Copycat Hooter’s Buffalo Chicken Dip
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Hooter’s Buffalo Chicken Dip is one of a kind – mainly because of Hooter’s world-famous Wing Sauces! This Game Day appetizer will have everyone cheering on the chef – no matter who’s winning the game!
What You Will Love About Hooter’s Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo Chicken Dip is super easy to make and is far more than just a side dish – it’s something you will CRAVE! Hooter’s doesn’t even have this on the menu any more – but you can whip it up anytime you like without leaving your house.
This buffalo chicken dip is meaty, cheesy and creamy – whether you dip with chips or celery – you’ll love every bite!
Hooter’s Buffalo Chicken Dip Ingredients
This is an easy dip to make – with only 5 ingredients! You’ll have this together in just 15 minutes. This makes enough to FILL a 9×13 pan. Cut the recipe in half if you’re just looking for an 8×8 baking dish. It’s a dip worth waiting for!
- Canned White meat chicken – I used canned chicken but you could use any cooked chicken whether it’s from a rotisserie chicken, poached chicken breasts or even the pre-cooked kind in the refrigerated section. You’ll need 4 cups for this recipe.
- Hooters buffalo wing sauce – They sell this in the supermarket in a pint jar. You’ll need a whole jar for this recipe. Hooters has two flavors for sale in store so you have your choice of wing sauce: medium or hot. You can use your favorite wing sauce – I really like the Kroger brand. But if you’re making Hooter’s recipe – you probably want to use your favorite Hooters wing sauce!
- Cream cheese – You’ll need 16 oz cream cheese (2 blocks) for this recipe.
- Ranch Dressing – You could swap with blue cheese dressing if you like as well! You’ll need 8 ounce ranch dressing (1 cup).
- Cheddar cheese – You can swap out whatever cheese you like – sharp cheddar is my favorite for this recipe so it can match up to the Buffalo sauce.
How to Make Hooters Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe
This recipe is a little different in the preparation. Most recipes just stir and bake but this one starts on the stovetop. The Hooter’s Wing Sauce is VERY thick because of the high butter content – so cooking it will make it more creamy and mix together more easily.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat chicken in pan and break up into bite-sized pieces with a spatula. Add wing sauce and stir to combine.
- Add in diced cream cheese and stir until melted.
- Turn the heat off on the pan. Add half the ranch dressing and stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish. Drizzle top of dip with other half of ranch. Top with grated cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
- Serve with tortilla chips and celery sticks.
- Drizzle with ranch and sprinkle finely diced celery on top for a crunch
Tips, Tricks & FAQs
Well – not any more! But they did back in 2019!
Chicken, wing sauce, cream cheese and shredded cheese – with a little ranch or blue cheese dressing for fun!
Well – this dip is a little “oily” when you reheat mainly because of the high butter content in the Hooter’s wing sauce.
I like the Scoops chips. It is a fairly hefty dip so, while I love the restaurant style super thin chips, they will quickly break apart with this dip. Thus, go with a heartier chip like Scoops or even pita chips!
Of course – especially with this recipe! Add the chicken, wing sauce and cream cheese into the crockpot on high and stir. Keep stirring every few minutes until the cream cheese is melted. Then add in the ranch and the cheese. Turn down to low and have it ready for game time!
If you decide to head on over to the actual restaurant – my favorites are the Hooters original buffalo chicken sandwich, obviously wings because they have the world’s best wings and I love their Baja Fish Tacos! Oh and the original Hooters buffalo shrimp is pretty good too!
Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 1 minutes.
Variations
- Toppings – I sprinkled with finely diced celery but you could also top with finely sliced green onion and bleu cheese crumbles
- Chicken – While I used canned chicken, feel free to use rotisserie chicken or even the pre-cooked bagged chicken in the refrigerator or freezer section
- Blue Cheese Dressing – Want a little more funk? Swap the ranch for bleu cheese dressing!
- Cheese – I like to use sharp cheddar but you could also use your choice of cheese: mild cheddar, monterey jack cheese or pepper jack cheese. Shred the whole block for that creamy melted cheese pull with every bite!
- Spice It Up – If Hooter’s spicy buffalo sauce isn’t enough for you – add some Sriracha or Tabasco sauce on your own for more kick!
Copycat Hooters Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
- 4 cups canned chicken breast meat 30 oz
- 16 oz jar Hooters Wing Sauce
- 16 oz cream cheese softened, diced
- 8 oz ranch dressing
- 8 oz cheddar cheese block grated
- 1/4 cup celery finely diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat chicken in pan and break up into bite-sized pieces with a spatula. Add wing sauce and stir to combine.4 cups canned chicken breast meat, 16 oz jar Hooters Wing Sauce
- Add in diced cream cheese and stir until melted.16 oz cream cheese
- Turn the heat off on the pan. Add half the ranch dressing and stir to combine.8 oz ranch dressing
- Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish. Drizzle top of dip with other half of ranch. Top with grated cheddar cheese.8 oz ranch dressing, 8 oz cheddar cheese block
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
- Serve with tortilla chips and celery sticks.
- Drizzle with ranch and sprinkle finely diced celery on top for a crunch1/4 cup celery
