Best Cheeses For Buffalo Chicken Dip: A Guide

Buffalo chicken dip is a popular choice for parties and game days. It's a simple recipe that combines shredded chicken with hot sauce, cream cheese, ranch dressing, and lots of cheese. While the specific type of cheese used can vary, shredded cheddar cheese is a common choice as it creates a gooey texture and adds a cheesy flavour. Other options include Monterey Jack, mozzarella, blue cheese, Colby Jack, and pepper jack. For extra sharpness, sharp cheddar can be used.

Chicken

When it comes to the chicken in Buffalo chicken dip, there are several options to consider. Canned chicken is a convenient and affordable choice, and it works well in this dish. However, if you prefer, you can also use rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken breasts. Using canned chicken can save time and effort, making it a quick and easy option for busy cooks.

The cooking process for the chicken in Buffalo chicken dip is straightforward. Simply heat the chicken in a skillet along with hot sauce until it is thoroughly heated. This step ensures that the chicken is cooked through and infused with the spicy flavour of the hot sauce.

Once the chicken is cooked, it's time to add the remaining ingredients, including cream cheese, ranch dressing, and of course, cheese! For the cheese in Buffalo chicken dip, shredded cheddar cheese is a popular choice as it melts easily and creates a gooey, cheesy texture. However, you can also experiment with other types of cheese to add your own twist to the recipe.

Combining all the ingredients in a slow cooker or baking dish and heating them through creates a warm and bubbly dip that is perfect for serving at parties. The dip can be served with a variety of dippers, such as celery sticks, crackers, tortilla chips, or even toasted baguette slices.

Buffalo chicken dip is a versatile and tasty dish that can be customised to your liking. Whether you're using canned or rotisserie chicken, shredded cheddar or a mix of cheeses, this dip is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Cream Cheese

To make the dip, the cream cheese is combined with chicken, hot sauce, ranch dressing, and other cheeses. The cream cheese and ranch dressing are melted together on the stovetop or in the microwave, then mixed with the chicken and hot sauce. The dip is then transferred to a baking dish or slow cooker, topped with extra cheese, and baked until bubbly.

Buffalo chicken dip can be served warm with tortilla chips, crackers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, or toasted baguette slices. It can also be served as a filling for quesadillas, sandwiches, or sliders.

Ranch Dressing

When preparing the dip, it is essential to use softened cream cheese for easy incorporation and mixing. The dip can be made in a slow cooker or baked in the oven, resulting in a warm, ooey-gooey, and irresistible appetizer.

Hot Sauce

If you want to stick with the classic flavour, Cholula, Louisiana, and Tabasco all offer similar hot sauces. For something with a little more heat, try Frank's Xtra Hot, or for a Mexican twist, Cholula is once again a popular choice. Valentina hot sauce is another option, but it's more about the flavour than the heat.

If you're looking for something completely different, try a chipotle hot sauce, or even a ghost pepper hot sauce for a serious kick.

Cheddar Cheese

When making buffalo chicken dip with cheddar cheese, it is important to shred your own cheese, as pre-shredded cheese may not melt as well or combine with the other ingredients as effectively. You can use either sharp cheddar or mild cheddar, depending on your preference for extra flavour.

To make the dip, you will need to combine cooked and shredded chicken with hot sauce, cream cheese, ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing, and shredded cheddar cheese. You can also add in some sour cream or Greek yoghurt if you want a creamier dip. Mix all the ingredients together, spread them into a baking dish, and sprinkle some extra cheddar cheese on top. Bake the dip until it is bubbly and golden, and serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, or baguette slices.

If you are short on time, you can also make buffalo chicken dip in a slow cooker or crockpot. Simply combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker, stir them together, and cook on low heat for a few hours until the dip is heated through.

Frequently asked questions