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Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
updated Aug 6, 2023
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Buffalo chicken dip is the lazy person’s trick for serving Buffalo wings for a crowd. You get all the tangy, fiery flavors of hot wings coated in a rich, creamy dip. You know it’s good when it’s just as delicious on celery as it is on chips! And maybe best of all, you won’t go through a tower of napkins while enjoying it!
But what makes this the ultimate? It’s not the sauce or the cheese — it all comes down to the chicken.
Quick Overview
Tips For Making Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Cook two chicken breasts in the slow cooker
- Use a stand mixer fitted with a paddled attachment to shred chicken.
- Adjust the hot sauce amount whether you like it hot or not.
Why Buffalo Chicken Dip?
When you’re hosting a party — be it game day or board game night — the aim is to set up a spread everyone enjoys. Usually, there’s no better way to guarantee satisfaction than by including hot wings. But hot wings for a crowd get cold fast, you never order enough, and inevitably you have to contend with that pile of bones. Buffalo chicken dip gives you all the flavor of hot wings in the form of a dip, and everyone loves dip!
To make things even simpler, this dip is prepared and served in a slow cooker so it’s pretty hands-off and it stays warm throughout the party. You just need a few poached chicken breasts, a pretty hefty amount of cheese, and about 10 minutes to put it all together. Yep, it’s that easy! That’s the whole point of it, after all — this is meant to be an easy dip that everyone will seriously love.
The Best Chicken for the Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Dip
How To Make Easy Shredded Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Read More
How you cook your chicken is the place to invest when making this dip. A number of Buffalo chicken dip recipes call for canned chicken breast, which is a logical shortcut considering the other ingredients don’t need to be precooked. Unfortunately, canned chicken can have a mealy texture when cooked in the dip.
Instead, cook two chicken breasts in the slow cooker before mixing in the rest of the ingredients. This chicken shreds better and has an overall better flavor and texture. But sometimes, you still need a shortcut up your sleeve. If you’re behind schedule, use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken from the grocery store deli. Both are better than the canned option.
Shred the Chicken Quickly With a Stand Mixer
Once cooked, the chicken breast still needs shredding. You can quickly and efficiently do this in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Yes, it is an extra piece of heavy equipment that will have to be cleaned later, but if I can shred 1 1/2 pounds of chicken in 2 minutes rather than 30, then I’m happy to wash a mixing bowl.
Flavoring the Buffalo Chicken Dip
Wing restaurants often have a menu a mile long — allowing for customization of flavor and heat level. You can do the same here with this dip. Do you prefer dipping wings into ranch or blue cheese dressing? Choose your favorite. Do you prefer an inferno-like heat or are you serving more mild palates? Just adjust the hot sauce amount. The lower hot sauce amount I have listed is family-friendly, even for my spice-averse toddler, but the adults in the room wanted more heat so shoot for the upper range if you’re looking for flames.
The Best Hot Sauce for Buffalo Dip
The best hot sauce for buffalo chicken dip is the one you’ve got in your fridge. Most cooks have a standard family hot sauce that they keep in their fridge.
We are a Cholula household. I’ve always got an open bottle in the fridge, an extra in the pantry, and a travel-sized bottle in the glove compartment of my car (in case of emergency, obviously). Although Frank’s RedHot® is the standard for Buffalo dips, I think Cholula has a more dynamic flavor, more so than the one-note blast of heat from other sauces that just contain vinegar, salt, and chiles. But here’s the beauty of the dip — pick what works for you!
Got leftovers? Lucky, you! Leftover dip is great as a taco filling or stirred into macaroni and cheese.
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Poach the chicken: Place the chicken breasts and water in a 3-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 1/2 hours. (Image credit: Lauren Volo)
Filed in:
appetizer
Cheese
Chicken
Cooking Methods
easy
Gluten-Free
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Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo chicken dip is a popular dish that combines the tangy and fiery flavors of hot wings with a rich and creamy dip. It is often served as an appetizer or snack at parties and gatherings. The dip is made with shredded chicken, cheese, and hot sauce, among other ingredients. It can be enjoyed with chips, celery, or other dipping options.
Slow Cooker
The slow cooker is a kitchen appliance that is used for slow cooking food at a low temperature over a long period of time. It is often used for dishes that require long, slow cooking, such as stews, roasts, and soups. The slow cooker is known for its convenience and ability to tenderize meat while infusing flavors into the dish.
Shredded Chicken
Shredded chicken refers to chicken that has been cooked and then pulled apart into small, thin shreds. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various dishes, including salads, sandwiches, and dips like buffalo chicken dip. Shredded chicken is often tender and moist, making it a popular choice for many recipes.
Hot Sauce
Hot sauce is a spicy condiment made from chili peppers, vinegar, and other ingredients. It adds heat and flavor to dishes and is commonly used in cuisines around the world. In the context of buffalo chicken dip, hot sauce is a key ingredient that provides the signature spicy kick.
Ranch Dressing and Blue Cheese Dressing
Ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing are two popular options for dipping wings and other foods. Ranch dressing is a creamy dressing made with buttermilk, herbs, and spices, while blue cheese dressing is made with blue cheese, mayonnaise, and other ingredients. Both dressings can be used as a dipping sauce for buffalo chicken dip, allowing for customization of flavor.
Leftover Dip
If there are any leftovers of the buffalo chicken dip, they can be repurposed in other dishes. For example, leftover dip can be used as a taco filling or stirred into macaroni and cheese to add flavor and creaminess.
These are the main concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or would like more information on any of these topics, feel free to ask!
