Nashville Hot Chicken Dip

Name: Nashville Hot Chicken Dip
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese (softened); 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup hot sauce (see note); 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese (divided); 2 cups shredded cooked chicken; 1/2 cup crushed buttery round crackers; 2 tablespoons salted butter; Optional toppings: chopped pickles, sliced green onions, crispy cooked chicken pieces, honey, and/or hot honey

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This Nashville Hot Chicken Dip has all of the delicious flavors of traditional Nashville Hot chicken, in an irresistible dip. It's the perfect combination of spicy tender chicken with a buttery breadcrumb topping. It can be whipped up in minutes, making it the ideal party dip to serve for game day or any occasion.

A baking dish of Nashville hot chicken dip and veggies and pretzels for dipping.

A delectable twist on the usual spicy chicken dip with a nod to traditional Nashville hot chicken, this Nashville Hot Chicken Dip brings the heat and the flavor. With a creamy, tangy base, juicy chicken, zesty hot sauce and crunchy breadcrumbs, it's got all your favorite parts of Nashville hot chicken, in dip form!

Our favorite part? This Nashville Hot Chicken Dip is quick to prep in just 15 minutes, and you can serve it with almost any dipper, making it an appetizer everyone's sure to get fired up for. Serve it for game day or any party and it's bound to be a winner each and every time.

If you like this kicked up dip, be sure to try some of our other popular dip recipes. We love this sweet and spicy Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Dip and our Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip is always a winner. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Twist On Traditional Nashville Hot Chicken. There's so much to love about Nashville hot chicken - the sweet, the spicy, and tender juicy chicken. This has all of that, in creamy dip form!
Quick and Easy App. Made with just a handful of ingredients and things you probably already have in your pantry, this dip can be whipped up and ready to eat in a flash.
Perfect Party Dip. Everyone loves a dip! And this one is a crowdpleaser for sure. With all the flavors and textures you want in a shareable app, this dip is perfect for any party, game day, or special occasion.
Customizable for Spice. Make this dip as spicy or mild as you'd like - you can control the hot sauce and the spices. And mix it up with your dippers! Use a combination of chips, crackers, and fresh veggies.

Laura Ashley's Tip: To make this dip even easier, use rotisserie chicken that you shred and fold into the creamy mixture. It's my favorite store-bought shortcut.

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

Cream Cheese: Creamy, rich and tangy, this is the base for any great dip.
Sour Cream: Adds a nice tang and helps to create a nice light consistency for the dip.
Mayonnaise: Creamy and also slightly tangy, this adds great base flavor for the dip.
Hot Sauce or Nashville Hot Sauce: The hot sauce you use is really what makes this recipe. Sometimes it’s hard to find Nashville hot sauce in a bottle like Frank’s Nashville Hot Sauce or Honky Tonk. You can use Cholula or your favorite variety of hot sauce instead. If doing so, make sure to add hot honey to get that sweet and spicy balance.
Cayenne Pepper and Smoked Paprika: Adds a little kick and smoky flavor to the dip.
Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: Adds big, aromatic seasoning to the dip.
Colby Jack Cheese: Mild in flavor with a great melty consistency, this is the perfect cheese for this dip.
Chicken: Tender and juicy, use shredded rotisserie chicken, or cook your own!
Bread Crumbs: Crushed cracker crumbs or panko breadcrumbs add a nice golden brown crunch to the top of the dip.
Butter: Everything's better with butter! This helps the breadcrumbs to brown up nicely.
Toppings: Pickles, Green Onions, Crispy Chicken, Honey or Hot Honey: Take 'em all or leave out the ones you don't prefer. Pickles are traditionally served with Nashville hot chicken, so we love serving things alongside of the dip, honey and hot honey add even more sweetness and spice, crispy chicken drives home the Nashville hot chicken flavor profile, and green onions are the perfect color to garnish on top.

Ingredients to make Nashville hot chicken dip.

Tools You'll Need

2 Quart Baking Dish or 9x9 Inch Baking Dish
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Hand Mixer
Hand Held Rotary Grater or Counter-Top Rotary Grater

How To Make Nashville Hot Chicken Dip

Preheat oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer or spatula, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and shredded Colby Jack cheese. Mix until well combined.

Blending together the ingredients in a bowl for Nashville hot chicken dip.

Add chicken to the mixture, then mix until evenly dispersed.

Adding chicken to Nashville hot chicken dip.

Spread the mixture evenly in a greased 9x9-inch or 2 quart baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and butter. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the dip.

Adding a crunchy cracker topping to the top of a Nashville hot chicken dip.

Bake 20-25 minutes, until the dip is heated through and bubbly. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly. Garnish as desired. Serve with tortilla chips, corn chip scoops, pretzel bites, crackers, or raw veggies.

Garnishing the top of a Nashville hot chicken dip.

Expert Tips

Sauce Recommendation: Nashville hot chicken sauce is typically made from a combination of cayenne pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Sometimes it’s hard to find it in a bottle like Frank’s or Honky Tonk. You can use Cholula or your favorite variety of hot sauce instead. I would recommend adding the hot honey to get that sweet and spicy balance.
Use Rotisserie Chicken. Store-bought shortcuts are your friend! Use shredded rotisserie chicken here - it's quick, easy and super flavorful.
Adjust Consistency. Add more or less sour cream, mayo or cream cheese to get the dip to the thickness you'd like. You can also add a bit more or less chicken, too. Some people like a thinner dip, while others prefer a thick and hearty dip.
Top With Something Cool. Get creative with your toppings. We named a few of our favorites above, but don't be afraid to top with cool, crunchy pickles or jalapenos for an extra kick, or even add another drizzle of sour cream.
Soften Cream Cheese Quickly. If you forget to soften your cream cheese for easier mixing, just unwrap it and microwave it in 10 second intervals until soft to the touch.

Storage and Make Ahead Instructions

Fridge: We'd be surprised if you have any leftovers of this addictive dip, but if you do, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven until warmed through and melty on top.
Make-Ahead: This is a great app to make in advance. Simply combine everything, store in the fridge, and hold off on adding the breadcrumbs until it's time to bake and serve.

FAQs

What is Nashville hot sauce made of?

Nashville hot sauce is a bit more complex than traditional buffalo hot sauce. It's made with cayenne pepper, a blend of spices, and brown sugar. It's spicy and slightly sweet at the same time.

Why is Nashville hot chicken different than regular hot chicken?

Nashville hot chicken is usually spicier than other hot chicken, as it's traditionally marinated and coated in the cayenne pepper-based hot sauce. It's also typically served with sliced white bread and pickles.

Can I make this dip in advance?

Absolutely. Mix everything together ahead of time, just be sure to hold off on adding the breadcrumbs until you're ready to bake and serve.

How can I make this dip mild in spice?

If you'd like this dip a little less spicy, add less hot sauce and cut back on the amount of cayenne pepper.

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