Buffalo chicken dip is a beloved appetizer for good reason – it delivers the perfect blend of spicy, creamy, and cheesy flavors that we just can’t get enough of But what happens when you have leftover buffalo chicken dip after a party? Luckily, this versatile ingredient can easily transform into a variety of delicious dishes
In this article I’ll share 12 crave-worthy recipes to make with leftover buffalo chicken dip so you can reinvent the remains into something magical. From hearty main dishes to speedy snacks, these ideas will help you fall in love with buffalo chicken dip all over again.
An Overview of Buffalo Chicken Dip
Before diving into recipes let’s do a quick rundown of what exactly buffalo chicken dip is. This addictive party staple combines shredded chicken in a spicy buffalo wing sauce with a rich creamy base of ingredients like cream cheese, ranch dressing, and melted cheese. The result is a warm, cheesy dip with a kick that’s meant to be scooped up with chips, celery, or crackers.
It’s often whipped up in a slow cooker or baked in the oven until hot and bubbly. Store-bought rotisserie chicken provides an easy shortcut, but you can also quickly poach or sauté chicken breast to use. The key is well-seasoned, shredded chicken that soaks up the flavors.
Now let’s explore the many possibilities for giving leftover buffalo chicken dip new life!
1. Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Potatoes
Baked potatoes make the ultimate vessel for buffalo chicken flavors. Simply bake Russet or sweet potatoes, cut them open, and top the fluffy interior with spoonfuls of buffalo chicken dip. Feel free to add cheese, bacon bits, scallions, or any other potato topping you love. The cool, creamy dip pairs perfectly with the warm, starchy spud.
2. Buffalo Chicken Nachos
Nachos are always a crowd-pleaser, so transform your buffalo chicken dip into spicy buffalo chicken nachos. Layer tortilla chips on a baking sheet and top with dollops of dip. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake until melted. Then finish with all your favorite nacho toppers like guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, and sour cream – the works!
3. Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
An easy dinner solution, quesadillas allow you to wrap buffalo chicken dip into a convenient handheld meal. Simply spread dip onto a tortilla, top with shredded cheese, and fold over another tortilla. Cook the quesadillas in a skillet until the cheese melts, flipping once. Cut into wedges and serve with sour cream for dipping.
4. Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Taking buffalo dip on the go? Make buffalo chicken pinwheels for a game day snack or appetizer by spreading dip onto flour tortillas, topping with shredded cheese and parsley, then tightly rolling up. Slice into pinwheels and secure with toothpicks. The spiral design looks impressive but comes together quickly.
5. Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Mini sandwiches are the perfect way to savor buffalo chicken flavors. Form leftover dip into patties and pan fry until lightly browned. Pile the spicy patties onto slider buns and add toppings like lettuce, tomato, provolone, and ranch or blue cheese dressing. They make great appetizers or even a full meal.
6. Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Pizza night gets an upgrade with this fun twist. Spread buffalo chicken dip onto a pre-baked pizza crust. Top with mozzarella cheese, diced chicken, and pickled peppers if desired. Bake until the cheese melts – then finish by drizzling over blue cheese or ranch dressing. Slice up and enjoy this game day worthy pie.
7. Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
For a lighter, healthier option, stuff bell peppers with buffalo chicken dip and bake. Simply mix the dip with brown rice or whole grain quinoa to stretch it further. Spoon into halved and seeded red, yellow, or orange bell peppers. Bake until the filling is hot and peppers are tender. Top with crumbled blue cheese if desired.
8. Buffalo Chicken Hand Pies
Bring buffalo chicken flavors to a handheld package by enclosing dip in a pastry crust. Thaw puff pastry sheets and cut out rounds using a biscuit cutter. Spoon filling onto one side, wet the edges with water, fold over, and crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Bake at 400°F until golden brown, then serve warm.
9. Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Everyone’s favorite comfort food gets spiced up with this clever mashup. First, prepare your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe. Then stir in scoops of buffalo chicken dip until heated throughout, adding milk to thin out the texture if needed. Top with crispy fried onions or crushed chips for crunch. It’s cheesy goodness meets buffalo flavors.
10. Buffalo Chicken Wonton Cups
Transform dip into crunchy, crispy wonton cups that are perfect for snacking. Spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray then press wonton wrappers into the indentations. Bake at 350°F until golden, then fill with buffalo chicken dip. Top with scallions, bacon bits, or shredded cheese for fun flavors and textures.
11. Buffalo Chicken Salad
Cool down spicy buffalo dip by pairing it with crisp greens. To assemble the salad, top mixed greens or romaine lettuce with shredded chicken, tomatoes, diced cucumbers, shredded carrots, and your favorite veggies. Drizzle over (or dollop on) the buffalo chicken dip as a zesty dressing. Top with avocado and blue cheese crumbles.
12. Buffalo Chicken Flatbread Pizza
This easy flatbread pizza satisfies buffalo chicken cravings on a single-serving scale. Simply spread Naan bread or a tortilla with buffalo dip. Top with mozzarella, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and cooked chicken. Broil until the cheese melts – then finish with a swirl of ranch dressing. Enjoy this handheld creation for lunch or a quick dinner.
Don’t Toss It – Reuse It!
As you can see, leftover buffalo chicken dip is incredibly versatile. With a bit of creativity, you can give it delicious second life in so many ways beyond just scooping it up with chips. Next time you make this addictive appetizer and have some remaining, try whipping up these crave-worthy dishes that transform buffalo chicken dip into all sorts of meals and snacks. Your tummy and wallet will thank you later!
Spice up some quesadillas
Quesadillas, whether they be filled with just cheese, chicken, or beef and grilled vegetables, usually take 30 minutes or less to make. The only thing that would make this last-minute meal more amazing would be a little spicy pizzazz. Spicy Buffalo chicken dip brings pizzazz in large spoonsful, making quesadillas quesa-yummy.
The simplest way to infuse your quesadillas with Buffalo chicken dip flavor is to heat up a small bowl and serve it on the side of your meal. Then, simply dab your quesadillas into the hot dip. This option flavors each bite without overwhelming the taste of the goody-stuffed tortilla treat. If youre eating quesadillas with beef or lamb, for example, this option blends the taste of the chicken into the mix without overpowering the flavors.
If tasting the full force of the Buffalo chicken dip in your quesadilla appeals to you, skip the bowl of dip and go ahead and slather the dip in between the two tortilla shells of the quesadilla. Additional sprinkles of shredded cheddar or pepper Jack cheese inside the dilla crank up the recipes cheesy countenance, making its texture both creamy and gooey, as a good cheesy melt should be. And as a bonus, because the dip already contains chicken, you get chicken quesadillas without breaking out any extra chicken (unless, of course, you want to).
According to Pizza Today, chicken is pizza lovers sixth favorite pizza topping. For traditionalists who tend to stick to toppings like pepperoni, this may come as a surprise, but for chicken lovers, such a declaration sounds natural. Chicken recipes that include breaded and fried chicken translate well as pizza toppings, each bringing its own unique flavor profile to an already delectable mix of flavors and toppings.
This brings you, dear food nerd, to the subject of Buffalo chicken dip as a pizza topping. This topping has a couple of flavor benefits to offer to pizza lovers who already top their pizzas with chicken. First, the dip itself, due to its ingredient makeup, functions as a substitute for the red or white sauce that normally goes on pizza. Its flavor countenance is somewhere between pizza with white sauce and spicy cheese dip, with a little chicken added for good measure. Although the dip already has chicken in it, the recipe for Buffalo chicken dip is flexible enough to accommodate other kinds of chicken as toppings, like breaded chicken, too, if youd like to bring a bit of variety to the mix.
Further, not all pizza eaters love sauce, or are, at least, tired enough of it to want to venture into other flavors for a bit. Because Buffalo chicken dip replaces red sauce, these chicken pizza lovers get the opportunity to immerse themselves in a Wonderland of spicy taste while still sticking to a flavor they love.
Crank your chicken nachos up a notch
A big, fat plate of gooey, cheesy chicken nachos counts as a staple of Friday night pub fare, but theres more than what meets the eye (and the tummy) here. According to Evolve You, certain foods, including the saturated fats in dairy and poultry, release the bonding hormone, oxytocin. Fortunately for nacho lovers everywhere, chicken nachos already have plenty of ingredients that boost the love hormone in the brain. No guilt or effort is required.
Aside from having such oxytocin boosters, like cheese, sour cream, and chicken, chicken nacho recipes usually come with other love-hormone-boosting goodies, like avocados and beans. The only thing that would make your favorite plate of Mexi-yum even better is a dollop, or possibly six, of your leftover Buffalo chicken dip. Not only does this concoction improve the taste but it also gives you a bit more access to the social-bonding hormone, which makes sharing a plate of chicken nachos with a group of friends such fun.
The Only Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe You Need for Game Day | Pour Choices Kitchen
FAQ
What can I eat with my Buffalo chicken dip?
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Dip. Recipe creator NUNPUNCH suggests serving this Buffalo chicken dip with celery sticks and chicken-flavored crackers. Corn or tortilla chips would also work well. If you want to go the extra mile, try pairing it with toasted baguette slices, homemade pita chips, or homemade pita bread.
What to do with my leftover Buffalo chicken dip?
You could use it as pasta sauce or make buffalo chicken Mac and cheese. If you used cream cheese in yours, it should make a nice creamy sauce once tossed with pasta. Quesadillas as the other commenter said would be awesome too.
What pairs with Buffalo chicken?
Usually the standard go-to’s include something fried or extra starchy. Think French fries, potato chips, tortilla chips and cheese dip, potato skins.Feb 11, 2024