Best Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

Every year, one thing that makes it to our game day buffet table is buffalo chicken dip. Itโ€™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 Iโ€™m in love. This air fryer buffalo chicken dip is so easy to make and delicious too!

air fryer buffalo chicken dip recipe dinners done quick

Why Youโ€™ll Love This Recipe

Creamy, cheesy dip is accented by spicy buffalo sauce and the heartiness of chicken. Whatโ€™s there not to love? Serve it with crackers, tortilla scoops, and fresh veggies. Thereโ€™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 youโ€™re ready. I love things that save time on actual game day!ย Itโ€™s not just game day this dip is great for, though. Itโ€™s a hit at all sorts of gatherings year round.

air fried buffalo chicken dip scooped on a cracker

Adjust everything to your taste. If you want more or less heat, tweak it to your liking!ย Take sides in the bleu cheese versus ranch war.ย Itโ€™s all up to you!

For another delicious dip to try, take a look at this easy air fryer queso blanco recipe!

Ingredients to Grab

air fryer buffalo chicken dip ingredients
  • 8 ounces cooked chicken (chopped or shredded), or about 1 ยฝ โ€“ 2 cups
  • 2 ounces neufchatel or cream cheese, room temperature
  • ยผ cup ranch dressing
  • ยผ cup buffalo wing sauce (such as Frankโ€™s)
  • โ…› cup sriracha
  • 1 tsp sambal oelek
  • 1 ยฝ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 green onion, sliced

Special equipment note: Youโ€™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 โ€“ 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 donโ€™t use fat free cheese. I did that once and it went horribly!ย ย 

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Dip in an Air Fryer

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350ยฐF
  2. 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 itโ€™s not soft enough to mix
mix all buffalo chicken dip ingredients in a bowl
  1. Spread the mixture into a greased oven-safe pan that fits in your air fryer basket. Iโ€™m using a rectangular casserole dish that fits in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer
add mixed buffalo chicken dip to oven safe dish
  1. Place the dip-filled dish into the preheated air fryer basket
place buffalo chicken dip in air fryer basket
  1. Cook on the air fry setting for 10-15 minutes at 350ยฐF, pausing to stir every 5 minutes, until dip is heated through
  2. Add the remaining ยฝ cup shredded cheddar cheese to the top
add remaining cheese to top of buffalo chicken dip and continue cooking
  1. Air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, until cheese melts (but doesnโ€™t burn)
  2. Top with sliced green onions
  3. Serve with your favorite dippers!
overhead view of buffalo chicken dip made in the air fryer with crackers and carrots

What to Serve With Buffalo Chicken Dip

  • Chicken in a Biskit crackers
  • Tortilla chips
  • Carrot sticks
  • Celery sticks
  • Broccoli florets
  • Bell pepper strips
  • Cauliflower florets
  • Cucumber slices
  • Potato chips
  • Pita chips
  • Toasted bread slices
  • Breadsticks
  • Soft pretzels
  • Baked potatoes
  • Waffle fries
  • Chicken taquitos
  • Potato skins
  • Pasta

Serve your air fryer buffalo chicken dip with easy Frozen Pretzel Bites in the Air Fryer or Frozen Toasted Ravioli in the Air Fryer for some delicious dippers.ย 

Alternatively, use it to top up some Air Fryer Baked Potatoes in Foil, or as a substituted filling for homemade Air Fryer Potato Skins!

Recipe FAQs

Can You Make Buffalo Chicken Dip in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can make buffalo chicken dip in an air fryer. Youโ€™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. Youโ€™ll want to make sure itโ€™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 350ยฐF 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 isnโ€™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, youโ€™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 ยฝ minutes to brown the cheese on top. Other air fryers and dish sizes will cause these times to vary slightly
buffalo chicken dip served with carrots and crackers for dipping

More Air Fryer Game Day Favorites

Final Thoughts

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 itโ€™s ready in no time at all!

Not only will you not heat up the whole house, youโ€™ll be able to get back to watching the game that much faster.

Itโ€™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!ย  Please your whole crew without breaking a sweat thanks to this delicious hot dip.

If youโ€™re interested in more of what this kitchen appliance can do, Iโ€™ve compiled a list of the Best Air Fryer Dip Recipes to enjoy!

air fryer buffalo chicken dip recipe dinners done quick featured image

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip Air Fryer Recipe

This easy, delicious buffalo chicken dip cooks up in your air fryer in about 15 minutes. Itโ€™s spicy, creamy, and perfect for dipping crackers, vegetables and more!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 398 kcal

Equipment

  • Spoon or spatula for mixing
  • Casserole or cake pan that fits in your air fryer basket

Ingredients
ย ย 

  • 8 Ounces cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (or about 1 ยฝ โ€“ 2 cups)
  • 2 Ounces neufchatel or cream cheese room temperature
  • ยผ Cup ranch dressing
  • ยผ Cup buffalo wing sauce (such as Frank's)
  • โ…› Cup sriracha
  • 1 Tsp sambal oelek
  • 1 ยฝ Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 Green onion thinly sliced

Instructions
ย 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 350ยฐF
  • 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 itโ€™s not soft enough to mix
    8 Ounces cooked chicken, chopped or shredded, 2 Ounces neufchatel or cream cheese, ยผ Cup ranch dressing, ยผ Cup buffalo wing sauce, โ…› Cup sriracha, 1 Tsp sambal oelek, 1 ยฝ Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Spread the mixture into a greased oven-safe pan that fits in your air fryer basket. Iโ€™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 350ยฐF, pausing to stir every 5 minutes, until dip is heated through
  • Add the remaining ยฝ cup shredded cheddar cheese to the top
  • Air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, until cheese melts (but doesnโ€™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 โ€“ 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.ย  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 donโ€™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 ยฝ 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

Nutrition

Serving: 177gCalories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 30gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 1128mgPotassium: 314mgFiber: 0.7gSugar: 2.4gVitamin A: 187IUVitamin C: 9.5mgCalcium: 334mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword air fryer buffalo chicken dip, air fryer buffalo chicken dip recipe, buffalo chicken, buffalo chicken dip, buffalo chicken dip air fryer, buffalo chicken dip recipe, ninja air fryer buffalo chicken dip
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheDinnersDoneQuick or tag #dinnersdonequick!
air fryer buffalo chicken dip recipe dinners done quick pinterest
Katie Vine