Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Spicy, tangy, and over the top creamy, this Instant Pot Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip is guaranteed to be your new favorite appetizer or game time snack!

Whether you’re hosting some of your favorite friends, taking a dish to your next family gathering, or huddled in front of the tv to watch your favorite team, this creamy, cheesy chicken dish is perfect for dipping and so much more. With the perfect kick of spice, it is going to be your next favorite indulgence.

Many restaurants serve small portions of dip that you end up fighting over after only a few minutes. No need to worry, this recipe makes a HUGE portion of Buffalo Chicken Dip. One that will give you something to snack on from the early games to the Sunday night games.

WHAT DOES INSTANT POT BUFFALO DIP TASTE LIKE?

Do you know your favorite dip that you like to grab when you go to your local sports bar or out to dinner with your friends? Well, it’s like that — but better!

It’s spicy, tangy, cheesy, creamy, and overall perfection when you need to eat your feelings after watching your team win (or lose).

WHAT MAKES THIS BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP DIFFERENT?

If you’re from the midwest or have ever visited, you probably feel like everyone that lives here practically sweats ranch dressing. Well, I’m one of the rare few that doesn’t care for the flavor.

After trying recipe after recipe and appetizer after appetizer at restaurants, I just couldn’t find one that wasn’t overwhelmingly ranch-y. So, here I am making my own happiness.

This Buffalo Chicken Dip tastes like a traditional version, only it uses sour cream to give it that little extra zip instead of ranch dressing.

WHY USE FRANKS RED HOT SAUCE?

Frank’s Red Hot was love at first bite for me, and I know I’m not alone. It’s spicy, but still tame enough that it’s delicious for people with minimal heat tolerance.

It has a nice balance of vinegar and pepper flavor that pairs well with the creaminess of the dairy in the rest of this dip. Finally, it’s easy to find and affordable. You can grab it at almost any grocery store and since you have to use quite a bit of it for this dip, a small price tag is a bonus.

INGREDIENTS TO GRAB

• Chicken Breasts– Shredded chicken breasts add some extra substance to this dip. It’s the reason I tend to refer to it as a casserole. It packs a hearty consistency.
• Cream Cheese– This makes it extra creamy and is the body of the casserole.
• Sour Cream– Adds a little extra zing and creaminess to the recipe.
• Mozarella Cheese– It is perfectly melty and has a mild flavor.
• Hot Sauce– I prefer Frank’s Red Hot. It has the perfect kick and is thin enough to mix into the cream cheese without overpowering the other ingredients.

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

Step 1: Cook your chicken. Place 2″ chunks of chicken in your Instant Pot with a small amount of water. Cook on high pressure and allow the pressure to naturally release.

Step 2: Shred the chicken. Allow the chicken to cool for a few minutes (trust me, it will be HOT after being in the pressure cooker), and then using two forks (or a hand mixer) pull the chicken breasts apart.

Step 3: Add the cream cheese. After shredding the chicken, place it back in the Instant Pot liner along with the cubed cream cheese. Set your Instant Pot to saute and stir consistently until the cream cheese is melted and well incorporated with the chicken. Turn off your Instant Pot.

Step 4: Add the sour cream and the hot sauce. Stir in these two ingredients until they are combined.

Step 5: Add the cheese. Yes, this is a lot of cheese. However, how are you supposed to get the same comfort food experience if you don’t get that classic cheese pull when you dip?

TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE THIS DIP

This Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip is pretty much a pour and cook recipe, but after making it a few thousand times, there are a few tips and tricks I like to use to make it even more simple:

• Make your chicken ahead of time. I know this isn’t always an option, but you’ll thank yourself. After you try this dip for the first time, you won’t stop craving it. Having the chicken already cooked cuts the cook time nearly in half.
• Don’t be afraid to add hot sauce. While you may find it spicy alone, once you add it to all of the cream cheese and sour cream, it really mutes the flavor. If you’re hesitant to use my suggested quanity at first, use half, mix it in, and taste it. You can always mix in more or drizzle it on after it’s baked.
• Get the cream cheese out first. Room temperature cream cheese is much easier to work with than the hard brick that comes out of the fridge. So if you get it out when you begin cooking your chicken, it should be nice and soft by the time you’re ready to use it.
• Cut it in half. I get it. Not all of us eat like linebackers. So if you’re worried you won’t be able to eat it all simply use half of the ingredients to make half of the portion. But don’t cry to me when you wish you had made the whole thing.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH IT

After I gave birth to my third son (in the middle of football season) I ate nothing but Buffalo Dip for what seemed like months. So, while some of these suggestions may seem a little off the wall, I promise you I have tried them myself and they’re all amazing.

• Tortilla chips
• Carrots
• Celery
• Pita Chips
• Pretzels
• Make buffalo dip pinwheels
• Add it to macaroni and cheese
• Put it on a slider bun for mini sandwiches

MAKE AHEAD/STORAGE

Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip is one of those recipes you can whip up the night before and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it. It’s delicious hot or cold, but once the cream cheese gets cold, the dip can be thick enough to break a chip. So, I would suggest either making it fresh, or tossing it back in your Instant Pot to warm it up before serving.

As far as storage goes, Buffalo Chicken Dip is usually best within three days of making it. After that, the cream cheese and sour cream begin to separate. I wouldn’t recommend freezing any extras because the dairy never really has the same consistency after it is thawed.

If you love this Instant Pot Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip as much as our family does, make sure you share the recipe with your friends on Facebook and Pin it so you can make it again soon!