Buffalo Chicken Dip: 10 Ways to Enjoy This Easy Recipe

If you love the spicy, tangy flavor of Buffalo chicken, this easy Buffalo chicken dip recipe is one to keep handy. Made with shredded chicken, Frank's Buffalo-style hot sauce, cream cheese, sour cream and blue cheese, it's rich, cheesy and full of flavor.

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But here's the best part: this isn't just a dip for chips and celery. You can use the same Buffalo chicken filling to make sliders, sandwiches, tacos, stuffed potatoes and more.

I like using rotisserie chicken because it makes this recipe super easy. In about 15–20 minutes, you can have a flavorful Buffalo chicken mixture ready to serve as an appetizer or turn into a simple weeknight dinner.

Other rotisserie chicken recipes I use include this casserole and this Vietnamese salad.

And if you happen to have Buffalo chicken leftovers, don't worry. The flavors meld together beautifully overnight, making the filling just as useful the next day.

Whether you're planning a game day party, looking for an easy appetizer or need a new way to use leftover chicken, here are ten ways to enjoy Buffalo chicken.

Why You'll Love This Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

• Quick and easy: Cooked, shredded chicken makes preparation simple.
• Full of flavor: Buffalo hot sauce, creamy cheese and tangy blue cheese give the chicken its signature taste.
• Versatile: Serve it as a warm dip, pile it onto bread or use it as a filling for several easy meals.
• Great for entertaining: It's an easy addition to a Super Bowl spread, casual party or game day menu.
• Make-ahead friendly: Prepare the chicken mixture in advance and reheat it when you're ready to serve.

What is Buffalo Chicken Dip Made Of?

Buffalo chicken dip combines shredded chicken with Buffalo-style hot sauce and a creamy mixture of cheeses and sour cream. My version also includes sautéed onions for extra flavor.

Here are the ingredients you'll need for this recipe:

• Cooked shredded chicken: Rotisserie chicken is my favorite shortcut, but leftover roasted or poached chicken works, too.
• Butter: Helps cook the onions and adds richness. Olive oil is OK, too!
• Onion: Adds flavor and a little sweetness.
• Buffalo-style hot sauce: I use Frank's Buffalo-style hot sauce for that classic tangy, spicy flavor.
• Cream cheese: Makes the filling smooth and creamy. Want it more low fat? Yes, you can use low fat cream cheese.
• Sour cream: Adds a little tang and softens the heat. Plus it helps loosen up the chicken mixture. And yes, you can use no-fat sour cream, too!
• Blue cheese: Gives the mixture the familiar flavor of Buffalo chicken wings. However, if you aren't blue cheese lovers, feel free to use feta.
• Shredded melting cheese: Cheddar, provolone, Havarti, Gruyere or Monterey Jack all work well, depending on how you plan to serve the chicken.

For sandwiches, you'll also need thick slices of artisan bread. But hamburger or hotdog buns work also. For a party dip, you can skip the bread and serve the mixture with your favorite dippers.

How To Make Buffalo Chicken Dip

This recipe comes together quickly on the stovetop. Once the chicken filling is ready, you can decide whether to serve it as a dip or use it in one of the other ways suggested below.

1. Sauté the onions.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced onion and sauté for about two minutes, until softened and translucent.

2. Add the chicken and Buffalo sauce.

Stir in the shredded chicken and Buffalo-style hot sauce. Let the mixture simmer for two to three minutes, until the sauce has reduced and the chicken is well coated.

3. Make it creamy.

Turn off the heat. Stir in the cream cheese, sour cream and crumbled blue cheese until everything is melted and combined.

At this point, you have your Buffalo chicken filling. Taste it and adjust the seasoning or add a little more hot sauce if desired. If you want a looser mixture, stir in more sour cream or even some chicken broth. This make a pretty thick mixture so if you want it more spoonable, add more of the above.

4. Serve as a warm dip.

Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe skillet or baking dish. Sprinkle with your favorite shredded melting cheese and bake at 375°F until hot and bubbly and the cheese has melted. If you'd like a browned top, place it under the broiler briefly, watching carefully.

Serve warm with celery sticks, crackers, tortilla chips, toasted bread or sliced vegetables.

5. Or make baked Buffalo chicken sandwiches.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Arrange six thick slices of artisan bread on a preheated broiler pan. Divide the chicken mixture among the slices and top with shredded melting cheese.

An alternative is to hollow out a loaf of French bread. Fill it with the chicken dip and then sprinkle with cheese.

Bake for about six minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the sandwiches are hot. Serve immediately.

10 Ways To Use Buffalo Chicken Dip

Once you've made the chicken filling, you're not limited to serving it with chips. Here are ten easy ways to put it to work.

1. Serve It as a Warm Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is the classic party option. Spoon the creamy chicken mixture into an oven-safe skillet, top with shredded cheese and bake until bubbling.

Serve it with celery sticks, carrot sticks, crackers, tortilla chips or toasted baguette slices. A cast-iron skillet makes a particularly nice presentation.

2. Stuff Mini Potatoes

Bake small potatoes until tender, then cut them in half and scoop out a little of the center. Fill with Buffalo chicken, sprinkle with cheese and bake until hot.

These make easy, bite-sized appetizers for a party or game day gathering.

3. Make Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Nachos

Slice sweet potatoes into rounds and roast until nearly tender. Spoon the Buffalo chicken filling over the slices, add shredded cheese and return them to the oven until the cheese melts.

Serve as an appetizer or a casual dinner. You can add sliced green onions or a little blue cheese on top.

4. Stir It Into Macaroni and Cheese

If you like Buffalo chicken and macaroni and cheese, this combination is worth trying. Stir some of the prepared chicken filling into your favorite macaroni and cheese, then bake with a little extra shredded cheese on top.

It's a good way to turn a simple side dish into a heartier meal.

5. Serve It Over Pasta

Toss the warm Buffalo chicken filling with buttered spaghetti or another pasta shape. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if you need to loosen the mixture.

Finish with extra blue cheese or shredded cheese if you like. It's a simple option for using leftover Buffalo chicken.

6. Make Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Brush a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with butter. Arrange the bottoms of slider buns in the dish, spread the Buffalo chicken filling over them and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Add the tops of the buns, brush with butter, cover and bake until the filling is hot and the cheese has melted. These are easy to serve to a crowd.

7. Build Buffalo Chicken Subs

Fill submarine rolls with the warm chicken mixture. Add lettuce, sliced pickles, hot peppers, onions or extra cheese.

The cool, crunchy toppings balance the spicy, creamy filling. This is also a good way to use leftover chicken mixture for lunch.

8. Make Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Spoon the warm filling into small flour or corn tortillas. Add shredded lettuce, sliced onions, blue cheese crumbles or your favorite taco toppings.

Keep the toppings simple so the Buffalo chicken remains the star.

9. Fill Acorn Squash Halves

Roast acorn squash halves until tender, then spoon the Buffalo chicken filling into the centers. Add a little shredded cheese and return them to the oven until hot.

The mild sweetness of the squash is a nice contrast to the spicy chicken. Serve the stuffed squash as a main dish.

10. Make Baked Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

This is one of my favorite ways to use the filling. Thick slices of artisan bread make a sturdy base for the creamy chicken mixture.

Spread the filling over the bread, top with a melting cheese such as Cheddar, provolone or Monterey Jack, and bake until the cheese is golden in spots and the bread is toasted around the edges.

Serve open-faced with a crisp green salad or some celery sticks on the side.

Tips For Great Buffalo Chicken Dip

Use rotisserie chicken. It's an easy shortcut and saves time. You can also use leftover cooked chicken or poach chicken breasts specifically for this recipe.

Soften the cream cheese. Room-temperature cream cheese is easier to stir into the warm chicken mixture and helps create a smooth filling.

Choose your heat level. Start with the amount of Buffalo sauce in the recipe. Add more if you prefer a spicier dip, or use a little less if you're serving people who prefer milder flavors.

Don't skip the blue cheese if you enjoy it. It adds the familiar tang associated with Buffalo wings. If blue cheese isn't your favorite, you can leave it out or use feta, although the flavor will be different.

Choose the right cheese for serving. Cheddar, provolone, Havarti, Gruyere and Monterey Jack are all good melting options.

Make it ahead. Prepare the chicken mixture, refrigerate it and reheat it when you're ready to serve. Add the final layer of shredded cheese before baking.

Can You Make Buffalo Chicken Dip Ahead of Time?

Yes. Prepare the chicken mixture, let it cool and refrigerate it in a covered container. When you're ready to serve, transfer it to an oven-safe dish, top with shredded cheese and heat at 375°F until hot throughout and bubbling.

If the mixture has been refrigerated, allow extra time for reheating. For food safety, refrigerate leftovers within two hours and reheat them to 165°F.

What to Serve With Buffalo Chicken Dip

For a party, set out a combination of crunchy and sturdy dippers:

• Celery and carrot sticks
• Tortilla chips
• Crackers
• Toasted baguette slices
• Pita chips
• Bell pepper strips

If you're serving Buffalo chicken as a meal, try a green salad, roasted vegetables or a simple slaw alongside it.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Appetizers To Try

If you're planning a party or putting together a game day menu, try a few more favorites from This Is How I Cook:

• 25 Quick and Easy Appetizers for a Party
• Best Dip Recipes

Buffalo chicken dip is one of those recipes that can do more than one job. Serve it warm with chips for a party, turn it into sandwiches for dinner or use the leftovers to make something different the next day.

It's quick, adaptable and a good recipe to have ready whenever you need an easy appetizer or a casual meal.

I was a bit slow to discover Buffalo chicken dip. It took me a long time to hitch a ride on the buffalo chicken train.

I'm not a wing lover and maybe that's why. But with all the ways that buffalo sauce has entered into the mainstream diet, I figured I should find something more to do with it than dip celery!

Now I make lasagna with it. And coleslaw and chili in my kitchen. And my list just keeps growing of what I can add Frank's buffalo hot sauce to.

With Super Bowl approaching dips are always on everyone's radar screen, but I wanted more than dip. Yes, this recipe could become dippable. In fact, I have a whole bunch of suggestions as to what you can do with his incredible chicken filling.

Cheesy and rich, Frank's Buffalo chicken dip is perfect for Super Bowl, Halloween, or for a Sunday night supper. And the best part is it gets better overnight. Somehow the flavors magically meld together to create the perfect bite. (Don't forget that!)

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