Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip + 15 more game day appetizers

This easy Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe makes a warm, spicy cheese dip using rotisserie chicken. Such a versatile easy dip recipe, it can be made in a crockpot, Instant Pot, stovetop, or baked in an oven. One of the best game day appetizers for a football party!

bowl of buffalo chicken dip and crostini for dipping on wood serving platter

Why is called buffalo chicken?

How did such a delicious chicken dish end up with such a funky name? If memory serves me correctly, for a few years, I questioned whether I was eating buffalo meat rather than chicken wings!

According to various Internet sources, the first plate of wings was served in 1964, at a family-owned establishment in Buffalo called the Anchor Bar. Buffalo chicken wings were a creation from the mind of Teressa Bellissimo, who covered chicken wings in her own special sauce. Sides of blue cheese and celery came with the wings because that’s what she had available.

bowl of spicy chicken dip topped with blue cheese crumbles

How do you make an easy buffalo chicken dip recipe?

One of the things that makes buffalo chicken dip so popular is how easy it is to prepare.  Whether it’s crockpot buffalo chicken dip, an Instant Pot recipe, or a stovetop version, the ingredients in the spicy cheese dip are the same. You’ll need these ingredients:

  • cooked and shredded chicken – I use rotisserie chicken, but any cooked leftover chicken will do the job.
  • cream cheese
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • buffalo sauce, or if you prefer, use straight up hot sauce
  • ranch or blue cheese dressing
  • blue cheese crumbles

There really is no wrong way to make the dip; it’s all a matter of what method of cooking you choose.

bowl of easy buffalo chicken dip made with rotisserie chicken

How do you make buffalo chicken dip in an Instant Pot?

To make Instant Pot buffalo chicken dip, just use the IP’s slow cooker feature, following my directions as shown for crockpot buffalo chicken dip.

How do you make buffalo chicken dip in an oven?

If you don’t have a slow cooker or Instant Pot but still want to make this crockpot Buffalo chicken dip recipe, bake it in an oven instead!

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Place softened cream cheese into a casserole dish or deep baking dish. Stir until smooth.
  3. Add salad dressing, Buffalo or hot sauce, and blue cheese; mix to combine. Stir in the cooked chicken.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until mixture is heated through.
  5. Remove dish from the oven, stir everything to combine, then garnish as desired and serve.

More Game Day Appetizers

Need more football food ideas for the big game? Here are 15 more game day appetizers!

crockpot buffalo chicken dip

How to make Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip

If you make or plan to make this easy crockpot buffalo chicken dip recipe, please leave a comment and rate the recipe below. It helps other readers to know how well a recipe turns out for others!

Once you’ve printed or Pinned the recipe, keep scrolling to see 7 more easy dip recipes.

All of them make great game day appetizers, too!

bowl of buffalo chicken dip made with rotisserie chicken

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip using Rotisserie Chicken (Crockpot, IP, or Oven)

This easy Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe makes a warm, spicy cheese dip using rotisserie chicken. One of the best game day appetizers for a football party! The crockpot directions are here. To see directions for Instant Pot and oven, please read the recipe post.
4.50 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 390 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 24 oz. cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • .5 cup ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing
  • 1 cup Buffalo sauce for a spicier dip, use more
  • 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked leftover chicken

Optional Garnishes

  • ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
  • 1 green onion thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Place cream cheese, cheddar cheese, salad dressing, and Buffalo sauce into the bottom of a slow cooker; stir to combine.
  • Add in shredded chicken and stir again to combine.
  • Cook on low power for 2 hours or until cream cheese has melted completely. Stir to incorporate.
  • Serve directly from the slow cooker, serving garnishes on the side, or transfer the dip to a large serving bowl and garnish as desired.
  • Serve with crostini, crackers, and raw veggies for dipping. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container and use within 2 days.

Notes

If you don’t have a slow cooker but still want to make this recipe, please read the recipe post for instructions on baking the dip in an oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 17gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 1198mgPotassium: 198mgSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1015IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 228mgIron: 0.6mg
Tried this recipe? Mention @itsyummi or tag #itsyummirecipe!
dipping crostini into bowl of buffalo chicken dip

More easy dip recipes

If you love hot and cold dip recipes, here are a few more that you can make as game day appetizers!

titled image: Buffalo chicken dip for slow cooker or stovetop
photo collage of game day appetizers

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