Buffalo chicken dip is a game day staple that’s creamy, spicy, and irresistibly delicious. This party pleaser is easy to make in the crock pot, but exactly how long does it take? In this guide, we’ll walk through the entire process of making buffalo chicken dip in the crock pot so you can have the inside scoop on 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 the crock pot streamlines the cooking process. The slow cooker allows you to simply assemble the ingredients, set it, and let it simmer until perfectly heated through. No need to slave over the stove! But to get ideal results, you need to know exactly how long this appetizer takes from start to finish.
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! Assemble uncooked ingredients in the crock pot insert up to 24 hours in advance. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
What crock pot size works best?
A 6-quart crock pot is ideal, but a 4-quart could also work for a smaller batch.
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
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- Step 1 In a large slow cooker, combine chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, Buffalo sauce, and ranch.
- Step 2 Cook on low for 3 hours or until everything is melted together and warmed through.
- Step 3 When ready to serve, top with blue cheese and chives and serve with dippers.
How To Make Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Rotisserie Chicken: I love the convenience of a store-bought rotisserie chicken, but if you can’t or don’t want to buy one, you can cook and shred chicken breasts. I recommend using chicken breasts (3 to 4 large should work) and poaching them in salted water or chicken broth —this will ensure they stay tender and juicy before you shred and add them to your dip.
- Cream Cheese: Use whatever cream cheese brand you prefer here, just use lots of it! The cream cheese is what makes this famous dip so creamy and delicious, plus it mellows out the spice of the Buffalo sauce.
- Cheddar: Cheddar is the perfect cheese to use here as it melts very well and has a sharp enough flavor to not get lost under the other strong flavors. If youre looking to switch up the cheese, provolone, American, or Monterey Jack would also be delicious options.
- Buffalo Sauce: It’s no surprise that this dip gets the majority of its flavor from the Buffalo sauce. The famous hot sauce is tangy, spicy, slightly buttery, and much more versatile than many people give it credit for.
- Ranch Dressing: Ranch dressing is a classic dipping sauce for Buffalo wings for a good reason. The creaminess of the dressing compliments the tangy heat of the Buffalo sauce. So it only makes sense to include some ranch in this Buffalo Chicken dip.
- Blue Cheese: Love Buffalo dip but hate blue cheese? Don’t stress: Just skip it! The beauty of this dip is that its infinitely adaptable. However, the salty, funky kick of blue cheese does pair perfectly with the spicy, slightly sweet 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. Making the dip in a slow-cooker means you aren’t limited by the shallow walls of a skillet or baking dish. My recipe serves 10-12, but you can easily double or even triple it if you feel you need even more Buffalo chicken dip in your life. And let’s be honest — can you ever have too much?
- The ingredients are totally adaptable. You can add more heat if you want it, use another cheese, or ditch the ranch entirely. Want to add more heat? If you want it even spicier, you can add up to ¼ cup more Buffalo sauce. Beyond that, I don’t recommend adding more sauce (the extra liquid will start to affect the consistency of the dip), but you could also add a few dashes of cayenne pepper or even throw in a diced jalapeno pepper.
- Not a ranch dressing fan? You can sub in a few more tablespoons of cream cheese and some milk until your dip is the perfect creamy texture you want, or, if you really love blue cheese and are confident that your guests will too, you could use blue cheese dressing instead.