Description
Crowd-pleasing Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip delivers creamy, spicy comfort straight from American tailgate traditions. Packed with tangy hot sauce and smoky undertones, this crowd-favorite appetizer promises to elevate game day gatherings with irresistible flavor you’ll devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 cups (473 ml) cooked and shredded chicken
- 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, softened
Cheeses:
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (237 ml) ranch dressing
- ½ cup (118 ml) buffalo sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions or parsley
Instructions
- Fire up the smoker to a steady 250F (120C), creating the perfect low-heat environment for infusing smoky flavors.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, whisk together cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until the mixture achieves a velvety, uniform consistency.
- Gently incorporate shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese into the creamy base, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the blended mixture to a cast-iron skillet or grill-safe baking dish, spreading it evenly to promote consistent cooking.
- Place the skillet directly in the smoker, allowing the dip to absorb rich, aromatic wood smoke for approximately 60-75 minutes.
- Once the edges turn golden and the center becomes bubbly, carefully remove the dip from the smoker.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese across the top, creating a melted, appetizing surface.
- Let the dip rest for 5-10 minutes to settle and enhance flavor melding before serving with crisp vegetable sticks or warm tortilla chips.
Notes
- Adjust heat levels by selecting mild or extra-hot buffalo sauce to match personal spice preferences.
- Opt for rotisserie chicken for quicker preparation and enhanced flavor depth without extra cooking steps.
- Use low-fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt instead of ranch for a lighter, protein-packed alternative that maintains creamy texture.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or smoked gouda to create unique flavor variations while maintaining the classic buffalo profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg