Description
This upgraded buffalo chicken dip features a creamy roasted garlic and chive swirl that adds savory depth to the classic game-day appetizer. It’s designed to guarantee a perfect texture and impress guests with its enhanced flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.1 pounds cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (divided)
- 1/2 cup original buffalo hot sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 7 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
- 3.5 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded (divided)
- 1 whole head garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped (divided)
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
Instructions
- Roast the Garlic: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice off the top 1/4 inch of the garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap tightly in foil, and roast for 35-45 minutes until soft. Squeeze the softened pulp from the skins into a bowl.
- Combine Dip Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, 6.5 ounces of softened cream cheese, buffalo hot sauce, mayonnaise, 5.3 ounces of shredded sharp cheddar, 2.6 ounces of shredded mozzarella, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well until uniformly creamy.
- Prepare Garlic Cream Swirl: In a separate small bowl, combine the roasted garlic pulp with the remaining 1.5 ounces of softened cream cheese, whole milk, 1 tablespoon of chives, and remaining salt and pepper. Mash and stir until completely smooth.
- Assemble and Swirl: Spread the main dip mixture evenly into an 8×8 inch baking dish. Dollop spoonfuls of the garlic cream swirl over the surface. Use a skewer or knife tip to gently swirl the cream into the dip without fully blending it.
- Bake until Bubbly: Sprinkle the remaining 1.7 ounces of sharp cheddar and 0.9 ounces of mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly and the cheese topping is lightly golden.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish generously with the remaining 1 tablespoon of fresh chives before serving hot.
Notes
To avoid an oily texture, use full-fat cream cheese and mayonnaise, and avoid overmixing the ingredients or overbaking the dip. For best results, shred your own cheese from a block. The dip can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking; add extra baking time if starting cold.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 610 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg