Every year, one thing that makes it to our game day buffet table is buffalo chicken dip. It’s everything you love about a wing in an easier to eat dip! So, this time I decided to try a new way to cook it, and I’m in love. This air fryer buffalo chicken dip is so easy to make and delicious too!
Creamy, cheesy dip is accented by spicy buffalo sauce and the heartiness of chicken. What’s there not to love? Serve it with crackers, tortilla scoops, and fresh veggies. There’s something for everyone to love!
You can assemble everything ahead of time and store it in the fridge, and then cook it in the air fryer when you’re ready. I love things that save time on actual game day! It’s not just game day this dip is great for, though. It’s a hit at all sorts of gatherings year round.
Adjust everything to your taste. If you want more or less heat, tweak it to your liking! Take sides in the bleu cheese versus ranch war. It’s all up to you!
8 ounces cooked chicken (chopped or shredded), or about 1 ½ – 2 cups
2 ounces neufchatel or cream cheese, room temperature
¼ cup ranch dressing
¼ cup buffalo wing sauce (such as Frank’s)
⅛ cup sriracha
1 tsp sambal oelek
1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 green onion, sliced
Special equipment note: You’ll need an oven safe dish that fits in your air fryer basket for this recipe. A cake pan, casserole dish, or other similar vessel will work.
Ingredient Substitutions and Notes
This recipe is great for using up leftover chicken. Use rotisserie, shredded slow cooker chicken, or even canned chicken – they all work great! Or, cook some on the spot in a little salt and pepper. I use about 3-4 chicken breast tenderloins normally
Feel free to add up to double the cream cheese if you want it creamier!
The ranch dressing can be swapped for bleu cheese dressing if preferred
Any brand of wing sauce is fine, and you can use mild, medium, or hot depending on personal preference. If you want to reduce the heat, sub additional wing sauce in place of the sriracha
For less heat, omit the sambal and swap in an equal amount of minced garlic
You can use low fat cheddar cheese, but definitely don’t use fat free cheese. I did that once and it went horribly!
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip in an Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
In a large bowl, mix together chicken, cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, sriracha, sambal oelek, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar. Pro tip: you can microwave the cream cheese for about 30 seconds if it’s not soft enough to mix
Spread the mixture into a greased oven-safe pan that fits in your air fryer basket. I’m using a rectangular casserole dish that fits in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer
Place the dip-filled dish into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook on the air fry setting for 10-15 minutes at 350°F, pausing to stir every 5 minutes, until dip is heated through
Add the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese to the top
Air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, until cheese melts (but doesn’t burn)
Yes, you can make buffalo chicken dip in an air fryer. You’ll just need an oven safe pan that fits in the basket of the air fryer to do so.
Otherwise, the method is similar to an oven, except that it takes less time. Cheese for topping should be added in the last few minutes to prevent burning.
How Long to Cook Buffalo Chicken Dip in Air Fryer?
Buffalo chicken dip cooks for approximately 10-15 minutes in an air fryer.
This can vary based on how deep the container is, and the power level of your air fryer. You’ll want to make sure it’s fully warmed and the cheese is melted.
For frozen buffalo chicken dip, expect it to take 15-20 minutes in total in the air fryer.
How Do You Reheat Buffalo Chicken Dip in an Air Fryer?
To reheat buffalo chicken dip in an air fryer, place it in an oven safe dish that fits in the air fryer. Cover the dish with foil to prevent additional browning. Cook at 350°F for 5-6 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the dip is hot.
This reheating method works both for homemade and leftover restaurant buffalo chicken dip.
Why is My Buffalo Chicken Dip Runny?
Typically your buffalo chicken dip is runny because of too much sauce when compared to chicken and cream cheese.
It can also occur when there is excess moisture, such as canned or frozen chicken that isn’t adequately drained.
How Can You Thicken Buffalo Chicken Dip?
You can thicken buffalo chicken dip quickly with a cornstarch slurry. Use 1 Tbsp cornstarch to 2 Tbsp water. Mix together, then pour into the dip, and stir to incorporate.
If you have more time, then additional chicken or cream cheese may be added to the dish.
How Long is Uncooked Buffalo Chicken Dip Good For?
Uncooked buffalo chicken dip is good for about 3-5 days when stored in the refrigerator.
If your chicken had already been cooked for a few days prior to incorporation in the dip, you’ll want to cook and serve the dip sooner than later.
Expert Recipe Advice
You pause to stir the dip every 5 minutes to prevent overbrowning of the cheese in the dip mixture. This also helps to get that caramelized flavor distributed throughout your dip!
My buffalo chicken dip was perfect after 10 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer, and about 2 ½ minutes to brown the cheese on top. Other air fryers and dish sizes will cause these times to vary slightly
This easy air fryer buffalo chicken dip is my favorite way to make the game day favorite. I always prepare it ahead and store it in the fridge. Then, just pop it in to cook and it’s ready in no time at all!
Not only will you not heat up the whole house, you’ll be able to get back to watching the game that much faster.
It’s such a highly customizable recipe too, that you can adjust based on your flavor and spice level preferences. In fact, you could even make two versions with ranch and bleu cheese! Please your whole crew without breaking a sweat thanks to this delicious hot dip.
If you’re interested in more of what this kitchen appliance can do, I’ve compiled a list of the Best Air Fryer Dip Recipes to enjoy!
This easy, delicious buffalo chicken dip cooks up in your air fryer in about 15 minutes. It’s spicy, creamy, and perfect for dipping crackers, vegetables and more!
Casserole or cake pan that fits in your air fryer basket
Ingredients
8Ouncescooked chicken, chopped or shredded(or about 1 ½ – 2 cups)
2Ouncesneufchatel or cream cheeseroom temperature
¼Cupranch dressing
¼Cupbuffalo wing sauce(such as Frank's)
⅛Cupsriracha
1Tspsambal oelek
1 ½Cupsshredded sharp cheddar cheesedivided
1Green onionthinly sliced
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
In a large bowl, mix together chicken, cream cheese, ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, sriracha, sambal oelek, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar. Pro tip: you can microwave the cream cheese for about 30 seconds if it’s not soft enough to mix
8 Ounces cooked chicken, chopped or shredded, 2 Ounces neufchatel or cream cheese, ¼ Cup ranch dressing, ¼ Cup buffalo wing sauce, ⅛ Cup sriracha, 1 Tsp sambal oelek, 1 ½ Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Spread the mixture into a greased oven-safe pan that fits in your air fryer basket. I’m using a rectangular casserole dish that fits in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer
Place the dip-filled dish into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook on the air fry setting for 10-15 minutes at 350°F, pausing to stir every 5 minutes, until dip is heated through
Add the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese to the top
Air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, until cheese melts (but doesn’t burn)
Top with sliced green onions
1 Green onion
Serve with your favorite dippers!
Notes
This recipe is great for using up leftover chicken. Use rotisserie, shredded slow cooker chicken, or even canned chicken – they all work great! Or, cook some on the spot in a little salt and pepper. I use about 3-4 chicken breast tenderloins normally
Feel free to add up to double the cream cheese if you want it creamier!
The ranch dressing can be swapped for bleu cheese dressing if preferred
Any brand of wing sauce is fine, and you can use mild, medium, or hot depending on personal preference. If you want to reduce the heat, sub additional wing sauce in place of the sriracha
For less heat, omit the sambal and swap in an equal amount of minced garlic
You can use low fat cheddar cheese, but definitely don’t use fat free cheese. I did that once and it came out horribly!
You pause to stir the dip every 5 minutes to prevent overbrowning of the cheese in the dip mixture. This also helps to get that caramelized flavor distributed throughout your dip!
My buffalo chicken dip was perfect after 10 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer, and about 2 ½ minutes to brown the cheese on top. Other air fryers and dish sizes will cause these times to vary slightly
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, substitutions, sides, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
