Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Name: Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 8 oz 1/3 less-fat or regular cream cheese (softened); 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (divided); 1 cup shredded medium or sharp cheddar cheese (divided); 1/2 cup buffalo sauce; 1/2 cup light or regular ranch dressing; 2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

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Calling all buffalo sauce, buffalo wing, and hot dip lovers! One bite of this Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip will change your life! It is easy, hearty, cheesy, and loaded with amazing flavor!

Baked cheesy chicken dip in a glass pan surrounded by tortilla chips and celery sticks

Hot Mama this cheesy Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip is delicious! I can confidently say that I've made this dip no less than a hundred times in my life, and every single time, I leave the party with an empty dish.

Buffalo Chicken Dip can be made ahead of time, refrigerated, then baked in the oven before serving. Also, amongst a spread of indulgent potluck foods, it's a great low-carbohydrate, high-protein option that can be served with tortilla chips or vegetables.

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When you need a go-to, a last-minute addition to a spread, turn to this dip! It will never fail you! Need more delicious dip inspiration? Check out my Herb and Onion Dip, Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip, and Cake Batter Sprinkle Dip! Another popular party food turned into a delicious dip is this warm and cheesy Pepperoni Dip!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Like Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

It's addictively delicious!
It's low in carbohydrates and high in protein!
It's easy and takes less than 10 minutes to make!
It can be made ahead of time and heated when ready to serve!
It heats up well as a snack!
It can be repurposed as a sandwich, wrap, or filling for a baked potato!
It's a great way to use up leftover chicken!
You can easily double or triple it for a larger crowd!
It can be made in a Crockpot as well!
It's a great dish to socialize around!
It can be accompanied by lots of dipping options!
It's easy to transport from home to a party!
It's hot, decadent, cheesy, ooey-gooey goodness!

What You’ll Need

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

Cream Cheese: Provides creaminess and helps bind the ingredients together. It also adds a rich flavor and smooth texture to the dip.
Pepper Jack Cheese: Adds a spicy kick and depth of flavor to the dip. It also contributes to the creamy texture when melted.
Cheddar Cheese: Adds a sharp, tangy flavor and enhances the cheesiness of the dip. It melts well and contributes to the overall creamy consistency.
Buffalo Sauce: The key flavor component, providing the classic tangy and spicy taste of buffalo chicken. It adds heat and zing to the dip.
Ranch Dressing: Balances out the heat from the buffalo sauce with its cool and creamy texture. It also adds a hint of tanginess and herby flavor.
Shredded Cooked Chicken: The star ingredient, providing the protein and texture of the dip. It absorbs the flavors of the other ingredients and adds substance to the dish.
Optional: Tortilla Chips, Green Onions, Chips, Blue Cheese, Cut-Up Vegetables

ingredients for Cheesy Buffalo Chicken displayed on a decorative mat.

Tools You’ll Need

How to Make Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, ¾ cup of each cheese, buffalo sauce, and ranch with a hand mixer until well combined.

Fold in cooked chicken. Once combined, pour and spread evenly in a 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheeses on top.
Bake 350℉ 30-35 minutes or until it's bubbling at the edges and browned on top.
Garnish as desired and serve with your favorite accompaniments.

Expert Tips and Substitutions

If making this dip ahead of time, while the oven preheats, allow the dish to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Or, you can add 5-10 minutes to the bake time if going straight from the refrigerator to the oven.
This dip is beautiful when garnished with sliced green onions, fresh or canned jalapeños, or crumbled blue cheese. Warning: blue cheese is loved or hated, so you might want to check with guests for preferences.
Adding crumbled, cooked bacon on top adds a great smoky flavor and textural addition!
Any cooked chicken you have on hand will work for this dish. You can use leftover chicken from dinner, a rotisserie chicken, smoked chicken like this Smoked Pineapple Stand Chicken, or even canned chicken.
The cream cheese needs to be at room temperature for ideal blending. Regular or light cream cheese both work great as well.
Ranch dressing can be store-bought or homemade. Also, regular or light varieties both work.
Packaged pre-shredded or freshly shredded cheeses both work in this dish. However, pre-shredded cheese has additives that help keep it from clumping. This does impact its ability to melt and meld with the other ingredients as well.

Storage and Freezing

Allow the dip to cool to room temperature before storing to prevent condensation. Transfer to an airtight container or cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Place the container in the refrigerator. Consume the leftover dip within 3-4 days for optimal freshness and flavor.

When ready to enjoy again, reheat the dip gently in the microwave or on the stove, stirring occasionally, until heated through. If you plan to freeze the dip, consider removing any toppings (such as extra cheese or garnishes) before freezing, as they may not thaw well. Additionally, it's best to consume frozen buffalo chicken dip within 1-2 months for the best quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Buffalo Sauce?

Buffalo sauce is a type of hot sauce that is typically made from a combination of hot sauce, vinegar, and butter. The sauce is named after the city of Buffalo, New York, where it was first created in the 1960s.

Is this dip spicy?

Buffalo sauce is known for its tangy, moderately spicy flavor. There are different levels of heat depending on the brand of the sauce and temperament for heat is different from person to person.

What other cheeses work in this dip?

Monterey Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, mozzarella, mild cheddar, medium cheddar, and sharp cheddar all work well in this delicious dip! I sometimes use making this dip as an opportunity to clean out my cheese drawer.

I love blue cheese with buffalo sauce. How could I use it in this dip?

You can add ¼ to ½ cup blue cheese crumbles right before serving and/or serve blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping.

How could I make this in a Crockpot?

Mix the ingredients the same as instructed for the oven, leaving off the shredded cheese from the top. Cook on high 1 ½ hours then stir well. Add the shredded cheese to the top and cook an additional 30 minutes on high or 1 hour on low or until the cheese is melted.

It looks like my ingredients separated. What did I do wrong?

Pooling grease or oil usually happens for 1 of 2 reasons: the initial blend wasn't sufficient or it was overcooked. It is important that the buffalo sauce, cream cheese, shredded cheese, and ranch are mixed well together first. There will naturally be a little grease from the cheese that is incorporated within the dish and on top.

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This is a picture of a baked cheesy chicken dip. Around it are tortilla chips and cut up celery and carrots with ranch to dip them in.

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