Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip (Printable)

Creamy, spicy chicken blend with cheddar and celery for a flavorful party starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Dairy

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
02 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
03 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 1/2 cup sour cream
05 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing
06 - 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)

→ Sauce & Seasonings

07 - 1/2 cup hot sauce (e.g., Frank's RedHot)
08 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ For Serving

10 - 4 to 6 large celery stalks, cut into sticks
11 - Optional: chopped chives or green onions

# How-to Steps:

01 - Set the oven to 350°F and allow it to reach temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, ranch dressing, hot sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Gently fold the shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and blue cheese crumbles (if using) into the mixture until evenly combined.
04 - Spoon the mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish, smoothing the surface evenly.
05 - Sprinkle a small amount of extra cheddar cheese on top if desired.
06 - Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the dip is bubbling and golden at the edges.
07 - Allow to cool slightly before adorning with chopped chives or green onions, then serve warm alongside celery sticks.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • It comes together in 10 minutes of prep, then the oven does the heavy lifting while you actually enjoy your guests.
  • Nobody suspects how easy it is—people taste the layers of hot sauce, cool ranch, and melted cheese and assume you spent hours on it.
  • Celery gives you the perfect vehicle for eating this without guilt, and it stays creamy and dippable even if it sits out for a while.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese is cold or chunky, the whole dip will be grainy—soften it for at least 15 minutes before mixing, or your guests will know you rushed.
  • The dip will thicken slightly as it cools, so if it looks too thick in the bowl, it's actually perfect; if it looks loose, it'll be too thick later.
  • Celery must be fresh and kept cold until serving—limp celery defeats the purpose of the whole dish.
03 -
  • Use a slow cooker instead of the oven if you're short on space—set it to warm and it'll stay perfect all night without drying out.
  • The moment you fold the cream cheese mixture is when most people fail; go slow and gentle, or you'll trap air bubbles that make the final texture grainy.

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