply add all of the ingredients (cube the cream cheese) to a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker, stir to combine, and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, stirring once or twice, then switch to the keep warm setting.
What to Serve With It
If you’re wondering what goes well with buffalo chicken dip or what to dip into it, the possibilities are endless! Here are some of our favorites:
- Tortilla chips
- Potato chips
- Fritos scoops
- Crackers
- Veggies (celery sticks and carrot sticks are a favorite)
- Toasted baguette slices
- Top with sliced green onion or chives for an extra pop of color
Recipe Tips
- The Layers: This dip was originally written as a layered dip, but you can stir everything together before baking if you’d prefer. Some reviewers have mentioned that the layer of cheese on top is too thick and while I haven’t had that issue, it would be just as delicious with everything mixed together!
- Make-Ahead: Prepare the dip up to one day in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Add 5 to 10 minutes of cooking time when ready to bake.
- Storing Leftovers: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove over low heat. You can also use leftover dip as a filling for some amazing quesadillas, sandwiches, and sliders!
- Freezing: You can freeze this dip for up to 3 months in an airtight container or in a baking dish covered tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then cook as desired in the oven (remove coverings) or transfer everything to the slow cooker.
If you’ve never made it before, and even if you don’t care for buffalo chicken wings, I beg you to give this a try! It deserves a spot in your party recipe repertoire. Everyone goes NUTS over it! It’s especially great for watching sports, a Super Bowl party, or any type of party or get-together.
More Favorite Dips:
Watch How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip:
If you make this dip and love it, remember to stop back and give it a 5-star rating – it helps others find the recipe! ❤️️
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
- 12 ounce bottle hot sauce
- 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 16 ounce bottle ranch dressing
- 6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1½ cups)
- 6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1½ cups)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the chicken with the bottle of hot sauce and spread in the bottom of a 3-quart baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cream cheese and the ranch dressing over low heat until the cream cheese is completely melted and smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the cream cheese/ranch layer.
- Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, or until bubbling and browned on top. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with celery sticks, other vegetables, tortilla chips or crackers.
Notes
- Chicken: You can substitute four (12.5-ounce) cans of cooked chicken, drained, for the chicken breasts. You can also substitute shredded rotisserie chicken (5 to 6 cups of shredded chicken).
- Hot Sauce: Use your favorite; I recommend Frank’s RedHot sauce.
- Ranch Dressing: I recommend Hidden Valley Ranch dressing. You can substitute blue cheese for all of the ranch (or half of it).
- Cream Cheese – If you prefer to make this without cream cheese, you can substitute sour cream or Greek yogurt. No need to melt it, simply whisk or stir it into the ranch dressing.
- Layering: Instead of layering the dip, you can mix everything together.
- How to Make in Crock Pot: You can make this dip in a crock pot by adding all of the ingredients (cube the cream cheese), stirring, and cooking on low for 4 to 6 hours, stirring once or twice during the cooking process.
- What to Serve With It: Favorite dippers include tortilla chips, potato chips, crackers, baguettes, celery sticks, and carrot sticks.
- Make-Ahead: This can be prepared a day in advance, just cover and refrigerate overnight. You may need to add 5 or 10 minutes to the baking time.
- Leftovers – Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove over low heat. You can also use leftover dip as a filling for some amazing quesadillas, sandwiches, and sliders!
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
[photos by The Almond Eater]
This will be my go to buffalo chicken dip recipe from now on–it’s just so easy and tasty! I had an oven full of cheesecakes, so instead of baking it, I just mixed it in a pot on the stove. I then transferred to a crockpot to take to a friend’s house. I halved the recipe and I’m so glad I did. I’m not sure what the serving size is, but half was more than enough for a 10-12 people, especially if you’re serving other apps or have a tailgate spread. I used Costco canned chicken and worked perfectly. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Michelle.
I love this recipe!!! Can I cut down to 1/3rd of the recipe?? There will only be 4 of us.
Thank you for aaalll of your recipes!!!!
Maria
I was so glad to see your email! I’ve missed you. Happy fall, hope the children are all doing well. Keep strong
Smiles, Sue
Delicious!! Thank you for sharing.
Talon Doors
This is the first time I’ve seen this sight. It will not be the last!
This sounds delicious and it will be the first buffalo chicken dip I’ve made or eaten. I’ve avoided “buffalo” anything because of the hot sauce. But I love Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.
Wonderful superbowl snack!
I just wanted to say thank you for this blog! I am super excited for some of your new recipes! When I get my own cooking blog up and going, I will let you know some of our fun recipes also!
Made this tonight such an amazing recipe. Even my 10 years old loved it! Thank you for sharing!
I use basically the same ingredients but slight variation I use kens kbuttermilk ranch Dressing or I make my own, a mix of white cheddar sharp cheddar and mild cheddar and then I use the franks redhot hot buffalo wing sauce and they also have a franks redhot wing sauce . The wing sauce has a different flavor to the regular franks RedHot non wing sauce
Delish for any day, you don’t need a holiday to enjoy this dip and you’d be surprised how many people stop over when you say you’re making it I tell him bring your own things to dip
Too hot!!
I’ve been making a version of this recipe for years! The only thing I do is add blue cheese crumbles to the ranch/cream cheese mixture. It has never failed to be a hit. I’m getting ready to put it in the oven as we speak for a work luncheon. Thanks for posting!
Awesome. None left.
I recently added a head of cut up bite sized roasted cauliflower and green scallions to this and it was amazing!
This is looks so delicious and presentable. I’ll definitely try this. Maybe I will share some to my friends in Hawthorn Restaurants. Hope I can get the perfect blend because they’re thinking that I don’t know how to cook.
This recipe was quite good, but it made so much, with a party of 20 people each bringing an appetizer, I brought half of it home. I mixed the chicken and hot sauce, added the cream cheese that had been melted with ranch dressing, but put the shredded cheese on top. That makes a heavy layer to dip through. Next time I will mix it all and then bake.
I love this recipe. I swap the Hidden Valley ranch with Kens Steakhouse ranch. It’s my absolute favorite dressing and makes this dip for me.
How big of a crockpot would I need to make it that way?
This is a favorite dip for us – perfect for just about any occasion!
This is sooooooo good. We love it. I don’t even need chips, just give me a spoon and I am a very happy woman.
Absolutely our favorite classic dip!! Always gets ate up, no waste.
I love the crock pot version of this dip! The hit of any party!
I love everything about this recipe!
Thanks for the mouthwatering recipe! My whole family loved it!!
There’s so many layers of goodness in this dip. Love it for Game Day!
This dip is so cheesy and good! Great for entertaining!
This is truly the ultimate game day dip! The cheesy goodness is amazing!
This is a favorite at every party we attend. Always a staples and the first to go! YUM!
I made this for a game night a few months ago, HUGE hit. I am always looking for way to make things early and easy. The night before I prep and mixed everything together including most of the cheese. Day of I put the dip in the cast iron and put the remaining cheese on top and baked. No fuss, no mess and everyone loved it, including my friends daughter who doesn’t like Buffalo wings. My husband keeps asking when I will make it again!