This Buffalo-style Chicken Wing Dip is such a big family and crowd-pleaser that if you’re feeding more than four people, you might want to make several!
Whether a party for little ones, slightly bigger little ones, tweens, teens, adults, or seniors, there’s one ambrosial dip I know of that is so beloved by all who taste it that it’s fast becoming a sensation, especially in my little neighborhood in Indianapolis where, because of several parties I’ve catered lately, this chicken wing dip is creating the kind of fervor I bet the Big Mac did in its day.
I say this not just because of all the orders pouring in but because of my direct experience watching people eat it. No wonder there is a sensation.
I mean, suddenly, all those who may say “nay” to crudité seem to eat celery with a whole new zeal with this zesty barbecue chicken wing dip on it.
Chicken Wing Dip: Guard Your Plate!
There’s this moment when someone tastes this chicken wing dip. I mean, there’s the whole closed-eyes swoon…. that shake of the head as if to say, it just can’t get any better than this. And just over there, for example, one of our neighbors sits, leaning back in an Adirondack chair, still wet from our pool, as he relishes this chicken wing dip, really losing himself in this moment of bliss, with that sheer look of mmmmmmm on his face. He’s completely oblivious to the fact that all six of our very intelligent and very stealthy poodles and Golden Retrievers are watching him very carefully…. awaiting just the right moment—to make their move and make their move well. They wait, oh so quietly, with the patience of brain surgeons, for that one tilt back of the head that indicates a complete loss of awareness of surroundings, that moment of complete loss of consciousness when the other four senses step back and let the sense of taste rule over all.
Then they pounce—whisk, abscond, flee with the poor diner’s paper plate full of chicken wing dip. Cauliflower florets and carrot sticks momentarily hang in the air like confetti as six victorious, insanely fast dogs run to some poor, unsuspecting elderly neighbor’s yard .. and slowly feast, lick, and savor. The same yard they graced with their big, sprawling, furry, rolling-in-the-grass with glee presences, still sticky with my smoked brisket’s bark which they’d whisked off my smoker, while I was still shaking my head in self-congratulatory pride, lost in my moment of accomplishment.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
You can refrigerate this dip for up to one week (not that you’ll have it that long) in a very airtight container. You cannot freeze this chicken wing dip because it has ranch dressing and cream cheese, neither of which freeze well. So, eat up!
Is This a Gluten-Free Recipe?
The place to watch for gluten is always in the condiments. So, make sure your ranch dressing and hot sauce are gluten-free versions. If you’re preparing your own chicken and not using deli chicken that might use a gluten-based spice rub, you will have GF chicken wing dip to savor.
What Are The Most Delicious Dippers for Chicken Wing Dip?
Ripple potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips of any kind, Ritz crackers, blue cheese crackers, or try it rolled into lettuce wraps, with vegetable crudité trays—the possibilities are endless, really.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this chicken wing dip with these Sweet and Savory Goat Cheese Toasts, so guests can just ladle their dip over these toasts with that goat cheese that plays so nicely off those zesty hot sauce flavors. For other party favors to complement chicken wing dip, I love these Shrimp Deviled Eggs, these Pulled Pork Quesadillas, these Pull Apart Pigs-in-a-Blanket, a Cookie Cake or two, and some of this fun Mermaid Dip for the kids to dip cookie cake slices into.
Chicken Wing Dip
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup hot sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, hot sauce, and ranch dressing. Mix until smooth and well blended.
- Fold in the shredded chicken and half of the cheddar cheese until the mixture is uniform.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly with a golden-brown cheese topping.
- Allow the dip to cool slightly before serving with your favorite dippers, such as celery sticks, carrot sticks, or tortilla chips.
Leave a Comment