Warm Buffalo Chicken Dip

Every so often at school, we have a faculty luncheon.  It’s usually pot luck – which is one of my favorite ways to eat!  Everybody brings their A game.  It’s a chance to show off your best dish.

My friend Wendy – who claims she can’t cook – almost always brings her specialty:  Buffalo Chicken Dip.

I’m not usually into really spicy things, but Oh, my gosh!  This dip is my favorite.  Wendy brings it in these cute little slow cookers.  When I go to fix my plate, it’s a HUGE temptation not to take one of the little crocks back to my room and just eat this stuff with a spoon!  Really.  It’s amazing.

I chose to make ours in a cast iron skillet because I didn’t need to keep it warm.  I knew we would be eating it right away.  And I knew that it wouldn’t last long.

So.  Good.

Warm Buffalo Chicken Dip

• 1 10-ounce can of chunk chicken, drained
• 1 package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup of ranch dressing
• 3/4 cup of grated cheddar cheese
• hot sauce to taste

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a cast iron skillet or other baking dish.  Bake at 400 degrees until hot, bubbly, and browned around the edges.  I cooked mine about 25 minutes.

OR

Pour ingredients into a small crock pot and warm on low until bubbly.

Well Duh #1:  This recipe is easily doubled.  That’s what I did.  And we still ate all of it.

Well Duh #2:  We served it with tortilla chips, but it’s also really yummy with celery sticks or crostini-sized bread.

Well Duh #3:  The measurement on the hot sauce is totally a guesstimate.  I used Tabasco and I started with 2 tablespoons and then added more to taste.  I probably ended up with about 4 tablespoons.  Wendy says she doesn’t measure.  She just knows when the color is right.  You will likely add more than you thought you would because the cream cheese makes the spice less aggressive.

My family loved this.  Even Christopher – who normally doesn’t like spicy food – ate it and loved it.  It’s definitely a keeper.

Wendy wanted me to be sure to say that this is a dish that even someone who can’t cook can totally make.  It really is easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy!