Buffalo Chicken Dip – The Best Easy Game Day Appetizer
This Buffalo Chicken Dip is creamy, cheesy, a little spicy, and packed with shredded chicken and classic buffalo flavor. Made with cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, cheddar, and mozzarella, it's the ultimate easy appetizer for game day, parties, holidays, or anytime you need a crowd-pleasing dip.
Using rotisserie chicken makes this recipe especially easy. Everything comes together quickly on the stovetop before being transferred to a baking dish, topped with even more cheese, and baked until hot and bubbly. A quick broil at the end gives the dip an irresistible golden, cheesy topping!
Serve it warm with tortilla chips, crackers, celery, carrots, or your favorite veggies for an appetizer that's always a hit.
Why You'll Love This Buffalo Chicken Dip
Quick and easy: Rotisserie chicken makes this recipe incredibly simple.
Extra cheesy: Cheddar and mozzarella create a creamy, gooey, cheesy dip.
Perfect for game day: It's an easy appetizer for football season, tailgates, and watch parties.
Great for a crowd: A 9x9-inch baking dish makes plenty to share.
Easy to make ahead: Assemble the dip ahead of time and bake it when you're ready to serve.
Creamy with just the right amount of heat: Buffalo sauce adds plenty of flavor and spice while cream cheese and ranch help balance the heat.
Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
This easy Buffalo Chicken Dip is creamy, cheesy, and packed with shredded chicken and buffalo flavor. Made with cream cheese, ranch, buffalo sauce, cheddar, and mozzarella, it's the perfect hot appetizer for game day, parties, and gatherings.
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken Dip
2 cups shredded cooked chicken, preferably rotisserie chicken
8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1 cup ranch dressing
1 cup buffalo sauce
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Chopped green onions, for garnish
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine the cubed cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Cook over medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until the cream cheese has completely melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Add the shredded chicken, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, and 1½ cups cheddar cheese.
Stir until the chicken is evenly coated and the cheese is incorporated throughout the mixture.
Transfer the buffalo chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella and ½ cup cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
Bake uncovered at 350°F for 20–30 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbling around the edges and the cheese has completely melted.
Turn the oven to broil and broil for approximately 1–2 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden. Watch carefully, as broilers can vary significantly.
Remove the dip from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions.
Serve immediately while warm with tortilla chips, celery, carrots, crackers, or your favorite dippers.
Tips for the Best Buffalo Chicken Dip
Use rotisserie chicken.
Rotisserie chicken is my favorite shortcut for buffalo chicken dip. It's already cooked and flavorful, so all you have to do is shred it.
Cube the cream cheese.
Cutting the cream cheese into smaller pieces helps it melt faster and more evenly into the sauce.
Shred your own cheese if possible.
Freshly shredded cheddar and mozzarella melt especially well and give the dip a smooth, creamy texture.
Keep the heat moderate.
When making the cream cheese mixture, you only need enough heat to melt everything together. Keep the heat at medium-low and whisk frequently to prevent the mixture from scorching.
Don't skip the broil.
A quick broil at the end gives the cheese a bubbly, golden-brown finish and makes the dip even more irresistible.
Watch it closely.
The cheese can go from perfectly golden to burnt very quickly under the broiler, so stay nearby during the final minute or two.
What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Dip
There are so many delicious ways to serve this dip. My favorites are:
Tortilla chips
Celery sticks
Carrot sticks
Bell pepper slices
Crackers
Pretzel crisps
Toasted baguette slices
For a party, I like to serve the dip in the center of a large platter surrounded by several different dippers so everyone can grab their favorite.
Can You Make Buffalo Chicken Dip Ahead of Time?
Yes! Buffalo chicken dip is a great appetizer to prepare ahead of time.
Prepare the dip through the point where you transfer it to the baking dish and add the shredded cheese on top. Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate until you're ready to bake.
Because the dip will be cold from the refrigerator, it may need a few additional minutes in the oven. Bake until the center is completely heated through and the dip is bubbling around the edges.
How to Store Leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip
Allow leftover buffalo chicken dip to cool before transferring it to an airtight container or tightly covering the baking dish.
Store it in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
To reheat, warm individual portions in the microwave or heat a larger amount in the oven until hot and bubbly. If reheating in the oven, cover the dish loosely with foil to help prevent the top from drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chicken is best for buffalo chicken dip?
Rotisserie chicken is my favorite because it's quick, easy, and already flavorful. You can also use any cooked and shredded chicken breast you have on hand.
You'll need approximately 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken for this recipe.
What kind of buffalo sauce should I use?
Use your favorite prepared buffalo wing sauce. I like Frank's Buffalo Wings Sauce because it gives the dip plenty of classic buffalo flavor.
Is buffalo chicken dip spicy?
Buffalo chicken dip has some heat, but the cream cheese, ranch dressing, and cheese help balance the buffalo sauce. The final spice level will depend largely on the buffalo sauce you use.
For a milder dip, use a mild buffalo sauce or reduce the amount slightly.
Can I make buffalo chicken dip ahead of time?
Absolutely! Assemble the dip in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate until you're ready to bake it.
You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time when starting with a cold dip.
Can I make buffalo chicken dip without rotisserie chicken?
Yes! Cooked and shredded chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins work perfectly. You can also use leftover grilled or baked chicken as long as it is cooked and shredded.
What cheese goes in buffalo chicken dip?
This recipe uses both cheddar and mozzarella. Cheddar adds plenty of flavor, while mozzarella gives the dip a smooth, gooey texture.
You could also substitute Monterey Jack or pepper jack for some of the cheese if you'd like to add even more flavor or heat.
The Perfect Party Dip
This Buffalo Chicken Dip is one of those easy appetizers that always seems to disappear first! With tender shredded chicken, creamy ranch, plenty of melted cheese, and classic buffalo flavor, every bite is creamy, cheesy, and delicious.
Whether you're making it for game day, a holiday party, or a weekend get-together, this is an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer to keep in your recipe collection. Serve it warm with tortilla chips, crackers, celery, or your favorite dippers, and enjoy!