Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip (Printable)

Creamy, tangy mixture of shredded chicken, hot sauce, and cheeses baked for a spicy, flavorful bite.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened

02 - 1/2 cup sour cream

03 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

04 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

05 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded

06 - 1/2 cup hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot)

07 - 2 tablespoons ranch dressing

08 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

10 - 2 tablespoons chopped chives or green onions

01 - Set the oven temperature to 350°F.

02 - In a medium mixing bowl, blend the cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, ranch dressing, garlic powder, and black pepper until evenly smooth.

03 - Fold shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese into the mixture until fully incorporated.

04 - Evenly spread the combined mixture into an 8x8-inch baking dish.

05 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the dip is hot, bubbly, and the top is lightly golden.

06 - Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

07 - Optionally sprinkle chopped chives or green onions over the dip. Serve warm with tortilla chips or fresh vegetable sticks.

01 -

It comes together in just 10 minutes of prep, leaving you time to actually enjoy your guests instead of being glued to the kitchen
The creamy cheese base mellows out the heat just enough that everyone at the party can enjoy it, whether they're spice lovers or not
It's the kind of appetizer people ask for by name at your next gathering, which feels pretty good

02 -

Softening your cream cheese is not optional. I learned this the hard way with a lumpy first attempt that nobody talked about politely. Room temperature cream cheese mixes smoothly and makes all the difference in the final texture.
Don't let the dip overbake. Once you see those golden edges and bubbling center, it's done. Overbaking dries it out and makes it less creamy, which defeats the entire purpose.
Make this the day of if you can. It's fine cold the next day, but it truly shines served warm and fresh from the oven when all those flavors are vibrant and the cheese is still silky.

03 -

Keep your hot sauce consistent. If you use a different brand than Frank's RedHot, taste as you go because heat levels vary widely. You can always add more, but you can't take it out.
For a richer dip, use a combination of two parts cheddar and one part gruyère instead of cheddar and mozzarella. It adds a nuttiness that makes people think you spent hours on this.