This easy buffalo chicken dip in a slow cooker with Franks Red Hot starts with rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, and a full cup of Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce, all going straight into the crock pot on LOW while you get the party ready. Shredded chicken, ranch dressing, and shredded cheddar cheese round it out, and two hours later, it comes out hot and creamy all the way through. Switch it to WARM when guests arrive, and nobody has to leave the living room to refill it.
When Indiana University made it to the National Championship, our house was buzzing. I wanted a great game day spread without anyone missing a single play, so I put this dip together in the morning and let the slow cooker do its thing while we got the party started. I set out celery sticks, carrot sticks, crusty bread, and crackers right next to the crock pot and let people dig in whenever they wanted. My favorite part is the cream dip itself, with a little blue cheese crumbled on top right before serving. It gives it that classic Buffalo wing flavor, and it looks like you fussed, even though you really didn’t. It’s tangy from the Frank’s RedHot, rich from the cream cheese, and that little hit of blue cheese on top makes it taste like the best buffalo wing you’ve ever had, just in dip form.
Ingredients Needed for Buffalo Chicken Dip Slow Cooker Franks Red Hot
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, jump to the recipe card.
Helpful Ingredient Tips
- Rotisserie chicken is the backbone of this dip. Grab one from the grocery store, and you’ve saved yourself a step. Remove all the skin before you shred it. The skin doesn’t add anything good here. Pull the meat into bite-sized pieces and measure out 4 cups.
- Cream cheese gives the dip its thick, creamy base. You’ll need two 8-ounce blocks, and this is the one you cannot rush. Cold cream cheese won’t blend smoothly, and you’ll end up with lumps in your dip. Pull it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before you start.
- Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce brings the buffalo flavor; one full cup goes right in. I like to use the Wing Sauce variety because it’s a little milder for us, but if you prefer the Original Franks, it works great too.
- Ranch dressing adds creaminess and a little tang. I use bottled ranch for this recipe. Homemade ranch has a thinner consistency that changes how the dip sets up in the slow cooker, so stick with bottled here.
- Shredded cheddar cheese goes in two ways: one cup into the dip itself, and the remaining sprinkled on top in the last fifteen minutes of cooking to melt into a soft, golden layer.
- Green onions and blue cheese crumbles are optional garnishes for the top, but I never skip the blue cheese. A small handful scattered over the top right before serving gives you that classic tangy finish that makes the whole thing taste like something you’d order out.
If you’re building out a full game day buffet table, my cheesy crockpot party dip is another one that feeds a crowd and stays warm right alongside this one.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Dip Slow Cooker Franks Red Hot
Here’s the good news: the slow cooker does most of the work. You just need about twenty minutes to pull it together, and then you’re free.
Steps 1 and 2: Add the softened cream cheese, Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce, ranch dressing, onion powder, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese to your slow cooker.
Stir everything together until it’s well combined, then add the chicken.
Steps 3 and 4: Mix until the shredded chicken is fully coated. It’ll look thick at this stage, and that’s exactly right.
Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours, or until the dip is hot and bubbly all the way through. About halfway through, lift the lid and give it a good stir. This keeps the edges from scorching and makes sure everything is melting evenly.
Tip: You’ll need a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker for this recipe. If you are making this just for dips and appetizers, a smaller party slow cooker works beautifully and looks great right on the buffet table. You can see my favorite slow cookers for party dips for some tried-and-true options.
Tip: Cook on LOW only. Cooking on HIGH causes the shredded cheddar cheese to separate and makes the dip greasy. LOW is the only way to go with this one.
Steps 5 and 6: In the last 15 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the remaining half cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Put the lid back on and let it melt into a soft, golden layer.
Right before serving, scatter the diced green onions and blue cheese crumbles over the top if you’re using them. Switch the slow cooker to the WARM setting and let people serve themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
What do you serve with buffalo chicken dip?
Celery sticks and carrot sticks are the classic pairing, and they hold up well to a thick, creamy dip like this one. I also love setting out slices of crusty bread and a good cracker assortment. For a game day spread, put it all in bowls and baskets right next to the slow cooker and let people graze whenever they want.
Can I use a different hot sauce instead of Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce?
Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce is what gives this recipe its classic
buffalo flavor, but you can use a store brand instead. Just be sure you don’t use a straight
cayenne hot sauce. A plain cayenne hot sauce has a sharper, thinner consistency that can throw off the dip’s balance.
Can I use canned chicken or fresh-cooked chicken instead of rotisserie?
Yes, canned chicken or leftover cooked pulled chicken both work well in this recipe. Drain canned chicken thoroughly before adding it, and make sure any leftover cooked chicken is fully shredded into bite-sized pieces before stirring it in. Never add raw chicken to this dip; the slow cooker does not get hot enough to safely cook raw chicken through in this recipe, and would make the dip too watery.
Make This Buffalo Chicken Dip Ahead for Easy Game Day Serving
You can have this dip fully ready before the first car pulls in the driveway. The night before your gathering, shred your rotisserie chicken, measure it out, and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. That’s the most time-consuming part, and now it’s done.
The morning of the party, pull your cream cheese out first thing so it has time to soften. Then assemble everything in your slow cooker insert, put the lid on, set it to LOW, and walk away. By the time your guests arrive, the dip is hot, bubbly, and ready. Switch it to WARM, and it stays perfect all afternoon.
If you’re feeding a bigger crowd, this recipe doubles well, just make sure your slow cooker is large enough to hold it all, and give it an extra 15 to 20 minutes on LOW.
If you love having dips ready before guests arrive, my roundup of easy make-ahead party dips has a dozen more options that work the same way.
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Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip Crock Pot Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups rotisserie chicken, cooked, skin removed and shredded
- 16 ounces cream cheese, two 8-ounce blocks, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup buffalo sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons green onions, diced (white and green parts)
- blue cheese crumbles, to taste (optional garnish)
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Remove and discard the skin from the rotisserie chicken.
- Pull the meat off the bones and shred it into bite-sized pieces. Measure out 4 cups and set aside.
Mix the Dip
- Add the softened cream cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, onion powder, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine.16 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup buffalo sauce, 1 cup ranch dressing, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Stir in the shredded chicken until fully coated.4 cups rotisserie chicken
Cook
- You will need a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker for this recipe.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours, or until hot and bubbly throughout.
- About halfway through cooking, remove the lid and give the dip a good stir to make sure it is melting evenly and not scorching along the edges.
Add the Cheese Topping
- In the last 15 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Replace the lid and allow it to melt.
Garnish and Serve
- If desired, sprinkle diced green onions and blue cheese crumbles over the top just before serving.2 tablespoons green onions, blue cheese crumbles
- Keep the slow cooker on the WARM setting while serving.
Gina’s Notes and Tips
Prep Tip
Soften the cream cheese to room temperature before you start. Pull it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before you begin. Cold cream cheese will stay lumpy and won’t blend smoothly with the other ingredients.Cook Time
This recipe is designed to cook on LOW only. Cooking on HIGH can cause the cheese to separate and make the dip greasy. Cook on LOW for 2 hours, then add the remaining cheese topping and cook for an additional 15 minutes.Serving
When ready to serve turn the slow cooker to warm so the dip does not scotch.Storage
Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.Reheating
Reheat in the slow cooker on LOW or WARM until heated through, or microwave individual portions in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until hot.
Tried this recipe?
Please consider Leaving a Review!Hospitality with Buffalo Chicken Dip
This dip was practically made for game day watch parties. Since it stays warm in the slow cooker, guests can help themselves throughout the game, and you don’t have to worry about serving food at just the right time. I usually set the slow cooker right on the buffet table with a stack of small plates and let everyone dig in whenever they’re ready. I like adding a few easy favorites alongside it, like my slow cooker BBQ chicken wings, a bowl of chips, some celery, and carrots. It’s an easy way to feed a crowd without spending the whole afternoon in the kitchen. If you want to go all out with the spread, my game day party food bar ideas will give you a full buffet lineup with plenty of options for everyone. I also like adding a few team-colored touches to the table. A tablecloth, some colored napkins, and a bowl of popcorn in the right shade add to the festivities.
I often think about Romans 12:13, which encourages believers to “practice hospitality.” Hospitality is not just something we do on special occasions. It is a way of opening our homes and making room for people in our everyday lives. A simple game day gathering can be a wonderful opportunity to build relationships, encourage a friend, and show the love of Christ in a natural and genuine way.