Best Cheeses For Buffalo Chicken Dip: A Guide

Buffalo chicken dip is a mouth-watering appetiser that is perfect for any occasion. It is a sinfully creamy and comforting food with hot wing flavours. The best cheeses to use in this dip are cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, blue cheese, Colby jack, and pepper jack. You can also use a combination of sharp cheddar and Monterey jack.

Cheddar

When making buffalo chicken dip, it is important to use shredded cheese rather than cubed or sliced cheese, as this ensures that the cheese melts evenly and creates a smooth and creamy texture.

In addition to its flavour and melting properties, cheddar is a good choice for buffalo chicken dip because it has a relatively high melting point compared to other cheeses. This means that it will not melt too quickly during the baking process, allowing the other ingredients to cook thoroughly without the cheese burning or becoming tough.

When shredding the cheddar cheese for buffalo chicken dip, it is best to use a block of cheddar and shred it yourself using a box grater or food processor. Pre-shredded cheddar cheese tends to be coated with anti-caking agents and preservatives, which can affect the texture and flavour of the dip.

Some recipes also call for a combination of white and yellow sharp cheddar cheese, adding a touch of colour and extra sharpness to the dip.

Monterey Jack

Buffalo chicken dip is a mouthwatering appetiser and a potluck/party staple. It is rich, creamy, and packed with melty shredded cheese, cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, and freshly shredded chicken. This dip is usually served with tortilla chips, corn chips, toasted baguette slices, crackers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, or cucumber spears.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded chicken breast
• 1/2 cup hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot)
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 scallions, chopped
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for topping
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, for topping

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch dressing, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until smooth.
• Fold in chopped scallions, shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
• Spread the dip evenly in an oven-safe dish.
• Top with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
• Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the dip is bubbling and the cheese has browned.
• Serve immediately with your favourite chips, vegetables, or crackers.

Mozzarella

When making buffalo chicken dip, it's important to use a combination of cheeses to get the best flavour and texture. While mozzarella is an excellent choice, it should be paired with other cheeses like sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack. These cheeses complement each other and create a delicious, gooey dip.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded chicken
• 1/2 cup hot sauce (Frank's RedHot is a popular choice)
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 8 oz softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 2 scallions, chopped

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch dressing, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until smooth.
• Add the shredded chicken, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and chopped scallions to the bowl. Stir everything together until well combined.
• Spread the mixture evenly in an oven-safe dish.
• Top with additional shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the dip is bubbling and the cheese has browned.
• Serve immediately with your favourite chips, vegetables, or crackers.

Feel free to adjust the measurements and ingredients to your taste preferences. You can also add other ingredients like blue cheese crumbles or diced celery for extra flavour and texture. Enjoy your delicious, cheesy buffalo chicken dip!

Blue Cheese

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup ranch dressing
• 1 3/4 cups Colby Jack cheese, divided (sharp cheddar can also be used)
• 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch dressing, and 1 cup of the Colby Jack cheese. You can use a stand mixer or simply mix by hand until well combined.

Spoon the mixture into a greased 9"x9" baking dish or a 9" pie plate. Sprinkle the remaining Colby Jack cheese and the blue cheese crumbles over the top.

Bake the dip for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, celery sticks, bread, or your favourite dippers.

Tips and Variations:

• If you're short on time, you can use a rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time.
• Feel free to adjust the amount of blue cheese to suit your taste. If you're not a fan of blue cheese, you can omit it or substitute it with goat cheese or feta cheese.
• For a slow cooker version, place all the ingredients in a crockpot, mix to combine, and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until heated through.
• This dip can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you're ready to bake it. Just remember to remove it from the fridge about 10 minutes before baking so it's not too chilled.
• To add some extra texture and flavour, sprinkle freshly sliced green onions on top of the dip before serving.

Colby Jack

To make this buffalo chicken dip, simply add your cream cheese to a large crockpot on low heat. Then, add in your shredded, cooked chicken, Colby-Jack cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and garlic powder. Give everything a rough stir and put the lid on. Let it cook for about 75-90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's warmed through and the cheese is melted.

This buffalo chicken dip is versatile and can be served as an appetizer or snack with tortilla chips, toasted bread slices, or veggie sticks. It's also a great addition to a Game Day spread, paired with other dips and snacks.

If you're looking for a lighter option, you can substitute the ranch and blue cheese dressings for Greek yoghurt, which will also add some extra protein to the dish.

Frequently asked questions