This creamy and cheesy buffalo chicken dip recipe will wow your guests at your next party… Uses just five ingredients plus canned chicken breast, AND you can make it in your oven or in a crock pot!
★★★★★
Made this for my guests and they loved it! You know it's good when people ask for the recipe! Thanks so much. This was a recipe right up my alley, as it was very easy to make.
-Sarah
Buffalo Chicken Dip With Canned Chicken
It's that time of year: the kids are back in school, the days are alternating between blazingly hot and downright cool. AND even better - college football is back on TV!!
Which means it's time to start pulling out all of my favorite hot dip recipes... One of my personal favorites is this yummy buffalo chicken dip recipe! It also happens to be one of the easiest to prepare.
- STARTS WITH CANNED CHICKEN - Using canned chicken breast in water eliminates most of the prep work.
- QUICK AND EASY - Takes MINUTES to make and uses simple, easy to find ingredients.
- OVEN OR CROCK POT - Take your pick! This hot dip recipe can be baked in your oven or warmed through in your slow cooker.
- SUPER CREAMY & CHEESY - Cream cheese plus two different kinds of cheese make this dip ultra decadent. Plus the creamy base perfectly tempers the kick from the hot sauce.
This easy 6-ingredient dip recipe was inspired the the buffalo dip at our favorite local bar and grill. Their dip is a little saucier than most, with less chicken, and includes both cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.
I think this is a deliciously close copy - hope you love it, too!
Canned Chicken Buffalo Dip Ingredients
This canned chicken buffalo dip seriously takes just minutes to prepare!
Here are all of the ingredients you'll need for this easy buffalo chicken dip:
- 🍗 Canned chicken breast: Use a high quality brand of chunk canned chicken breast in water for best results.
- 🥯 Cream cheese: Cream cheese gives this hot dip its rich flavor. Microwaving it in a glass mixing bowl until it can be stirred smooth ensures there are no lumps in the dip.
- 🥗 Ranch dressing: This classic salad dressing adds a boost of flavor thins the dip out a bit. Or try using blue cheese dressing instead for a change of pace!
- 🌶️ Buffalo wings sauce: Instead of the typical Frank's Red Hot sauce, I prefer to use their traditional buffalo wings sauce. If you prefer a bit more heat, they also have a hot buffalo sauce that will spice things up!
- 🧀 Cheddar & mozzarella cheese: Two kinds of cheese provide the perfect gooey, melty consistency. Using a finely shredded variety will ensure smooth melting.
NOTE: Find quantities and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Dip
Starting with canned chicken shaves off a ton time when preparing this recipe. It basically cuts out all of the time normally spent on cooking the chicken.
Simply drain the excess water from the cans, and add the chicken chunks to a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to shred the chicken quickly, and then stir in the melted cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, and cheeses on low.
At this point you just have to decide how you want to cook this buffalo chicken dip! Choose the method of preparation that's easiest for you - it's equally delicious whether made in the oven or in your slow cooker.
I prefer the oven baked method for aesthetic reasons, but it's definitely easier to transport in a crockpot. Plus if you're going to be munching on it all day long, a slow cooker is the best way to keep it warm. It's equally delicious both ways!
Pro Tip: Easy Crockpot Cleanup
Hate scrubbing your crockpot clean after a party? Line it with one of these disposable slow cooker liners for quick and easy cleanup. You'll thank yourself the next day!
Best Buffalo Dip Dippers
Our local establishment serves their buffalo dip with toasted baguette rounds, which I LOVE, but they're not so practical to make in quantity at home. Tortilla chips are the obvious convenient choice, but pita chips, crackers, and/or celery sticks are all great options, as well.
In any case, I highly recommend buying double the buffalo chicken dip ingredients and extra dippers. This way you can make a second batch when the first is gone - because I can promise it will disappear quickly!
Printable Recipe ↓
Buffalo Chicken Dip With Canned Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 (12.5-ounce) cans canned chicken breast - drained
- 2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Microwave the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until smooth.
- Drain the excess water from the canned chicken, and add it to a large mixing bowl. Shred the chicken with a hand mixer, then stir in the melted cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, and cheeses.
For baked buffalo chicken dip:
- Spread the dip mixture in a 9"x13" ceramic baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbling and heated through. Alternately you could pour the mixture in a slow cooker and heat on low until bubbly and then turn it down to warm.
For crockpot buffalo chicken dip:
- Transfer the dip mixture to a slow cooker and place the lid on top. Heat on low until bubbly, then turn the temperature down to keep warm. For easy cleanup, I recommend lining your crockpot with one of these slow cooker liners.
- Serve with tortilla chips or toasted baguette slices.
Featured Products
Looking for other canned chicken recipes? This chicken salad with grapes and pecans is one of my top lunch/brunch recipes! Or for a super easy weeknight meal, try these mini chicken pot pies. Kids adore them!
More Hot Dip Recipes
If you like this shredded chicken buffalo dip recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious hot dip recipes:
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your canned chicken buffalo dip turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Tyonia says
Very easy and so good! I used fresh chicken breast instead of can but still turned out really good!!!
Ang says
Super Easy. I purchased all my ingredients at ALDI’s & this is a dish that doesn’t cost a lot to make.
The recipe makes a big portion.
Tara Kuczykowski says
So glad you enjoyed it, Ang! I'm a big fan of shopping at ALDI, too. :)
Ang says
Super Easy. I purchased all my ingredients at ALDI’s & this is a dish that doesn’t cost a lot to make.
The recipe makes a big portion.
Bhav says
What size pan do you recommend? Would 13 by 9 work or be too big?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Good question, Bhav! I used a smaller 6x9" baking dish that's about 2 inches deep, so something similar to that size — even a pie dish should work. I think the 9x13" would be too big, unless you're planning to double the recipe.
Alyson says
How would you recommend you cook the chicken?
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
The canned chicken breast is already precooked, so there's no need to do any additional cooking of it before mixing it into the dip.
Sarah says
Made this for my guests and they loved it! You know its good when people ask for the recipe! Thanks so much. This was a recipe right up my alley as it was very easy to make.
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Glad they loved it, Sarah! It's definitely a fave around here, too.
Stefani says
I want to try this!
honey kartina says
looks good
World Cup of Food says
This looks awesome, but I get it would go better with a WSU game than an OSU one. GO COUGS!
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
LOL, guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on that. It's still tasty no matter what team you're rooting for!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
We love buffalo chicken dip!! Such a crowd pleaser!
Angie says
This is the perfect dip for game day!!!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
My boys would love this! I'm always on the look out for fabulous dips and this will definitely fit the bill!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
I made this same dip just recently for my hubby's poker night, and it was gone instantly! SOOO delicious! Thanks for sharing.
ashley - baker by nature says
Oh daaaaaaaaaang this looks good!!! I would definitely have a hard time NOT eating the whole thing myself.
Paula - bell'alimento says
My husband and friends would love this during game days!
Robyn | Add a Pinch says
Love Buffalo Chicken Dip! Perfect for game day and tailgating!!!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says
Perfect game day recipe! Thanks for sharing, Tara! :)
Judy says
I can hardly wait to try this dip. I live in Northeast Ohio and we plan our Saturday's around our beloved Buckeyes!!!! O-H
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
I-O!!! Hope you love it too, Judy!