Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken Dip
A quick and easy spicy party snack featuring creamy cheese, crispy fried chicken pieces, and a homemade Nashville hot sauce for a perfect blend of heat and comfort.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or finely chopped (rotisserie chicken works great!)
- 1 cup crispy fried chicken pieces, chopped
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot Original recommended)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp brown sugar
- Pinch of salt
- Chopped green onions or fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Extra crispy chicken pieces (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the Nashville hot sauce by whisking together hot sauce, melted butter, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth using a mixer or whisk.
- Add mayonnaise and sour cream to the cream cheese and mix until fully combined and creamy.
- Fold in shredded cheddar cheese and shredded cooked chicken gently with a spatula.
- Add half of the Nashville hot sauce to the dip mixture and stir well. Adjust spice level to taste.
- Transfer the dip to the prepared baking dish and smooth the top.
- Sprinkle chopped crispy fried chicken pieces evenly over the dip.
- Drizzle the remaining Nashville hot sauce over the crispy chicken topping.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly around the edges and the top is slightly crisped. Optionally broil for 1-2 minutes for extra color, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
If cream cheese is not soft enough, microwave for 20 seconds before mixing. Do not overmix the cream cheese base to keep dip fluffy. Use freshly cooked chicken and drain excess moisture to avoid sogginess. Let dip rest after baking for easier scooping. Watch broiling carefully to prevent burning. Prepare sauce early to meld flavors. For vegan version, use dairy-free cream cheese, vegan mayo, and substitute chicken with crispy tofu bites.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ½ cup per serv
- Calories: 280320
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 500700
- Fat: 2024
- Saturated Fat: 810
- Carbohydrates: 46
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1820
Keywords: Nashville hot chicken dip, spicy chicken dip, party snack, creamy chicken dip, crispy chicken dip, southern recipe, easy dip