Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip

Slow cooker buffalo chicken dip is an easy crowd pleaser! Toss the ingredients in your crockpot and enjoy hot, melty buffalo dip in just a couple of hours.

Easter is over and spring seems to have finally arrived. Although, here in the Midwest we could still get snow at any point, but I’m crossing my fingers that we can count on warmer weather from here out.

So my thoughts have totally turned to spring and summer cookouts and parties. It’s always good to have some go-to recipes you can throw together for a cookout.

This slow cooker buffalo chicken dip is totally one of those recipes. Since you cook it in the crockpot, you don’t have to heat up the entire house by turning on the oven.

And if you have access to an outlet, you can take your slow cooker along to the party with you, plug it in, and the dip can stay perfectly hot for the entire party!

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP IN THE CROCK POT

It’s pretty much a must that you have some kind of dip at every party, right? And hot dips like spinach artichoke dip, jalapeño popper dip, and buffalo chicken dip are always popular.

But it’s not always convenient to use the oven and sometimes there isn’t an oven even available to cook hot dips. So what are we supposed to do?

The answer is obviously to use your crockpot!

Making slow cooker buffalo chicken dip instead of the traditional baked version is a great option when you don’t want to or can’t use an oven, and it helps keep the dip warm throughout your party.

Not to mention, it’s almost entirely hands-off, with just a couple of minutes of prep time needed. 

HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

Slow cooker buffalo chicken dip is one of the easiest recipes you could make, which makes it perfect for prepping for a party.

Ingredients you’ll need

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 1 cup hot sauce
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• ¼ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup ranch dressing
• 4 cups shredded chicken

I prefer to use Sweet Baby Ray’s or Frank’s RedHot hot sauce in my slow cooker buffalo chicken dip, but you could use your favorite sauce. 

I do recommend using a cayenne pepper sauce for the most traditional buffalo chicken flavor. Other good brands include Melinda’s or Crystal.

I like to buy and shred a rotisserie chicken to use in this dip, but you can use any shredded chicken you happen to have on hand. You can even use canned chicken if you’d like. 

Making buffalo chicken dip more or less spicy

I like making slow cooker buffalo chicken dip because you can really control how spicy the dip is.

If you want a milder dip, add a bit more ranch dressing or leave out the Old Bay.

If you want a spicier dip, use an extra hot hot sauce, add more Old Bay seasoning, or even add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the mix.

Making this recipe

This recipe is as easy as dump and cook.

Place all of the ingredients into a 3-quart slow cooker. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for about 2-3 hours. Give the dip a stir occasionally.

The dip is ready to go when the cheeses have melted and the dip is bubbly.

I like to use the “warm” setting on my crockpot to keep the dip warm during a party.

Serve up your dip with your favorite tortilla chips (either store-bought or homemade tortilla chips) and/or fresh veggies such as celery and carrots.

MAKE AHEAD AND STORAGE

If you want to prep this dip ahead of time, measure out all of the ingredients and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day.

When you’re ready to cook the dip, dump all of the ingredients into your slow cooker and cook.

I don’t necessarily recommend storing the ingredients in the crock of your slow cooker unless the slow cooker crock is made of metal. A ceramic crock could crack if you take it from the refrigerator right to cooking.

Store any leftover buffalo chicken dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before enjoying.