Football weekends give you a good reason to head outside, fire up the grill, and settle in for an afternoon with friends and family. Game Day Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip is a shareable appetizer you can prepare outdoors before kickoff or serve while everyone watches the action. Instead of spending the day going back and forth to the kitchen, you can stay near the patio, keep an eye on the score, and enjoy the company.
Smoking the chicken adds a savory depth that works especially well with the tangy heat of buffalo sauce. A rich cheese blend balances that kick, while blue cheese crumbles bring a sharper finish. Onion and fresh cilantro add contrast, giving each scoop plenty of flavor without making preparation complicated.
This dip also works well for the relaxed pace of football season. Set it out with tortilla chips, crackers, toasted bread, celery, carrots, or a mix of easy dippers, then let everyone serve themselves throughout the game. That approach keeps the menu casual and gives the cook more time to join the gathering rather than managing plates inside.
Outdoor cooking can make game days easier when your setup keeps preparation, serving, and seating close together. Alfresco Backyard Living helps homeowners create spaces designed for exactly that kind of use, from premium grills and outdoor kitchens to refrigeration, storage, heating, and other backyard essentials. Whether you have a complete cooking area or a simple patio setup, a warm smoked appetizer gives everyone another reason to spend football Sunday outdoors.
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Serves 6
Game Day Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken
- 2 cups shredded smoked chicken
- 1 cup Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce
Cheese Mixture
- 16 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon Homemade Veggie Shake link in recipe notes
Toppings
- 4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
- 1 Tablespoon red onion, minced
- 1 Tablespoon cilantro, roughly chopped
Game Day Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip Directions
- Preheat the smoker. Preheat your smoker (or oven) to 350°F.
- Make the cheese mixture. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, pepper jack cheese, and Veggie Shake in a medium mixing bowl. Stir with a spoon until combined. Use the spoon to spread the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of a 9 or 12-inch cast-iron skillet.
- Make the Buffalo chicken. In a separate bowl, combine the shredded smoked chicken and Buffalo sauce. Pour this over the cream cheese mixture in the skillet and spread evenly. Sprinkle the crumbled blue cheese over the Buffalo chicken mixture.
- Smoke the Buffalo chicken dip. Place the dip in the preheated smoker or oven and close the lid. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the dip bubbles around the edges and the blue cheese melts.
- Add toppings and serve immediately. Sprinkle the dip with minced red onion and chopped cilantro. Serve straight from the cast-iron skillet to keep the dip warm. This dip is delicious when served with celery sticks, tortilla chips, thin-sliced baguettes, or crackers. Enjoy!
Taken from americanmadegrills.com