Buffalo chicken dip is a creamy, spicy appetizer that packs some serious flavor. It’s often served at parties and gatherings since it’s easy to make and everyone loves it! The key ingredients are canned chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, and shredded cheese. But when making this crowd-pleasing dip, one question always comes up – how much canned chicken do you need? Let’s break it down.
The Role of Canned Chicken
Canned chicken serves as the protein base and main flavor component. Shredding and heating the canned chicken in hot sauce gives you those iconic spicy, chicken wing vibes. The creamy ingredients then cool down and bind everything together.
So the canned chicken is pretty important! You need enough to shine through all the other flavors. Too little and your dip may taste unbalanced. But too much can make it heavy and chicken-forward. Finding the right amount is key.
Standard Amount in Recipes
Most buffalo chicken dip recipes call for 2 (10-ounce) cans of canned chicken Here are a few examples
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The classic Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe on AllRecipes uses 2 (10-ounce) cans.
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The popular Crowd-Pleasing Buffalo Chicken Dip also uses 2 (10-ounce) cans.
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This Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip with Canned Chicken uses the same amount.
So 2 (10-ounce) cans, totaling 20 ounces or 1 1⁄4 pounds of canned chicken, seems to be the standard across most recipes. This amount provides enough chicken to create a substantial, meaty flavor base without overpowering the other ingredients.
Adjusting the Amount
While 2 (10-ounce) cans is typical, you can adjust the amount of canned chicken to suit your tastes. Here are some tips:
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For a more pronounced chicken flavor, use 2.5 or even 3 (10-ounce) cans.
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For a creamier, cooler dip, reduce it to 1.5 or 1 (10-ounce) can.
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Swap a can of chicken for an equal amount of rotisserie or cooked chicken.
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Add extra hot sauce and cheese to balance out less chicken.
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For a healthier version, try using only 1 (10-ounce) can and add vegetables like cauliflower.
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To make it easier for a crowd, use a 28-ounce can and increase remaining ingredients.
The possibilities are endless! The key is tasting as you go and adjusting to get the chicken-to-cream ratio you prefer.
##Chicken to Dip Ratio
As a general rule of thumb, aim for a 2:1 ratio of dip to chicken. For every 1 cup of shredded canned chicken, use about 2 cups of the cheese-cream mixture. This equal-ish ratio prevents the chicken from being lost.
So for 2 (10-ounce) cans of chicken:
- Shredded chicken = ~3 cups
- Cheese-cream mixture = ~6 cups
But again, tweak the ratios based on your tastes. For a creamier dip, do a 1:2 chicken to dip ratio. For extra chicken flavor, do 2:1 or even 3:2.
Handy Serving Measurement
To make your measurements easy, here is a handy serving tip: Use 1⁄2 cup canned chicken per serving of dip.
So for a small gathering of 8 people, 4 servings:
- 2 cups chicken
- 4 cups dip
For a larger party of 16 people, 8 servings:
- 4 cups chicken
- 8 cups dip
This makes it easy to scale the recipe up or down.
Final Tips
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Always drain and shred the canned chicken before using. This prevents excess moisture from ruining the creamy texture.
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Look for chunk chicken breast rather than chicken with ribs and back meat. It shreds more smoothly.
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For convenience, use the 28-ounce cans of chicken when cooking for a crowd.
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Don’t overheat the chicken or the texture will be stringy. Just warm it through gently.
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Stick to the 10-ounce cans for ease in swapping out for rotisserie chicken.
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Drain the canned chicken and then put the chicken into a bowl to shred.
Step 2: Add the hot sauce, ranch, cream cheese, blue cheese, and half of the cheddar cheese to a bowl.
Step 3: Mix everything together in the bowl.
Step 4: Pour the buffalo chicken mixture into a pan, top with the remaining shredded cheddar.
Step 5: Bake and serve with your favorite companions.
What makes this recipe great
- It is easy to make! Since you use canned chicken, you don’t have to prep shredded chicken. The canned chicken also results in the dip having a nice light texture. Try my canned chicken salad for another canned chicken recipe.
- You only need 6 ingredients and 30 minutes to make this recipe.
- This recipe is low carb, Keto, gluten-free and grain-free.
- This recipe is always a crowd pleaser. I like making it for the Super Bowl and 4th of July.
- This recipe is high in protein. There is 120 grams of protein in the whole dip! If 12 people share it, each serving is 10 grams of protein.
- Canned chicken– make sure to buy canned white chunk chicken breast. I like the one from Trader Joes or this Swanson chunk white canned chicken .
- Ranch dressing– use any kind that suits your dietary needs or personal taste.
- Shredded cheddar cheese– you can use whatever kind of cheddar that is your favorite.
- Cream cheese– regular cream cheese works best here.
- Blue cheese crumbles– these add good flavor to the dip.
- Frank’s redhot sauce– I personally like the taste of franks hot sauce but feel free to use whatever kind you like.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Buffalo Chicken Dip (with canned chicken)
FAQ
How many cans of chicken do you use for Buffalo chicken dip?
How much chicken is in a can of canned chicken?
Each 4.5-ounce can contains 1 serving of fully cooked chicken breast chunks.
How to use up canned chicken?
Canned chicken is a versatile and convenient pantry staple. It can be used in a variety of dishes, from simple salads and sandwiches to more complex casseroles and soups.
Why is my Buffalo chicken dip so watery?
A runny buffalo chicken dip is often caused by using too much liquid (like buffalo sauce or water from the chicken) or not using enough thickening agents like cream cheese or cheddar.