Not all Buffalo Chicken Dips are created equal. Stop messing around with boring and bland Buffalo dips and prepare your taste buds for flavor enjoyment overload. After many tasty trials, I’ve finally hit on this perfect Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe that is packed with flavor and has the dreamiest creamiest texture. It’s all the taste of traditional wings without the mess. Say “so long!” to subpar dips, and hello to the only Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe you’ll ever need again.

Top view of buffalo chicken dip in a baking dish.

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Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Appetizers are my favorite food at parties. Seriously. Whenever I host any sort of get-together with friends or family, there’s no question: There will be lots and lots of appetizers. And this highly requested Buffalo Chicken Dip never gets left off the menu. It’s an easy and keto-friendly appetizer to whip up in a short space of time. And it never disappoints.

You’ve probably had Buffalo Chicken Dip before. Very few people haven’t. Poor souls. But usually Buffalo dip is either kind of bland and tasteless or so spicy you don’t really know there’s other ingredients in there. But after lots and lots of tasting and testing, I’ve finally landed on the perfect texture and flavor combination of creamy and spicy.Forget those disappointing and flavorless chicken dips of the past. Follow this simple recipe and you can’t go wrong, no bones about it.

Why You’ll Love this Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

This easy appetizer comes together in under 30 minutes (or less), but there are so many reasons to love it:

  • Cheesy and creamy: it satisfies as the perfect dip. It has all the flavor of wings without all the mess. 
  • Easy to make: It’s such an easy recipe that you can make it for your next party, the big game, a potluck, or any occasion where you want to feed a crowd any time of year. 
  • Low carb: if you have low-carb guests, it’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer everyone will love. 
  • Bold and spicy: Buffalo wing sauce is known for its tangy, spicy flavor. The combination of the spicy flavor of buffalo sauce with cool creamy cheese is perfect!
  • Versatile: a really cool thing about this dip is that it can be served hot or cold. It also can be served with so many different things from crackers to chips to veggies.

Franks Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe Ingredients

When you’re making appetizers, quick and easy wins the game at my house. This 5-ingredient recipe is easy with a few simple ingredients.

Here’s are the dip ingredients to put on your list for the grocery store: 

  • chicken – You can use a rotisserie chicken, cook it yourself in the oven or Instant Pot or even use canned chicken breast. It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken.
  • cream cheese – Full-fat cream cheese works best, but low-fat or Neufchatel also works. Sour cream can also be substituted. 
  • buffalo sauce – Frank’s Red Hot is the classic, but you can use any brand. 
  • ranch dressing – You can substitute blue cheese dressing if you prefer that flavor. 
  • shredded cheddar cheese – Any melty cheese will work, but freshly grated will melt best. 

Frank’s Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe Topping Ideas:

You might want to add some extra toppings, as well. These will make it look appetizing while also adding some extra flavor and color. 

  • more shredded cheese
  • blue cheese crumbles
  • diced green onions
  • extra buffalo sauce
  • chives 

How to Make Franks Red Hot Chicken Dip Gluten Free

Buffalo chicken dip can be gluten free if you use gluten-free ranch dressing. 

A few of the Hidden Valley brand versions don’t contain gluten, but some brands do, so always check the labels to be sure. 

Make sure to serve with lots of gluten-free dippers, such as gluten-free crackers, corn chips, and veggies.

Ingredients needed to make Buffalo Chicken Dip.

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip

How to Shred Chicken for Franks Red Hot Chicken Dip

Whether you’re using homemade chicken like this beer can chicken or a store-bought rotisserie chicken, cooked chicken breasts, or canned ones, shredding the chicken will follow the same process. 

There are two main ways to shred chicken: 

  1. With two forks: Hold a fork in each hand. Use your non-dominant hand to stabilize a piece of chicken, then use the other fork to grab pieces of chicken and pull away from the other fork. 
  2. With a mixer: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer helps to break up the chicken. The mixer method is best for boneless chicken. 

Making this dip is super simple, and I know you can do it.

Shredded chicken and ingredients for buffalo chicken added to a mixing bowl with a spoon.

Step 1

First, preheat the oven to 400ºF. Then spray a casserole dish or cast iron skillet with nonstick spray and set it aside.

Add the shredded chicken, cream cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and half of the cheddar cheese to a mixing bowl.

Mixing bowl with chicken mixture combined.

Step 2

Stir together with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until everything is fully combined.

Chicken mixture added to a baking dish.

Step 3

Then pour the mixture into the casserole dish and spread it out into an even layer. Use a rubber spatula to scrape everything out of the bowl if it sticks.

Shredded cheese sprinkled over buffalo chicken mixture in a baking dish.

Step 4

Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.

Bake for 10 minutes or until hot and bubbly. The cheese on top should be totally melted.

Remove it from the oven and top with your favorite toppings. I like using an extra drizzle of buffalo sauce and some blue cheese crumbles.

Enjoy with your favorite dippers!

How to Make Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip with No Blue Cheese

If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, simply use ranch dressing instead of blue cheese dressing when making the dip. 

Cream cheese works as a substitute for blue cheese in the dip, and you can avoid putting extra blue cheese on top, too. 

If you have a divided house of blue cheese lovers, use ranch dressing for the dip, then only decorate half the top with blue cheese crumbles. 

Frank’s Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe Tips & Tricks

Make sure the cream cheese is completely softened so that it can mix well with the remaining ingredients. This way you don’t find clumps of cream cheese throughout the dip. 

If you’re in a hurry, here’s how to soften cream cheese quickly.

If you want that classic cheese pull with your dip that people love, use freshly grated mozzarella cheese along with the cheddar cheese. 

What to Eat with Franks Buffalo Chicken Dip

You can use a number of delicious dippers for a hot buffalo chicken dip! Here are a few ideas: 

  • toasted baguette slices
  • crisp tortilla chips
  • crackers 
  • celery sticks
  • carrot sticks or carrot chips 
  • ​bell peppers
  • red pepper slices 
  • pretzel chips 
  • Fritos 

Franks Buffalo Chicken Dip Storage

Cover the completely cooled dip with plastic wrap or transfer what’s left to a food-safe airtight container. Refrigerate and enjoy within 2-3 days. 

It’s delicious on sandwiches or salads! Or you can reheat it and enjoy it as a dip again.

You can enjoy it cold or you can warm it up in a 250°F oven for about 15 minutes until warmed through.

If you want to keep it warm at a party, you can put the dip in your slow cooker or crock pot and set it to warm. If you do this, be sure to keep stirring it occasionally to prevent it from burning to the bottom. 

For food safety, any dip containing cream cheese or sour cream should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

How to Freeze Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Freezing buffalo chicken dip is another option. If you’re storing dip in a standard freezer, you’ll be able to keep it for up to 3 months. In a deep freezer, properly stored dip can last up to 6 months.

Once it has cooled completely, place the dip into an airtight freezer-safe container. If you are using a freezer bag, be sure to push out all of the air from the bag before sealing. Place the container in the freezer and allow it to freeze completely.

To enjoy later, here’s what to do: 

  1. Let it slowly defrost in the refrigerator until completely thawed. Because the dip has cream cheese, this will help the texture stay creamy and avoid separation. 
  2. Place the thawed dip in an oven-safe baking dish and cover it with foil
  3. Heat in a 350ºF oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil and give it a good stir. 
  4. Top with a little extra shredded cheddar and put it back in the oven to cook for an additional 5 minutes until the top is melted and bubbly.
Baking dish of buffalo chicken dip.

Franks Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe FAQs

Can you serve buffalo chicken dip cold?

Yes, if you like a cold buffalo chicken dip, simply mix everything together and skip the baking step. 

How long is buffalo chicken dip good for? 

For food safety, any dip containing cream cheese or sour cream should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. 
When stored properly, buffalo chicken dip can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or in a standard freezer for up to 3 months. 

What chips go best with buffalo chicken dip?

Salty chips are a great option that go well with a creamy, spicy buffalo chicken dip:
– tortilla chips
– pita chips
– tortilla scoops
– pretzel crisps

Why is my buffalo chicken dip runny?

There could be a few reasons you are having a consistency issue with your buffalo chicken dip.
chicken: if you’re using canned chicken, it’s important to be sure it’s fully drained before adding it into the dip
overcooking: overcooking the dip can cause the cheese to separate and give it a runny, greasy texture. If you’re reheating, be sure to do it gently and gradually to avoid overcooking.
measurements: if your measurements are incorrect and you’ve added too much buffalo sauce or ranch dressing, you can end up with a runny texture.
resting: it’s important to let the dip rest and cool slightly before serving it because it will thicken as it cools.

Why is my buffalo chicken dip grainy?

Buffalo Chicken Dip can get grainy if you make a few simple mistakes.
– Overheating the cheddar cheese can cause it to break down and become grainy. Avoid overcooking the dip to help prevent this.
– Using pre-shredded cheese can create a grainy texture from the anti-caking agents they use. You can avoid this by using freshly grated cheese.
– Using low fat and fat free versions of cream cheese and cheddar cheese can cause it to become grainy. The fat content of cheese is what helps it become smooth and creamy.

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Franks Red Hot Chicken Dip

5 from 1 vote
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 10 minutes
Servings: 8
This creamy and Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe is the perfect addition to any party, gathering, or get-together. It's packed with flavor and has all the taste you love of traditional wings without the mess. 

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups chicken shredded
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • optional topping: blue cheese crumbles, green onions, extra buffalo sauce

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Spray a casserole dish with nonstick spray and set it aside.
  • Add the chicken, cream cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and half of the cheddar cheese to a mixing bowl.
  • Mix until everything is fully combined.
  • Pour the mixture into the casserole dish and spread it out into an even layer.
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
  • Bake for 10 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
  • Remove from the oven and top with your favorite toppings. I like using an extra drizzle of buffalo sauce and some blue cheese crumbles.

Notes

  • Make sure the cream cheese is completely softened so that it can mix well with the remaining ingredients. This will help avoid finding clumps of cream cheese throughout the dip.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 601kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 63g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Monounsaturated Fat: 26g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 762mg, Potassium: 87mg, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 184IU, Calcium: 90mg, Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Hi! I’m Kara!

Kara loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes.

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