This easy and savory recipe for Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip will be one of your go-to appetizers for game day, holidays, potlucks, and more! Made with just a few simple ingredients and ready in just a few hours, this creamy dip is the perfect addition to your next party.
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This easy buffalo chicken dip is everything you love about spicy buffalo wings - packed into a creamy and hot dip. It's spicy, it's savory, and it's super simple to make. The best part? It's made in a slow cooker so you can free up your hands for more important tasks (like watching the actual game or camping out at the snack table).
I've been testing this recipe over the last several months, and my husband has declared it to be the best buffalo chicken dip ever! In fact, he's asked for the recipe for his next work potluck and has been hyping it up to his coworkers ever since.
Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- It's easy. Just a few simple ingredients combine to make a creamy and spicy dip that's a true crowd-pleaser.
- You can take shortcuts. Since this recipe calls for cooked and shredded chicken, you can use whatever you like best. While I like to cook and shred chicken breasts, you could use rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked chicken pieces from the deli, or even canned chicken.
- Perfect for football season. Buffalo chicken recipes and football go together like mac and cheese or peanut butter and jelly - it's a timeless combo that proves to be delicious time and time again. This crockpot buffalo chicken dip recipe has all the flavor of buffalo wings, but no deep-frying (or associated cleanup) is needed.
- Adaptable. If guests need to eat gluten-free, low-carb, or keto, this buffalo dip recipe can work wonders! Serve with gluten-free, low-carb, or keto options and you're good to go.
Ingredients
- Cream cheese: I recommend using a national brand (like Philadelphia) for this recipe. Generic brands don't hold up as well to cooking in my experience.
- Cayenne pepper sauce: AKA Frank's Red Hot Sauce. This adds the yummy buffalo flavor we all love. Generic brands are totally fine, but make sure you find one that is labeled "cayenne pepper sauce" and not buffalo sauce.
- Cooked chicken: I like to use my shredded chicken recipe for adding to this warm dip recipe, but you could use shredded rotisserie chicken or even canned chicken.
- Blue cheese dressing (or ranch dressing): This adds both creaminess and flavor. We prefer the taste of blue cheese dressing, but if you're not a fan you can use ranch dressing instead. I recommend using a good quality refrigerated dressing, but Ken's or Newman's Own shelf stable dressings would work in a pinch.
- Shredded cheese: You're going to want to use cheese that has been freshly shredded from the block for this one - it just melts better!
- Worcestershire sauce: This adds a nice savory flavor, but can be left out if you don't have any on hand.
- Seasonings: I recommend some garlic powder and a touch of ground cayenne for extra flavor.
Check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and the quantities needed.
Check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and the quantities needed.
Equipment
- Slow cooker: Also known as a "Crock Pot" - I like to use a 4 or 6-quart model for most recipes.
- Hand mixer: This makes easy work of mixing all of the ingredients together, but you could use a silicone spatula + a little elbow grease if needed.
Instructions
This is how to make your favorite buffalo chicken dip in a crock pot (AKA slow cooker). It's SO easy! So much so that you'll want to bring it to every get-together you can think of. Let's get started.
Mixing Together the Ingredients
Step one: Add the softened cream cheese to a large bowl. Mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
Step two: Add the dressing of your choice (blue cheese or ranch), cayenne pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and ground cayenne pepper.
Adding the Chicken and Cheese
Step three: Mix until well combined and smooth.
Step four: Add in the cooked chicken and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese.
Adding it to the Slow Cooker
Step five: Lightly spray your slow cooker with cooking spray, then add the buffalo chicken mixture. Spread into a smooth, even layer.
Step six: Top the dip with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese.
Cook on "low" for 1 ½-2 hours, or on "high" for 3-4 hours on "low".
Serving
Step seven: Allow the dip to cool for about 5-10 minutes, and stir before serving.
If some grease pools on the top, stir it in, but if it's a significant amount carefully remove it with a spoon before stirring.
Step eight: Garnish with chopped green onions (and/or blue cheese crumbles) and serve with celery sticks, tortilla chips, Fritos, or any of your favorite veggie sticks or crackers.
Serving tip: If you're taking this slow cooker buffalo chicken dip to a potluck or an event, you can make it in advance (or cook it at the party), then keep the dip on the "warm" setting throughout the party.
Storing Leftover Dip
If you have any leftovers add them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat the dip in the microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through, in a slow cooker on "high" heat, OR bake it in the oven at 350ºF for 20-30 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Make ahead. If you want to make this dip ahead of time, you can prepare it up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it in a wrapped bowl in the refrigerator, or (if you have room in the fridge) the crock itself (with the lid on or wrapped tightly). Bring the crock to room temperature before placing it in the slow cooker, then add about 30-60 minutes to the cooking time.
- Keep it warm. All slow cookers have a "warm" option. If you are serving this for guests over many hours (like a Super Bowl party), switch it to the "warm" setting to maintain the perfect temperature.
- Serving options. For a party offer a variety of options for dipping and serving so everyone can have their favorite one. I like to include both low-carb and gluten-free options.
What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Dip
For dipping:
- Tortilla chips
- Celery or carrot sticks
- Ritz crackers
- Fritos
- Toasted baguette slices
- Bell pepper strips
- Pita chips
Side dishes:
- Buffalo chicken wings
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Cream cheese and salsa dip
- Bacon-wrapped jalapenos
- Nachos (or mini pepper nachos for a low-carb option)
- Mozzarella sticks
- Loaded potato skins
- Pizza (or French bread pizza)
- Garlic bread
- Cheese board
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and add the dip mixture to a 9X13 baking dish.
- Top the dish with the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese and additional blue cheese crumbles (optional).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped green onions, additional blue cheese crumbles, or chopped cilantro.
- Serve and enjoy with your favorite chips, crackers, or veggies.
Substitutions
Chicken: I recommend using fresh shredded cooked chicken, but many people love using shredded rotisserie chicken, or even canned chicken. If using canned chicken, be sure to drain it very well and use the best quality you can find.
Extra cheesy: If you love a good cheese pull try adding ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese to the dip, along with the cheddar.
Recipe FAQ's
If you want to make a big batch of this Crock Pot buffalo chicken dip you can double the recipe, but you will need to increase the cooking time. To cook on "high" start with 2-3 hours, or if using the "low" setting start with 4-5 hours.
If your dip is very runny, you may have used too much liquid (a thin dressing, residual liquid from chicken, etc.). To help thicken the dip add some additional warmed cream cheese until the desired consistency is reached.
While many people will freeze their buffalo chicken dip, it should be noted that both ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing) and cream cheese do not freeze all that well. There will be some separation and consistency changes after freezing. If you do freeze your dip, it will freeze for up to 3 months and should be thawed before baking or slow cooking.
More Party Dip Recipes:
If you loved this recipe for Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.
Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 8oz packages of cream cheese softened
- 1 cup blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing
- ¾ cup cayenne pepper sauce like Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- ¾ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 2 cups cubed or shredded cooked chicken
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese to a large bowl and blend it until smooth using an electric hand mixer.
- Then add in the ranch or blue cheese dressing, cayenne pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper and mix well to combine.
- Add in the chicken and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese and mix well until all of the chicken has been coated in the buffalo dip mixture.
- Spray the insert of your slow cooker with cooking spray and spread the dip mixture into the bottom in a smooth, even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese on top.
- Cook on "low" for 3-4 hours, or on "high" for 1 ½ - 2 hours, or until everything is hot and bubbly.
- Allow the dip to cool for about 5-10 minutes, then stir well before serving. If some of the grease forms pools, feel free to remove it with a spoon before serving
- Serve and enjoy with tortilla scoops, corn chips, celery sticks, or crackers.
Video
Notes
- For garnish: Add chopped green onions, blue cheese crumbles, or fresh chopped cilantro.
- Extra cheese: If you like a really cheesy dip, add about ½ cup of mozzarella cheese, which will make it ultra-stringy and stretchy.
- Serving: The dip tastes best once it has had a chance to cool down a bit (about 15 minutes is ideal). To keep the dip warm while serving, switch the crock pot to the "warm" setting.
- Gluten-free: This recipe is gluten-free as written, but you should check the Worcestershire sauce to ensure it is a gluten-free brand. Also, serve with gluten-free options like corn tortilla chips, veggie sticks, fritos, etc. Separate the dip into a gluten-free side and a normal side (using foil or 2 crock pots) if you are serving a variety of guests.
- Low carb/keto: Serve with low-carb options like keto crackers, bell pepper sticks, celery sticks, etc.
Nutrition
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Please note that some of my blog posts here at Dash for Dinner may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.
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