Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip is a creamy and cheesy game day appetizer made with chicken, buffalo sauce, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and blue cheese dressing. Most recipes call for precooked chicken, but this one uses raw chicken breasts so you don't have to cook and shred chicken beforehand. Also referred to as buffalo chicken wing dip, you can serve this dip straight from the Crock Pot and keep it warm the entire party.
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip at a Glance
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cooking method: Chicken cooks directly in the slow cooker
- Slow cooker size: I used a 6-quart Crock-Pot® Programmable Cook & Carry™
- Servings: 8
- Heat level: Medium, adjustable
- Best for: Game day, parties, potlucks, and holidays
- Shortcut: Use rotisserie chicken for a faster version
- Best served: With tortilla chips, sliced baguettes, pretzel chips, crackers, carrots, or celery.
Summarize and Save
As a father of four who coaches football, I've spent many Saturdays and Sundays feeding players, parents, friends, and family. Let's just say I know how to fill people up. This Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip is also one of the most popular recipes on my social media. Readers rave about how easy it is to make and how creamy and full of flavor it is.
Most buffalo chicken dip recipes I have seen use canned chicken or rotisserie chicken. Not this recipe! By cooking the chicken in the slow cooker with the Buffalo sauce, it infuses more flavor and allows the chicken to be tender and freshly shredded. It's quick to throw together, will stay warm for guests and is sure to be your guests' favorite appetizer because it will be gone first.
If you love creamy buffalo chicken recipes, try my creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta, tangy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, or my go to game day snack Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Jump to:
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip at a Glance
- Why You'll Love This Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Ingredients
- Variations
- How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip in the Crock Pot
- Expert Tips for the Best Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Buffalo Sauce vs Hot Sauce
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage
- Recipe FAQs
- More Delicious Crock Pot Dip Recipes
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
Why You'll Love This Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Always a hit: Everyone loves this dip! It's always the first appetizer to go at any party and it's one of my most popular recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
- Family Friendly: It is easy to customize. Add ranch instead of blue cheese dressing, use mild or hot Buffalo sauce and add more cheese if your family loves it extra gooey.
- Creamy and delicious: The cream cheese, sharp cheddar, Buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing make this dip irresistible. Loaded with tangy, spicy and savory flavors, you'll love it!
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: This easy slow cooker buffalo chicken dip recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Dark meat thighs are too greasy for this dip, so stick to chicken breasts!
- Buffalo Sauce: You can't have buffalo dip without buffalo sauce! This rich sauce is less spicy than traditional hot sauce with a thicker, creamier consistency. Franks Red Hot is my go to sauce for this recipe.
- Melted Butter: Adding melted butter to the buffalo sauce gives it a richer flavor and makes it even creamier.
- Cheddar Cheese: This cheesy dip tastes amazing with freshly grated cheddar cheese. You can also mix in a little Colby Jack or mozzarella, but be sure to include cheddar because it's the best cheese for buffalo chicken dip.
- Cream Cheese: Cut a block of cream cheese into cubes so it melts evenly into the dip. It makes it creamier and adds a little tangy flavor.
- Blue Cheese Dressing: Name a better combination than wings and Blue Cheese! Adding blue cheese dressing gives this dip a tangy and slightly garlicky flavor.
- Seasonings: Since you're cooking the chicken directly in the dip with this recipe, you'll need some extra seasonings. Add black pepper and onion powder to enhance the other flavors of the dip.
- Green Onions: These chopped onions are the perfect garnish for this cheesy dip because they add a sharp, fresh-tasting crunch.
- Blue Cheese Crumbles: Blue cheese crumbles add a bold, tangy bite that balances the heat of the buffalo sauce and gives the dip that classic buffalo flavor everyone loves.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions
Variations
- Use Rotisserie Chicken: Swap the raw chicken for cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even faster. You'll reduce the cooking time to 1-2 hours since the rotisserie chicken doesn't take as long to cook as chicken breasts.
- Use a Different Meat: Try this recipe with turkey instead of chicken. You can also use cooked ground chicken or turkey for a quicker dip. Shrimp is also another option, but you'll want to cook it before adding it to the dip and reduce the cooking time to 1-2 hours.
- Try Ranch Dressing: Some people prefer ranch dressing over blue cheese. If that's you, then try this recipe with ranch dressing instead!
- Use a Different Cheese: Swap out half of the cheddar for Monterey Jack cheese, Colby Jack cheese, pepper Jack cheese, or mozzarella cheese.
- Make It Spicier: Add more Buffalo sauce, or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce. You can even stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip in the Crock Pot
Buffalo-style chicken dip is one of the best party appetizers you can make. This crock pot version makes it even easier. Plus, you can set the crock pot to warm after it cooks so your guests can enjoy a warm dip for the entire party.
- Add the Chicken: Arrange chicken in an even layer in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Spreading the chicken out into an even layer helps ensure it cooks evenly.
- Make the Buffalo Sauce: Melt butter in a medium bowl. Stir in buffalo sauce, black pepper, and onion powder until smooth and combined. Pour buffalo sauce mixture evenly over the chicken, using a spoon to coat each piece. Stir together until evenly distributed.
- Cover and Cook: Cover and cook on high for 2½ to 3½ hours or low for 4 to 5 hours. Cook time will vary based on how thick your chicken is and how well your slow cooker cooks. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F and can easily be shredded.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove chicken to a plate or cutting board and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to slow cooker and stir into buffalo sauce.
- Add the Cheese and Dressing: Add cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and blue cheese dressing to the slow cooker. Stir together, cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until cheeses are completely melted.
- Finish and Serve: Stir until sauce is smooth and creamy and evenly coats the chicken. Garnish with green onion slices and blue cheese crumbles before serving. The best way to eat this buffalo chicken dip recipe is with your favorite chips or crackers.
Expert Tips for the Best Buffalo Chicken Dip
- The Slow Cooker: I used the Crock-Pot® Programmable Cook & Carry™ 6-Quart. Since all slow cookers are different, you will need to adjust the cook time based on the slow cooker you are using.
- Use a Stand Mixer to Shred Your Chicken: Make shredding chicken a breeze by using a stand mixer and the paddle attachment! Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and add it to the bowl of your mixer. Use the paddle attachment on low speed to shred the chicken to your desired consistency. Just don't over-shred or the chicken will turn to mush.
- Grate Your Own Cheese: I know it's easier to use pre-shredded cheese, but it doesn't always melt evenly. Get the best consistency for this chicken dip in the crock pot by shredding a block of fresh cheese. It's worth the effort!
- Test The Internal Temperature: Since chicken breasts vary in size and thickness, I recommend using a meat thermometer rather than relying on cook times.
- Make It Thicker or Thinner: If you feel like your dip is too thin, you can add more cream cheese to the crock pot to thicken it up. And if it's too thick, add more buffalo sauce to thin it out!
Buffalo Sauce vs Hot Sauce
Buffalo sauce and hot sauce go hand in hand, but they are not quite the same thing.
Authentic hot sauce will typically be thinner and have a more intense pepper flavor. Buffalo sauce is hot sauce that has been mixed with butter and other spices for a thicker texture and a milder flavor.
For this recipe I prefer to use bottled Buffalo wing sauce. Regular hot sauce will work in a pinch but will turn your dip WAY hotter without adding any creaminess.
Just remember to read your label before tossing it in the Crock Pot! Store bottles of hot sauce and Buffalo wing sauce look nearly identical on the grocery store shelf.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken wing dip in the crock pot is the perfect appetizer for holidays and birthday parties, tailgates, and casual movie nights. It is so flavorful, without being too spicy for guests who don't like spice. Every time I make it, the crock pot is empty by the time everyone leaves!
- Serve this dip with fresh veggies like celery sticks, cucumber slices, or baby carrots. It's also great with corn chips, tortilla chips, pita chips, or pretzels.
- If you have leftover chicken buffalo dip, add it to a wrap or sandwich for an easy lunch. Top them with some extra homemade buffalo sauce.
- Use this dip to make tacos, quesadillas, or sliders for an easy and filling dinner!
- If you need more than one appetizer for your party, you should make these slow cooked BBQ meatballs, crock pot pizza dip, or ham and cheese sliders.
Storage
- Storing: If you have leftovers, which is doubtful, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze this dip for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Reheat the dish in the microwave in 60-second intervals until it is heated through and the cheese is melted. If you are reheating from frozen, be sure to thaw the dip in the refrigerator for 24 hours before heating it.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Use a 3-quart crock pot and cut the recipe in half to make the perfect amount for a casual game day at home or movie night with your family.
Yes, this is a great dip to make in less than 30 minutes in the oven. Use precooked shredded chicken or canned chicken and combine the ingredients in a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-30 minutes, then top it with more cheese and bake for another 5-10 minutes to make a crispy cheese layer on the top.
Yes. This recipe was created with raw boneless skinless chicken breasts in mind. Cook your chicken in the Buffalo sauce until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°. Remove, shred, and add back to the slow cooker before adding the cheese and dressing. Don't put frozen chicken into your slow cooker. Thaw it in the refrigerator first.
Yes. Leave your slow cooker on warm and ensure your dip stays at 140° F or above. Keep the lid on as much as possible, stir occasionally, and store leftovers in the fridge quickly once you are done serving.
Chicken will release liquid as it cooks. If you find your dip too runny after it's finished cooking, remove the lid and allow it to sit on warm for 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally. You can also stir in a little more softened cream cheese or freshly shredded cheddar cheese.
Yes. Buffalo chicken wing dip and buffalo chicken dip refer to the same thing, a creamy appetizer loaded with shredded chicken, Buffalo sauce, cream cheese, shredded cheese, and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
More Delicious Crock Pot Dip Recipes
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Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- ¾ cup buffalo sauce
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 1 cup blue cheese dressing
- ⅓ cup blue cheese crumbles
- 3 green onions diced
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, melt the butter and stir in the buffalo sauce, black pepper, and onion powder until smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for 2½-3½ hours or low for 4-5 hours. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and shreds easily.
- Remove the chicken and shred with two forks. Return to the slow cooker and add cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and blue cheese dressing. Stir until combined and cook for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
- Stir until the cheese and sauce are fully combined and the chicken is evenly coated. Garnish with green onions and blue cheese crumbles before serving.
Video
Notes
- Shred your chicken using a stand mixer and the paddle attachment to make it easier. Place the cooked chicken in the bowl of your mixer and use the paddle attachment on low speed to shred the chicken.
- To make this a quicker recipe, start with precooked shredded rotisserie chicken and only simmer for 1-2 hours. This recipe calls for raw chicken breasts for a more freshly cooked texture and robust buffalo flavor.
- Get the best consistency for this buffalo chicken dip by shredding a block of fresh cheese so it melts evenly.
- If your dip is too thin, you can add more cream cheese to the crock pot to thicken it up. And if it's too thick, add more buffalo sauce to thin it out.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nicole Kendrick says
I made this for a party this weekend, and I honestly can’t say enough good things about it! It disappeared so fast that I barely got a second serving. Every single person kept asking who made it and wanted the recipe before the night was over. It’s one of those recipes that looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but it was actually incredibly simple to make because the instructions were so clear and easy to follow.
The flavors were absolutely incredible, it wasn’t too spicy, and wasn’t overly heavy like most dips can be. Every ingredient worked together perfectly, and the end result looked just like the photos. I love finding recipes like these that are just so easy!!
If you’re looking for a guaranteed party pleaser this is it!!!!
Ryan Allen says
It makes so happy to hear you enjoyed it so much.