Lite, slow cooker Buffalo chicken dip with all of the flavor of the original !
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I have been a little discouraged lately because I think the slow cooker is getting a bad rap. Its not a new flashy concept like the multi-cooker gadgets that promise to do everything but wash the dishes. It doesn't take formerly high calorie and unhealthy fried food and transform it in to a healthy eater's dream like the of-the-moment air-fryer does. It is slow and steady. Simple and practical. Call me crazy, but those are traits I just don't think we see enough of these days.
Don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of cool updates to newer models. Previously unheard of features such as temperature probes that automatically let the slow cooker know when to switch from "cook mode" to "keep warm mode" and wifi enabled models that provide remote access to slow cooker controls are popping up everywhere. These can most certainly be a life saver for those who can't be home to oversee the cooking process. But still, I think the slow cooker is too often overlooked. Friends tell me they use their slow cooker once a year....to make chili or beef stew. Two tasty (albeit mono-colored) dishes but, the world needs to know that a slow cooker can do MUCH more.
So, I am on a (very lazy) crusade to do something about it! And I am starting with Lazy 'n Lite Buffalo Chicken Dip! This recipe is fun, colorful, tasty, spicy and (drum roll please) pretty healthy. It is a lighter version of the very popular chicken buffalo dip that is everywhere and it is made entirely in a slow cooker. Take that - pressure cooker and air-fryer. The old reliable slow cooker has still got it!
Hacks and hints
- I make the chicken used in this dip in my slow cooker. The instructions for that are included below. However, the laziest way to handle this recipe would be to buy pre-made chicken strips
- To ensure even flavor in every bite for a smoother texture, process chicken until it is the consistency of wet sand in a food processor or Nutribullet or personal sized blender (this is optional, you can use chicken is chunks or shreds if you like)
- I heat and serve the actual dip in a Crockpot Lil Dipper. However, it would work just as well in small crockpot on low or warm.
- If you are a fan of uber spicy, feel free to add more buffalo sauce.
- I use slow cooker liners to cook the chicken for this recipe. This is always an optional step. I, however, use then so often that I buy them in bulk (making them less expensive per piece). click here to see what I buy.
Looking for more game day recipes?
- hot-dog pull-apart
- pizza bagel bake
- cinnamon roll pull-apart
- apples and honey roll pull-apart
- pumpkin pie spics snack mix
Lazy 'n Lite Buffalo Chicken Dip
Equipment
- 3 qt slow cooker or larger to cook chicken breast (optional: You can also make dip with chicken purchased already cooked)
- small slow cooker or crockpot lil dipper
- Optional: Nutribullet or similar food processor.
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken dip
- ¾ lb cooked chicken breast instructions below. OR...you can be super lazy (as I usually am) and buy pre-cooked chicken
- 1 cup yogurt based blue cheese dressing
- 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese
- ½ cup reduced fat blue cheese crumbles
- ½ cup buffalo wing sauce
- ½ cup reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese I use pre-shredded for easy mixing and melting
Chicken Breast
- 2 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 cups chicken stock
Instructions
To Cook Chicken Breast
- place slow cooker liner in slow cooker (if using).
- place breasts in slow cooker
- add chicken stock
- cook on low for 2-3 hours on high or until breast reaches an internal temperature of 165°f.
- shred or cut chicken into chunks
To Make Buffalo Chicken Dip
- place chicken into Nutribullet or food processor and grind to the consistency of wet sand. This step is optional, but it is my favorite way to eat this dip as the chicken flavor is very evenly distributed and the texture is smooth and creamy.
- place ground chicken in a bowl and add blue cheese dressing, cream cheese, blue cheese crumbles, wing sauce and shredded cheddar. mix thoroughly
- place mixture in to Lil Dipper or small crockpot and place on warm for 1 - 2 hours before serving to allow all ingredients to melt together. stir to mix
- serve warm with celery, carrots, pretzels, chips or crackers.
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