Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip (2024)

January 1, 2023

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Topped with a crusty, melty layer of cheese you won’t be able to resist the spicy bites of smoked chicken in this Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip. Simple to prepare and quick to consume, this is a must for all parties.

If you’re like me, you’ve enjoyed many bites of delicious buffalo chicken dip over the years. This is not a new idea, joining the lineup of a common appetizer hit for game day.

This recipe not only gives you the recipe for the creamiest buffalo chicken but also guides you on how to properly layer the cheese for that extra melty topping. It all starts with a healthy dose of Smoked Pulled Chicken, so go check that out!

Why This Recipe Works

Smoky & spicy. Smoking the chicken allows you to layer flavors. Season the chicken with sweet or spicy rubs, smoke, and get ready to bathe it in hot sauce.
Very creamy. Don’t worry, there are no lumps in this dip. Melting the cream cheese with the other ingredients provides an extra creamy layer of cheesy smoked chicken. That’s what you want to dip into.
Simple prep. Smoke the chicken ahead of time if you want to, or you can even shred it and immediately use it. There’s very little prep for this dish outside of having shredded chicken.

Key Ingredients

This recipe is easy to prepare, and thankfully uses a number of accessible ingredients. There’s a good chance you probably have most of them on hand already.

Smoked shredded chicken – You could use any shredded chicken, but smoked chicken is going to add quite a bit more flavor to this dish. Start here if you need tips for preparing smoked shredded chicken.
Hot Sauce – Stick with Frank’s RedHot for the most classic buffalo sauce flavor. There are other cayenne hot sauces out there, or you can mix it up with your favorite. Be mindful that this recipe is written for Frank’s, and that other hot sauces can be thinner/thicker and will effect the outcome.
Blue Cheese or Ranch Dressing – Go with homemade or your favorite brand, but this creamy dressing will add a nice base with the melted cream cheese to envelope the smoked chicken. If you must, I would recommend substituting it with sour cream.
Garlic Powder – A little garlic never hurt anything. You can use grated garlic for an extra strong punch, but I’ve found the garlic powder is more balanced with this dip. Don’t forget, the smoked chicken, dressing, and hot sauce all have their own flavor profiles too.
Celery Seeds – Buffalo sauce and celery sticks go hand in hand. You can omit this if you don’t have it, but the addition adds a nice fresh pop with each bite.
Cheddar and Mozzarella – Hand shred your cheeses and get ready. This dip is not just creamy, but also has a nice layer of crispy, melted cheese on the top for that classic cheese pull.

Step 1: Warm Up the Creamy Sauce

Place a cast iron skillet on the stove over medium heat. Add the room-temperature cream cheese, blue cheese dressing, and Frank’s RedHot sauce into the skillet. Stir or whisk to melt everything together until combined.

This should only take a few minutes before it comes together.

Important Tip

Room-temperature cream cheese is critical, otherwise, the cold cream cheese will not melt evenly and leave little white clumps throughout the sauce. You don’t want to be eating creamy chicken with little white bits.

Step 2: Reduce Heat, Add Cheddar

Once the sauce has come together, reduce the heat to low and slowly stir in half of the grated cheddar cheese.

Step 3: Add Shredded Chicken and Spices

Stir in the shredded chicken and make sure it’s completely coated. The sauce will thicken up substantially at this point, so make sure everything is evenly distributed in the skillet.

Taste and adjust with seasoning as needed, remembering that more cheese will go on top. I like to add a little more BBQ seasoning to the chicken at this point, using my .

Important Tip

Everything up to this step can be prepared ahead of time and transferred to a baking dish to place in the fridge. This is helpful if you’re trying to plan for a party, or even to bring it to someone’s house and finish it in the oven.

Step 4: Add More Cheese and Smoke

Preheat your smoker or oven to 350°F. Top with the rest of the shredded cheddar and mozzarella. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the top of the cheese starts to brown and bubble.

I do not recommend adding the cheese until you’re ready to bake, in case you are thinking of preparing it ahead of time.

Serve immediately! Make sure you have chips ready to go, people will be hungry.

Toppings and Variations

This smoked buffalo chicken dip is ready to be eaten right away, but don’t let that stop you from adding a little touch at the end. Any of these toppings will add a little sumthin’ sumthin’ to each bite.

Scallions or chives
Pickled jalapenos
Chopped celery, or quick pickled celery
Cilantro and other herbs
Crumbled blue cheese, or homemade blue cheese dressing
Toasted cashews or peanuts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an oven to bake the buffalo chicken dip?

Yes, using the same time and temp as the smoker. You can also use an oven-safe baking dish if you’d prefer.

What is a substitute for blue cheese and ranch dressing?

I’ve tested this with sour cream and had the best results. I have not tried using yogurt, as I feel the water content is probably too high.

Can I use any shredded chicken?

Yes, you do not need smoked shredded chicken. Any cooked chicken will do, especially rotisserie chicken. Make sure you taste the dip before baking to make sure it does not need any additional seasoning.

More Appetizers to Love

Sausage Popper Boats (Fan Favorite!)
Grilled Mexican Shrimp co*cktail
Grilled Chicken Fajita Wings
Spicy Smoked Ham Salad
Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends