Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip (Printable)
Creamy, spicy buffalo chicken baked and served warm with crisp celery sticks for easy entertaining.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
→ Dairy
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (optional)
→ Sauce & Seasonings
07 - 1/2 cup buffalo hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedHot)
08 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ To Serve
10 - 6 large celery stalks, cut into sticks
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, ranch dressing, buffalo hot sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix until smooth.
03 - Fold in shredded chicken, mozzarella cheese, and blue cheese if using until evenly combined.
04 - Spread the mixture evenly in an 8x8 inch baking dish.
05 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until hot and bubbly.
06 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
07 - Serve warm accompanied by fresh celery sticks.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under 40 minutes and tastes like you spent the afternoon on it.
- The creamy-spicy balance means even people who claim they don't like hot sauce end up going back for more.
- You can prep everything ahead and just bake it when guests arrive, leaving you free to actually enjoy the game.
02 -
- Don't skip the resting time—I learned this the hard way when I tried to serve straight from the oven and the dip ran like lava across the platter.
- The blue cheese is optional but transforms it from good to memorable, so worth the gamble even if you're unsure about it.
- Bake it just until bubbly, not until the top browns too much, or you'll lose the creaminess that makes people come back for more.
03 -
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella if you can, not pre-shredded—the coating on bagged cheese prevents it from melting as smoothly and can make the dip slightly grainy.
- Add a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper if you want to deepen the heat without adding more hot sauce, which can thin the mixture.