Is it even really a Super Bowl party without Buffalo chicken dip? I think not. If youre looking for the most hands-off version of this classic recipe, turn to your trusty slow cooker. The best part? It takes zero effort—seriously. Simply throw all your ingredients into the Crockpot, and in a few hours youll have the most satisfying party dip ready to be devoured—no stirring while cooking required.
What People Are Saying: “Made this for a New Year’s Eve party and we didn’t have leftovers, it was so good! Will definitely make again!” -lindseyhudson10.
Buffalo chicken dip is a must-have for game days. It’s creamy, spicy, and so darn tasty. The crock pot makes this tasty treat easy to make, but how long does it take? In this guide, we’ll show you how to make buffalo chicken dip in the crock pot and give you the exact cook times.
Buffalo chicken dip combines all the spicy, tangy flavors of buffalo wings into a creamy, cheesy dip. It’s typically made with shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch dressing, hot sauce, and shredded cheddar cheese. The result is a dip that’s ideal for scooping up with tortilla chips or spreading onto crackers. It has become a beloved appetizer for game day watch parties, potlucks, and more.
Making buffalo chicken dip in a crock pot makes the cooking process go more quickly. You can just put the ingredients in the slow cooker, set it, and let it simmer until everything is hot. Don’t slave over the stove! But to get the best results, you need to know how long this appetizer takes from beginning to end.
Factors That Impact Cook Time
Several key factors impact how long buffalo chicken dip takes to cook in the crock pot:
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Temperature Setting: Cooking time varies based on if you use the low or high setting. High cooks faster.
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Recipe Variations: Ingredients or quantities used can lengthen or shorten cook time.
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Appliance Differences Some crock pots heat faster than others
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Quantity Made: Bigger batches need more time to cook evenly.
With those factors in mind, let’s break down the typical cook times.
Cook Times for Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Here are the average cook times for buffalo chicken dip in a crock pot:
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Low Setting (4-6 hours): Low and slow cooking allows flavors to develop fully.
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High Setting (2-3 hours): Great for shorter prep time but still melty, creamy results.
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Cooker Variances: Add or subtract time as needed based on your model.
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Larger Batches: Go longer if doubling a recipe for a crowd.
No matter what, check frequently and rely on visual cues to determine doneness rather than just cook times.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for foolproof crock pot buffalo chicken dip:
Prep the Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1⁄2 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1⁄2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Shred chicken and cheeses. Soften cream cheese.
Combine in Crock Pot
Add all ingredients to crock pot and stir until fully blended.
Cook on Low or High
Cover and cook for estimated time, checking often.
Check Doneness
Dip is ready when heated through and cheese is melted.
Adjust as Needed
If needed, cook longer until flavors meld and cheese melts.
Serve and Enjoy!
Garnish with extra buffalo sauce and dig in!
That’s all there is to it. Now let’s go over some extra tips and tricks.
Handy Tips for Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
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Use already-shredded rotisserie chicken to save time.
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Look for pre-softened cream cheese to skip softening step.
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Stir occasionally while cooking to prevent scorching.
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Garnish with chopped green onions or blue cheese for extra flavor.
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Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or fresh cut veggies.
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Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
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Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have some questions about making this appetizer in the crock pot? Here are some common FAQs:
What setting should I use?
Choose low for a longer cook time and maximum flavor or high for faster cooking when you’re pressed for time.
Can I prepare it the night before?
Yes, you can put together the uncooked ingredients in the crock pot insert up to 24 hours ahead of time. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
What crock pot size works best?
For a large batch, a 6-quart crock pot works best, but a 4-quart could also do.
Can I use frozen chicken?
You can, but cook time will be longer. Thaw it first to reduce the cook time.
Is it better to shred my own cheese?
Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make it less melty. Shred your own for the creamiest results.
The Delicious Reward
After learning how long buffalo chicken dip takes to cook in the crock pot, you’ll be ready to make this winning appetizer for your next game day or party. Just decide on your cook time, prep the ingredients, and let your slow cooker work its magic. In just a few hours, you’ll be rewarded with a super creamy, pleasantly spicy dip that will be gobbled up in no time. Get your crock pot ready and enjoy!
What To Serve With Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Sure, you can stick to tradition and go with just carrots and celery, but you can also switch it up with tortilla chips, crackers, or sliced baguette if you like. You can even go all out and make a batch of homemade soft pretzels to serve with it. Soft, salt-flecked pretzels dunked in rich, cheesy dip . you wont regret it!.
First of all: congratulations on actually having leftovers! (I’ve never managed not to devour the entire batch in one setting. ) In all seriousness, though, your leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave (or pop them back in the slow-cooker). Advertisement – Continue Reading Below.
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 3 (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 3/4 cup Buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- Freshly chopped chives, for garnish
- Sliced baguette
- Celery sticks
- Carrots
- Step 1: Put the chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, Buffalo sauce, and ranch in a large slow cooker. Step 2: Cook on low for three hours, or until everything melts and warms up. Step 3: Put blue cheese and chives on top when you’re ready to serve, and serve with crackers.
How To Make Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- I love how easy it is to buy a rotisserie chicken from the store, but you can cook and shred chicken breasts instead if you can’t or don’t want to. I suggest poaching three to four large chicken breasts in salted water or chicken broth. This will keep them soft and juicy until you shred them and add them to your dip.
- Cream Cheese: You can use any brand of cream cheese you like, as long as you use a lot of it! The cream cheese is what makes this famous dip so creamy and tasty, and it also makes the Buffalo sauce less spicy.
- Cheddar: This dish’s best cheese because it melts well and has a strong enough flavor to stand out among the other strong ones. If you want to change the cheese, provolone, American, or Monterey Jack would also taste great.
- Buffalo Sauce: It’s not a surprise that the Buffalo sauce sets this dip apart from the rest. The well-known hot sauce is sour, spicy, and buttery, and it can be used in a lot of different ways.
- Ranch dressing is a classic way to dip Buffalo wings, and there’s a good reason for that. The tangy heat of the Buffalo sauce goes well with the creamy dressing. That’s why it makes sense to add ranch to this Buffalo Chicken dip.
- Blue Cheese: Don’t feel bad if you don’t like blue cheese in Buffalo dip. Just leave it out! The great thing about this dip is that it can be used in a lot of different ways. But the salty, sour kick of blue cheese goes well with the slightly sweet and spicy buffalo sauce.
We start our dip off by combining the shredded chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Buffalo sauce, and ranch in a large slow cooker. Give this mixture a good mix to incorporate everything together.
Then place the lid over the slow cooker and cook the mixture on low for about 3 hours, or until everything has melted together and is warm all the way through.
Once the dip has finished warming, crumbing blue cheese over the top, sprinkle on chopped chives, and serve alongside the dippers of your choice.
The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.
- It makes a ton. If you make the dip in a slow cooker, you don’t have to use a skillet or baking dish with shallow sides. Some people might want more Buffalo chicken dip than my recipe makes, so feel free to double or even triple it. And really, is it ever possible to have too much?
- The ingredients are totally adaptable. You can either use a different cheese, add more heat, or leave out the ranch. Want more heat? You can add up to ¼ cup more Buffalo sauce if you want it very spicy. After that, I don’t think you should add any more sauce because the extra liquid will change the consistency of the dip. However, you could add some cayenne pepper or even diced jalapeños.
- Do you not like ranch dressing? You can use blue cheese dressing instead if you really love blue cheese and are sure your guests will too. Just add a few more tablespoons of cream cheese and milk until the dip is the right consistency for you.