Why I love this Halloween Buffalo chicken dip recipe
This Halloween Buffalo chicken dip is one of my all-time favorites!
Just mix everything up, bake it until bubbly, and then decorate it with some adorable tombstone-shaped tortilla chips and celery trees.
It turns into a spooky little graveyard scene that’s not only fun to look at but also perfect for dipping.
Plus, it’s packed with that classic buffalo chicken dip flavor that everyone loves, so it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Honestly, it’s become my go-to appetizer for any Halloween party because it’s so simple to make and always a hit with my friends.
Looking for more Halloween appetizers? You'll love Halloween Snack Mix and Halloween Guacamole.
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 16 servings):
- Bread – 2 flour tortillas (burrito size)
- Canned goods – 2 cans white or dark meat chunk chicken
- Dairy – 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream, 6 ounces cheddar cheese, 4 ounces mozzarella cheese. I think sharp cheddar gives the best flavor but if you like a milder version, feel free to use the type of cheddar you like.
- Condiments – ½ cup Buffalo sauce or hot sauce. I like Franks Buffalo sauce.
- Spices – 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Fresh produce – 6 celery stalks (or more if preferred), 2 to 3 green onions, 15 to 20 mini heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.
- Herbs – 1 bunch fresh cilantro
Substitutions & Additions
- If you like, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken meat instead of canned chicken.
- You can reduce some of the fat/calorie content of the dip by replacing the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.
How to make Halloween Buffalo chicken dip
1 | Prep work
Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator a couple of hours before you plan to make the dip so it has time to soften. This will make it much easier to mix.
Cut the celery stalks, into sticks about 3-4 inches long. Keep the tops of the stalks intact so they resemble little trees with branches, adding a fun, spooky effect.
Chop the green onions and fresh cilantro so you have about ½ cup of each.
Grate 1½ cups cheddar cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Preheat your oven to 350°F to ensure it’s ready when you’re finished preparing everything.
Grease or spray a 9″x13″ baking dish with non-stick spray or butter to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
2 | Make the tortilla headstones
Using kitchen scissors, cut out gravestone-shaped pieces from the tortillas. (Think rectangles with rounded tops). Or you can use a cookie cutter if you prefer.
Arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they’re golden brown and crispy.
Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before handling.
3 | Combine the dip ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, add the drained chunk chicken, softened cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, and garlic powder.
Use a spoon to mash and stir everything together thoroughly.
Gently mix in half of the grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
4 | Bake the dip
Spoon the chicken mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly using a silicone spatula or the back of a spoon.
Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses over the top.
Bake the dip for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
To get a golden-brown top, turn your oven to the broiler setting for the last 2-3 minutes. Just keep a close eye so it doesn’t burn.
Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. This helps the cheese set a little, making it easier to scoop.
5 | Make the graveyard
To insert the celery trees into the dip, push the stalks through the cheese layer and nestle them into the bottom of the dish.
Arrange the crispy tortilla gravestones in small clusters of 2-3 near the celery trees to create a spooky graveyard scene.
If it’s hard to pierce through the cheese, use a paring knife to make small cuts (about ½ to 1 inch wide), then push the celery and tortilla pieces in.
Sprinkle chopped green onions and cilantro over the dip to resemble scattered leaves and grass, adding a touch of color and freshness.
Nestle small clusters of cherry tomatoes near the trees and gravestones to look like pumpkins or gourds.
Serve the dip with extra celery sticks and tortilla chips for dipping and snacking.
Sometimes I find that my celery trees and tortilla headstones won’t stay up, especially if the dip is very warm. I like to use a mini tomato behind them to help brace them. You could also double up on your tortilla tombstones to give them a little more stability.
How to make ahead
To make ahead, mix the chicken mixture as stated in the recipe and spread it in the 9″ x 13″ pan. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
The crispy tortilla gravestones and celery trees can be made a day ahead, stored in airtight containers at room temperature or in the fridge.
When ready to serve, remove from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to take the chill off.
Bake the mixture at 350°F until bubbly and hot, then proceed with decorating.
Leaving the tortillas in the dip for too long will make them soggy, so be sure to add them just before serving.
Storage
To store leftovers, remove any tortillas from the dip as they will get soggy.
Then cover the dip and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Uncover and reheat in the oven at 350°F until hot and bubbly.
If the dip has thickened during storage, stir in a little chicken broth before reheating to restore its creamy consistency.
Halloween Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
- 2 flour tortillas burrito size
- 2 cans chunk chicken drained
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup Buffalo sauce or hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 6 celery stalks cut to 3" lengths with the greenery left on the top to look like trees
- ½ cup chopped green onion
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 15 to 20 mini heirloom or cherry tomatoes
Equipment
- cutting board
- Paring knife
- Kitchen scissors
- Baking sheet
- mixing bowl
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing spoon
- 9″x13″ cake/casserole pan
- Silicone spatula/spreader
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Make the gravestone tortillas
- Cut 10 (or more) gravestone-shaped pieces out of your tortillas using kitchen scissors.2 flour tortillas
- Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the tombstones are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
Make the dip
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, and garlic powder with a fork until thoroughly combined.2 cans chunk chicken, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream, ½ cup Buffalo sauce or hot sauce, 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Stir in half of the cheddar cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese, mixing until incorporated throughout.1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Grease or spray a 9"x13" rectangular baking dish.
- Spoon the chicken mixture into the baking dish and spread evenly with a silicone spatula or the back of a spoon.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses over the top of the chicken layer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. For the last 2-3 minutes, turn your stove to the broiler setting to brown the top of the cheese.
- Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
Decorate like a graveyard
- Arrange the celery trees into the dip by gently pushing them through the cheese layer and nestling them into the bottom of the pan.6 celery stalks
- Arrange the crispy tortilla gravestones in clusters of 2-3 near the trees.
- Sprinkle the chopped green onions and cilantro over the Buffalo chicken dip to resemble scattered leaves and grass.½ cup chopped green onion, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Nestle clusters of 2-3 little tomatoes near the trees and headstones to resemble pumpkins and gourds.15 to 20 mini heirloom or cherry tomatoes
- Serve your dip with extra celery sticks and tortilla chips.
Notes
- Do not use pre-packaged grated cheese. It contains additives to keep the cheese from sticking to each other which can affect the consistency of the dip.
- You can replace the canned chicken with shredded rotisserie chicken if desired.
- For a version with less fat and fewer calories, use plain Greek yogurt instead of the sour cream.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Have comments or questions about our Halloween buffalo chicken dip recipe? Tell us in the section below.