Buffalo Chicken Dip With Blue Cheese — Cozy, Reliable, Weeknight-Ready

Quick Facts

Time: 40 minutes • Yield: About 8 servings • Skill: Easy • Method: Skillet + bake (one-pan) • Diet tags: High-protein, gluten-free friendly (with GF dippers)

Introduction

Buffalo Chicken Dip is the answer when you need a bold, creamy appetizer that never lets you down. Maybe you’ve tried versions that were either too greasy, too flat, or missing that signature tang. This version balances rich creaminess with a savory, slightly spicy kick and finishes with a blue cheese crumble topping for that restaurant-style flavor you crave. The texture is scoopable but not soupy, perfect for chips, celery, carrots, or pita. Flavor-wise, expect buttery heat from buffalo sauce, cool herbs from ranch, and pockets of tangy blue cheese on top. It’s ideal for game day spreads, weeknight snacks, or last-minute entertaining because you can prep it in one skillet, slide it into the oven, and serve it hot. With clear timing and flexible swaps, this recipe is friendly for meal prep and budget plans alike, and it’s on the table in about 40 minutes.

If you love bold, creamy heat, browse our full collection of Buffalo Chicken Dip recipes for every spice level and skillet size.

Why You’ll Love It

• Weeknight-easy: One pan, simple steps, and clear timing.
• Flexible: Use rotisserie chicken, tweak the heat, or switch cheeses.
• Balanced flavor: Buttery heat + creamy base + bright finish.
• Great leftovers: Reheats beautifully for snacks or bowls tomorrow.

Craving more party-ready ideas? Start with our crowd-tested Dip Recipes.

Buffalo Chicken Dip With Blue Cheese — Cozy, Reliable, Weeknight-Ready

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• Author: Lily
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: About 8 servings

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Description

Cozy, scoopable Buffalo Chicken Dip with a creamy ranch base, buttery heat from buffalo sauce, and a tangy blue-cheese finish—made in one skillet and baked until bubbly.

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Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp butter

1 cup finely chopped white onion

1 Tbsp minced garlic

2½ cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped

½ cup buffalo wing sauce

8 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed

½ cup ranch dressing

½ cup sour cream

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1 cup shredded cheddar

¼ cup blue cheese crumbles, plus more to finish

2 Tbsp chopped parsley or green onion (garnish)

Dippers (optional): celery sticks, carrot sticks, pita chips, sturdy crackers

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Instructions

1) Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Heat a 9–10″ oven-safe skillet over medium heat.

2) Add olive oil and butter. Sauté onion for 5 minutes, stirring, until translucent. Add garlic; cook 1 minute.

3) Stir in chicken and buffalo sauce; let it bubble briefly to coat.

4) Add cream cheese and stir until smooth and creamy.

5) Fold in ranch and sour cream; season with black pepper.

6) Smooth the top, then sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar evenly.

7) Bake 25–35 minutes until edges are bubbling and the top has golden spots.

8) Remove from oven; immediately top with blue cheese crumbles and herbs. Rest 5 minutes, then serve warm with dippers.

Notes

– Make-ahead: Assemble through the cheese topping, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours; bake when ready.

– Storage: Refrigerate 3–4 days.

– Reheat: 300–325°F until warmed through, or low skillet heat; loosen with a splash of milk or a spoon of ranch if needed.

– Gluten-free friendly: Use GF dippers.

– Swap: Replace some sour cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter tang.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Dip
• Method: Skillet + Bake
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 cup finely chopped white onion
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 2½ cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped (rotisserie works great)
• ½ cup buffalo wing sauce
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
• ½ cup ranch dressing
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles, plus more to finish
• 2 Tbsp chopped parsley or green onion (garnish)
• Dippers: celery sticks, carrot sticks, pita chips, or sturdy crackers

What each ingredient does:
Olive oil + butter: sauté base & richness • Onion: savory sweetness • Garlic: aroma • Chicken: hearty body • Buffalo sauce: heat + tang • Cream cheese: silky base • Ranch + sour cream: cool, herby creaminess • Black pepper: mild bite • Mozzarella + cheddar: melt + flavor • Blue cheese: tangy bursts on top • Herbs: freshness.

Pro tip: Use low-sodium ingredients where possible so you can season perfectly at the end.

Substitutions & Swaps

• Aromatics: Swap white onion for shallot; add a pinch of onion powder if you’re out.
• Protein: Use rotisserie chicken for speed; leftover shredded chicken works, too.
• Cheese: If blue cheese isn’t your thing, sprinkle less or replace with Monterey Jack for mild richness.
• Heat level: Choose mild or hot buffalo sauce; add crushed red pepper for more fire.
• Dairy adjustments: Replace part of the sour cream with Greek yogurt for tang; lactose-free cream cheese works well.
• Time savers: Pre-shredded rotisserie chicken; bagged shredded cheese; pre-chopped onions.

Equipment Notes

• Must-have: 9–10-inch cast-iron skillet or any oven-safe skillet/baking dish.
• Nice-to-have: Rubber spatula for scraping and smoothing; microplaner for garlic if needed.
• Sizing: This volume fits a 9–10-inch skillet; double for a 12-inch.
• Clean-up tip: Lightly oil the skillet rim to minimize baked-on cheese.

Step-by-Step

1. Preheat & preheat skillet (why): Heat oven to 350°F and warm your skillet over medium heat so the aromatics cook evenly.
2. Sauté aromatics (build flavor): Add olive oil and butter; when shimmering, cook onion 5 minutes, stirring. Add garlic; cook 1 minute until fragrant. Visual cue: onions translucent, edges glossy.
3. Add chicken & sauce (coat well): Stir in shredded chicken and buffalo sauce. Let it bubble briefly so sauce clings.
4. Melt in cream cheese (silky base): Add cubed cream cheese; stir until smooth and creamy.
5. Stir in ranch & sour cream (balance): Fold in ranch and sour cream until fully combined; season with black pepper.
6. Top with cheeses (even melt): Smooth the surface; sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar evenly.
7. Bake (doneness cues): Transfer to oven; bake 25–35 minutes until edges are bubbling and the top shows golden spots. Center should be hot and creamy.
8. Finish (signature touch): Remove and immediately scatter blue cheese crumbles and herbs over the top; rest 5 minutes before serving for the cleanest scoops.

Doneness cues: Cheese melted and bubbling at edges; center visibly steaming; top lightly golden.

Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating

• Make-ahead: Assemble through the cheese topping, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• Fridge: Keep leftovers 3–4 days; texture remains creamy.
• Freeze: Up to 3 months unbaked; thaw overnight, then bake. (Baked dip can be frozen but may weep slightly on thaw—stir and heat to restore.)
• Reheat: Warm gently at 300–325°F or in a skillet over low; add a splash of milk or a spoon of ranch if it seems thick.

How to Lighten / Make It Creamy

• Lighten: Swap some sour cream for Greek yogurt; use part-skim mozzarella; increase chopped celery on the side for volume without heaviness.
• Creamier: Stir in a spoon of cream cheese after baking, or whisk in a few tablespoons of evaporated milk off heat for a silkier scoop. Temper dairy by adding it to warm—not boiling—dip.

Toppings, Garnishes & Finishes

• Crunch: Buttered panko crumbs toasted separately; crushed bagel chips.
• Fresh: Chopped parsley, sliced scallions, or a little celery leaf.
• Tang/Heat: Extra buffalo drizzle, lemon squeeze, or chili flakes.

A sprinkle, a swirl, a squeeze—your three-second upgrade.

Sides & Pairings

• Dippers: Celery, carrots, cucumber rounds, pita chips, thick-cut kettle chips, toasted baguette.
• Drinks: Sparkling water with citrus; crisp white or light red wine if serving beverages.

Round out your menu with bite-size winners from our Appetizer Recipes.

Scaling the Recipe

• Double: Use a 12-inch skillet and increase bake time slightly; watch for bubbling edges.
• Half: Use an 8×8 baking dish and start checking at 18 minutes.
• Batch tips: Spread in thin layers for even heating; cool quickly if storing.

Nutrition & Dietary Notes

• High in protein from chicken and dairy.
• Allergens: Dairy present; use lactose-free dairy if needed. Gluten-free as written if you choose GF dippers.

Troubleshooting

• Too salty? Stir in more sour cream or a spoon of Greek yogurt; add a squeeze of lemon.
• Too bland? Pinch of salt with a dash of buffalo sauce, then a few blue cheese crumbles.
• Too watery? Bake 5–10 minutes more to reduce, or stir in extra shredded cheddar to thicken.
• Overcooked? Fold in a spoon of ranch and a bit more buffalo to re-loosen and perk up flavor.

FAQs

Can I use frozen or precut ingredients? Yes—frozen cooked chicken works; thaw and pat dry. Pre-diced onions also work.
Best protein or veg swaps? Turkey or shredded jackfruit for a meatless texture; diced bell pepper sautéed with onions for extra veg.
How do I keep it from drying out? Don’t overbake; pull when bubbling. Rest 5 minutes; cover loosely if holding.
Dairy-free or gluten-free? Use dairy-free cream cheese and shredded cheese; choose GF dippers.
How long does it keep/freeze? 3–4 days chilled; up to 3 months frozen unbaked.

Variations

• Lemony Herb: Finish with lemon zest/juice and chopped dill/parsley.
• Spicy Chipotle: Stir in minced chipotle in adobo; balance with a touch of honey and lime.
• Creamy Parmesan: Fold in grated Parmesan and a splash of cream at the end.

Chef Notes / Test Kitchen Tips

The single biggest upgrade is baking until you see true bubbling around the edges, then finishing with blue cheese crumbles so they stay distinct and tangy. Salt in stages and always taste again after you add ranch or lemon—acidity changes your perception of saltiness. Expect a 25–35 minute bake and about 40 minutes total from start to serve in a 9–10-inch skillet.

Conclusion

This Buffalo Chicken Dip works because it layers flavor—sautéed aromatics, creamy base, balanced heat—and finishes with a blue cheese crumble that brings restaurant-style tang. It’s simple, reliable, and perfect for busy nights or big games, and leftovers hold beautifully for 3–4 days. Scoop, share, and if you loved it, make notes on your favorite dippers for next time.