Our cold Buffalo chicken dip is a cool twist on the classic hot version! Creamy, tangy, and packed with bold flavor, it’s the perfect dip for game day, parties, or just because. This chilled appetizer is easy to make ahead, saving you time for what really matters—having fun with your guests. Simple, delicious, and always a crowd-pleaser!
What’s great about this recipe
- Make-Ahead Convenience: This dip is served cold, so you can prepare it ahead of time, making it a low-stress option for party prep.
- Bold and Satisfying Flavor: Creamy, tangy, and packed with zesty buffalo flavor, it’s a hearty appetizer that always hits the spot.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this recipe comes together quickly and effortlessly.
- Versatile for Any Occasion: Perfect for game day, parties, or just as a tasty snack, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- Chicken: Cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, shredded and roughly chopped. You’ll need 12 ounces, which is about 3 cups. Use leftover chicken or a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time. For perfectly tender and flavorful chicken, check out our easy poached chicken recipe.
- Dairy: Cream cheese adds creaminess and tang to the dip. Use regular or reduced-fat, depending on your preference. Sour cream adds richness and balances the heat. Use regular or light sour cream based on your taste.
- Hot Sauce: Cayenne pepper vinegar-based hot sauce is key to the classic buffalo flavor. Multiple brands are widely available—choose your favorite.
- Seasonings: A mix of salt, garlic powder, and onion powder enhances the flavor. Add a dash of cayenne pepper for extra heat or leave it out for a milder dip.
- Optional garnishes (not pictured above): Top the dip with parsley, chopped chives, green onions, or crumbled blue cheese for added flavor.
- Suggested Dippers (not pictured above): This is a hearty dip, so use sturdy dippers for the best results. Here are our favorite options:
- Vegetables: Celery sticks, or carrot sticks for a fresh, crunchy option.
- Crackers: Saltines, Club, or Ritz are all great choices.
- Pretzels: Mini pretzels or pretzel sticks work well for dipping.
- Chips: Sturdy chips like kettle-cooked varieties hold up well with this dip.
- See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
How to make cold Buffalo chicken dip
- Add the shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to a saucepan. Place it over low heat and stir continuously for about 5 minutes, or until the cream cheese is melted and the ingredients are combined. Remove the pan from the heat and let the chicken mixture cool for a few minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl or container. Stir in the sour cream until well incorporated. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, give the dip a good stir to loosen it. Transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish with parsley, green onions, or crumbled blue cheese. Serve alongside chips, veggies, pretzels, crackers, or your favorite dippers. For easier serving, include a spoon or knife for spreading.
Storing instructions
Keep the Buffalo chicken dip chilled until ready to serve. Refrigerate leftovers promptly, ensuring the dip is not left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F).
If handled properly, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Freezing is not recommended, as it can alter the texture and consistency of the dip.
For more information on food storage and safety guidelines, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
Recipe tips and notes
- If you need to cook chicken quickly, poaching is an excellent method that yields tender, flavorful results. Check out our poached chicken recipe for a step-by-step guide.
- We love using Crystal brand hot sauce in this recipe. It’s mild with just the right amount of tang, but you can use your favorite cayenne pepper vinegar-based hot sauce to suit your taste.
- This is a thick and hearty dip, so it’s best served with a spoon or knife for spreading, making it easier for your guests to enjoy.
- Adjust the level of cayenne pepper (or leave it out entirely) to customize the heat and flavor to your family’s preference.
I hope you enjoy this cold Buffalo chicken dip as much as we do—it’s a must on game day at our house, especially with kettle-cooked chips! What’s your favorite way to serve Buffalo chicken dip? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your ideas!
If you love easy appetizers, be sure to try our 4-ingredient hot spinach dip, the classic creamy spinach dip, or our popular chorizo cheese dip for a deliciously different snack. They’re perfect for parties, game days, or any occasion that calls for a crowd-pleasing treat!
Subscribe
Join our Newsletter for the latest recipes and more right in your inbox.
📖 Recipe
Cold Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cooked boneless skinless chicken breast shredded, and roughly chopped
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- ⅓ cup hot sauce cayenne pepper vinegar based
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Dash cayenne pepper optional (leave it out for a milder dip)
- ½ cup sour cream
- Optional garnish: Chopped chives, green onions, or crumbled blue cheese
- Suggested Dippers: Carrots, celery sticks, assorted crackers (e.g., saltines, Club, Ritz, etc.), pretzels, bread sticks, chips (use sturdy chips like kettle-cooked varieties)
Instructions
- Add the shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to a saucepan.
- Place the pan over low heat and stir continuously for about 5 minutes, or until the cream cheese is completely melted and the ingredients are fully combined.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the chicken mixture cool for a few minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl or container. Stir in the sour cream until well incorporated.
- Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, give the dip a good stir to loosen it. Transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish with parsley, green onions, or crumbled blue cheese. Serve alongside chips, veggies, pretzels, crackers, or your favorite dippers. For easier serving, include a spoon or knife for spreading.
Notes
- Cooking Chicken: If you need to cook chicken quickly, poaching is a simple method that yields tender, flavorful results. Check out our poached chicken recipe for a step-by-step guide.
- Hot Sauce: We recommend Crystal brand hot sauce for its mild heat and tangy flavor, but feel free to use your favorite cayenne pepper vinegar-based hot sauce.
- Thick Dip: This dip is hearty, so serving it with a spoon or knife makes it easier for guests to enjoy.
- Customize Heat: Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper or omit it entirely to suit your family’s taste.
Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
Donna
Does the chicken broth stay in with the dip? Or is it discarded once the chicken is removed?
Elizabeth
Hi Donna,
Discard the broth or strain it and use it in soup.
Deanna
We usually but Aldi cold buffalo chicken dip. I had a rotisserie chicken. Mixed all cold ingredients then added cold shredded chicken. All in the kitchen aide mixer.
Robin
You don't mention any cheese in the ingredients list but you say to ad shredded cheese and there's no mention of sour cream in first recipe. Can I use Frank's buffalo sauce instead of crystals? I'm scared to make this now. Please correct your list for people like me who don't know how to make it.
Elizabeth
Hi Robin,
What gets shredded is the chicken. The cheese is cream cheese. The sour cream is listed in the recipe and it goes in at the end once the chicken mixture is made. If Frank's is a vinegar and cayenne based hot sauce then yes, it should be fine. I hope this helps, thanks for stopping by.