Crackers and cheese are fine as a generic party spread, but a warm appetizer is always a hit at work celebrations, your bestie’s housewarming party or a holiday gathering with the family. Slow-cooker Buffalo chicken dip is one of our most popular recipes for party appetizers and definitely one worth saving.
Making a Buffalo chicken dip in a slow cooker yields a big-flavor dish without a lot of effort. You toss all the ingredients straight into the slow cooker, then set it and let the flavors meld and turn deliciously gooey. This Buffalo chicken dip features shredded cooked chicken (you can use breast meat, dark meat or a mix) and a creamy Buffalo wing sauce for that classic tangy-hot flavor. It’s one of the best Buffalo chicken recipes and easy slow-cooker recipes all in one.
Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Shredded chicken: Shredded chicken makes this dip thick and easy to scoop up with chips. For easy shredded chicken, start with a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store (or roast a raw chicken at home). How you shred the chicken is up to you. You can use forks, a stand mixer, or just your good ol’ hands. If you have extra meat, these leftover rotisserie chicken recipes will come in handy. You can also just cook up a small batch of chicken solely for this dip.
- Cheddar cheese: There’s a reason this dip is so cheesy and melty. There’s a whole lot of cheddar cheese inside. Use mild or sharp cheddar, whichever you prefer. You can either grate the cheese yourself or pick up a bag of pre-shredded cheese. These are the best cheddar cheese brands according to our pros.
- Cream cheese: Cream cheese melts great in the slow cooker, and it easily blends with cheddar to make a smooth, creamy sauce. Let the cream cheese soften slightly before adding it in with the other ingredients.
- Buffalo wing sauce: The dip just wouldn’t be the same without this spicy addition. A proper Buffalo wing sauce like Frank’s RedHot is a key ingredient. Other brands you might find in stores include Stonewall Kitchen and Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Directions
Step 1: Make a sauce
In a small bowl, blend the softened cream cheese, ranch dressing, sour cream and blue cheese crumbles. Transfer mixture to a 3-quart slow cooker.
Editor’s Tip: Take all the work out of this sauce, and make it with a hand mixer. You can also just use a fork, wooden spoon or spatula to whip it together.
Step 2: Layer the dip, and cook
Next, layer in the chicken, wing sauce and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for two to three hours or until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese and green onion. Serve warm.
What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Dip
The best vegetables to serve with this dip: fresh-cut celery and cucumbers! For a more colorful spread, include carrot sticks and sliced radishes, too. You can’t go wrong with a bowl of tortilla chips, either.
Other Ways to Use Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Make an open-faced sandwich: Instead of serving this as a dip, split a big, soft loaf of Italian bread in half, and spread the finished mixture over each half. Sprinkle the cheddar and diced green onions over the tops. Slide them under a broiler for a few minutes, until the cheese is bubbling. Cut each half into several slices, and serve.
- Top a baked potato: Just a scoop of slow-cooker Buffalo chicken dip turns plain baked potatoes into a spicy side.
- Stir into pasta: Stir leftover dip into a bowl of cooked macaroni noodles, then top with green onions.
- Build Buffalo chicken nachos: Arrange tortilla chips in an even layer on a sheet pan. Top with dip mixture and extra cheddar cheese, then bake at 350°F until it’s all nice and melty.
How to Store Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
Allow the dip to cool completely, then spoon it into an airtight container. Store the dip in the fridge for two to three days.
How do you reheat Buffalo chicken dip?
Reheat this Buffalo chicken dip gently in a saucepan over low heat or in short bursts in the microwave. Stir the dip several times as it reheats to bring the sauce back together. A tablespoon or two of milk will also help restore the texture of the dip if it looks broken.
Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip Tips
Can you use hot sauce instead of Buffalo wing sauce?
We don’t advise using hot sauce instead of Buffalo wing sauce. Buffalo wing sauce typically contains hot sauce, but additional ingredients in the blend make it less fiery than hot sauce alone. For the best results, try to stick to Buffalo wing sauce.
What else can I add to Buffalo chicken dip?
Throw in some chopped red and green bell peppers or fire-roasted corn for extra texture and color! Or give the dip a Mexican twist: Add a can of drained black beans, a squeeze of lime juice, chopped green chiles and cumin to the mixture in your slow cooker. Top with chopped cilantro.
Can you make slow-cooker Buffalo chicken dip in the oven?
If you prefer to make hot appetizers in the oven, this slow-cooker Buffalo chicken dip can be converted. Make the dip in a greased 2- or 3-quart baking dish. Cover and bake in a preheated 350° oven until heated through, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese and green onions before serving.
