Description
A creamy, spicy buffalo chicken dip with a sour cream spiderweb design that’s perfect for Halloween parties. This indulgent appetizer is quick to make, uses simple ingredients, and delivers maximum visual payoff with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup buffalo wing sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ¼ cup sour cream (for dip)
- ¼ cup sour cream (for spiderweb)
- Chopped green onions (optional garnish)
- Smoked paprika (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with non-stick spray or butter.
- Soften the cream cheese by letting it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, or microwave on low power for 15-20 seconds until soft but not melted.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, and ¼ cup sour cream. Mix until fully combined and uniform in color.
- Fold in the shredded chicken and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese using a rubber spatula until evenly distributed. Do not overmix.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Smooth the top with the spatula.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until the dip is hot and bubbly around the edges and the cheese on top is melted and starting to brown. For extra color, broil for 1-2 minutes, watching closely.
- While the dip bakes, prepare the sour cream spiderweb. Spoon ¼ cup sour cream into a piping bag or zip-top bag. Seal and snip a tiny corner off.
- Once the dip comes out of the oven, let it rest for 2 minutes. Pipe a small dot of sour cream in the center, then pipe concentric circles radiating outward, spacing them about an inch apart.
- Using a toothpick or knife tip, drag lines from the center outward through the circles to create the web pattern. Wipe the toothpick clean between each line.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and a light dusting of smoked paprika. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, celery sticks, carrot chips, or crusty bread.
Notes
Don’t overbake the dip; it’s done when hot and bubbly around the edges. Use room temperature cream cheese for a smooth texture. Shred your own cheese for better melting. Let the dip rest for 2 minutes before piping the spiderweb to prevent the sour cream from melting. Wipe the toothpick between each web line for clean definition. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes. Do not freeze.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/8
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Protein: 18
Keywords: buffalo chicken dip, Halloween appetizer, spiderweb dip, buffalo dip, party dip, easy appetizer, game day dip