Christmas Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

This creamy, cheesy Christmas Buffalo Chicken Dip is made with shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and cheddar cheese, and ready in 35 minutes. Pulling a cracker through the warm dip reveals long strands of melted mozzarella beneath a festive wreath of fresh parsley and red bell peppers. I look forward to making this fun appetizer every holiday season.

What Makes This Version Different

I used to just throw my standard buffalo dip into a plain baking dish for holiday parties. It tasted great, but it always looked a bit messy and lacked that festive spirit.

Then I realized I could bake the dip and decorate the top with herbs and vegetables to look like a Christmas wreath. It completely changed the presentation and became the most popular appetizer on my table.

Christmas Buffalo Chicken Dip Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
• Crackers and celery sticks, for dipping

How To Make Christmas Buffalo Chicken Dip

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9-inch round pie dish.
2. Mix the Base: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and cheddar cheese until smooth.
3. Bake the Dip: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared pie dish and top with the shredded mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes until the edges are bubbling.
4. Decorate the Wreath: Remove the dip from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Arrange the chopped parsley in a circle around the outer edge to form a wreath.
5. Add the Ornaments: Sprinkle the diced red bell pepper over the parsley wreath to look like holiday ornaments, and serve warm.

Recipe Tips

• Soften the cream cheese: Using room temperature cream cheese prevents annoying lumps in your dip.
• Shred your own cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that stop it from melting smoothly.
• Wait before decorating: Let the baked dip sit for a few minutes so the fresh herbs do not instantly wilt from the heat.

What To Serve With Buffalo Chicken Dip

Sturdy crackers, tortilla chips, and celery sticks are essential for scooping up this heavy dip. You can also offer toasted baguette slices for a more filling option.

How To Store

Keep leftover dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the microwave or oven until warm, but be aware the herb garnish will wilt. I do not recommend freezing this dip as the cream cheese texture becomes grainy.

FAQs

• Can I use canned chicken? Yes, drained canned chicken works well if you need to save time, though freshly shredded rotisserie chicken tastes better.
• Can I make this ahead of time? You can mix the dip ingredients and keep them in the fridge up to two days before baking. Wait to add the festive garnishes until right before serving.
• Is this dip very spicy? It has a moderate kick from the buffalo sauce. You can reduce the buffalo sauce to a third of a cup if you prefer a milder flavor.

Nutrition

• Calories: 285 kcal
• Total Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Cholesterol: 75mg
• Sodium: 680mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 4g
• Protein: 16g

Try More Recipes:

• Buffalo Chicken Dip Roll Ups Recipe
• Buffalo Chicken Dip Bread Bowl Recipe
• Buffalo Chicken Dip Soup Recipe

Christmas Buffalo Chicken Dip

Recipe by Emily Mitchell

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Total time

35

minutes

Creamy, cheesy Christmas Buffalo Chicken Dip features shredded chicken, sharp cheddar, and spicy buffalo sauce, ready in 35 minutes. This festive appetizer is shaped like a holiday wreath, making it an easy and impressive centerpiece for your next winter gathering.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup buffalo sauce

• 1/2 cup ranch dressing

• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced

• Crackers and celery sticks, for dipping

Directions

• Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9-inch round pie dish.
• Mix the Base: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and cheddar cheese until smooth.
• Bake the Dip: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared pie dish and top with the shredded mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes until the edges are bubbling.
• Decorate the Wreath: Remove the dip from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Arrange the chopped parsley in a circle around the outer edge to form a wreath.
• Add the Ornaments: Sprinkle the diced red bell pepper over the parsley wreath to look like holiday ornaments, and serve warm.