Buffalo Chicken Dip

Nothing kicks the post-holiday winter blues better than the NFL playoff season. There are so many intense, exciting games to watch and if I can make it to Gillette to watch a winning Patriot's post season game in person - my year is already made.

My family is full of HUGE Pat's fans and we always try to make it to a game. We have our traditional tailgating spot in a small wooded area between two lots where we set up shop and spend the pre-game hours eating, drinking and discussing the only important thing at the moment: football.

My dad is super generous and has bought tickets the past few years for himself, my brother, my boyfriend and I. The only condition is that my boyfriend drives his truck down for tailgating and I supply all the food (we haven't quite found out what my brother's responsibility in the deal is....For now he's entertainment factor).

Here we are at the divisional round playoff game vs Kansas City on Saturday. We have a picture identical to this from the playoff game from last year vs Baltimore and some regular season games in previous seasons. It's definitely one of my favorite traditions!

Watching the game is the best part of the day but the tailgating fun doesn't fall far behind, especially when you love to cook. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures to blog from this game's smorgasbord because I was too distracted from all the hype. I made chili, guacamole, peanut butter blossom cookies, grilled potatoes and marinated steak. Of course we had a selection of beers and bloody marys, as well.

Though I did not make it for this game, one of my favorite football snacks is buffalo chicken dip and I wanted to share. I have made it more times than I can count and I always use this recipe. It's the first dish to disappear on the buffet table and it's easy to see why.

This photo was actually taken when I made it for the 2013-2014 AFC Championship game. I remember I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it when it came out of the oven with the top layer of cheese melted because it was devoured too quickly. It's absolutely ADDICTING. Perfectly spicy, cheesy and flavorful.

Most buffalo chicken dips have all of the ingredients mixed together. When I make it, usually I prefer to layer it a bit for a nicer appearance. However you do it, it's going to taste amazing!


Serve it with chips, celery or crackers and make sure you get some before it's gone!






Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
1 cup buffalo wing sauce
2 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1 cup of ranch or blue cheese dressing (or 1/2 cup of each!)
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix together cream cheese, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, ranch/blue cheese dressing and the garlic salt. Spread in the bottom of a 9x9 pan. 
• Mix together chicken and wing sauce. Pour on top of the cream cheese mixture. 
• Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until cheese has melted and sides are bubbling.

*If you prefer a non-layered dip, just mix all of the ingredients together, (still saving the 1/2 cup of cheese to top it) and bake 25 minutes.