Throwing a party for your guy? Ask him what he wants. You may be very surprised to find out he has very specific ideas! My friend Amanda did just that when it came time to celebrate a major milestone in her husband Jeff’s life. After years of hard work, Jeff received his PhD in Public Health. Now it was time to party! So what did Jeff want for his perfect party?
One day Amanda asked Jeff what his idea was for a perfect graduation party right at home. “Barbecue! Chicken and ribs!”, says Jeff. And what else? “Oh, we have to have that Pig Candy Michele makes!” The rest was up to her but he had given her the basics to work with. Guys are like small boys, just bigger. As you can see there were no vegetables mentioned! And women are girls, all grown up with the “Mommy gene” fully deployed. There will be vegetables! Amanda called me and asked if I would help with appetizers. But of course I would!
Knowing Jeff is a football fan, Amanda too, I thought a take on tailgate treats would be perfect for the appetizer. Buffalo Chicken Wings are great but we were having ribs and chicken so we would have plenty of bones already. Boneless, made into a dip you could scoop up with chips….and vegetables…..would make everyone happy! Heidi volunteered to make the Pig Candy. Now if you have never tried this little piggy snack, hold on to your hat! Make double the amount ‘cuz it will fly off the platter! One of my friends, Donnene, sums it up perfectly. “Lord have mercy!!!! These should come with a warning label! These little morsels are addicting and you can NOT eat just one!”
Speaking of warning labels. I never thought about mentioning the heat level when making buffalo chicken wings, balls or now this dip. Thanks to my Dad, I now know that this is an important detail. He made the Buffalo Chicken Balls to serve to his buddies during a 49er game last football season. He called me after the game and asked, “Are there different heat levels for the hot sauce?” “Well sure”, I said, “there’s a thermometer on the side of the bottle so you know how hot it is.” “Why do you ask?” He then proceeded to tell me that he made the buffalo chicken balls, didn’t know there were different heat levels and it nearly blew the hair of everyone’s head! So here’s your warning. Check the side of the bottle if you don’t want hairless guests! Thanks Dad!
Jeff’s graduation party was a huge success! The hostess was calm because she knows how to throw a party! She asked the guest of honor what would make him happy, she asked her girlfriends for help and when the rain started to come down (I know, it never rains in Southern California but it did that day) she herded the gang indoors and made sure everyone had a cocktail. Now that’s how to throw the perfect party! Kudos Amanda!
Here’s how we roll with the perfect heat level on an awesome buffalo chicken dip!
Buffalo Chicken Dip
5 Ingredients and the chips! How easy is that?
Combine cream cheese, salad dressing, blue cheese crumbles (optional)….and the hot sauce. Perfect because you have checked the thermometer on the label. I think the “Original” style is probably the level of heat most people can enjoy without breaking into a sweat!
Add the chicken and stir to combine.
Spread in a lightly greased 3-quart casserole dish. Look at those chunks of yumminess! And the smell of this in the car as we drove to the party nearly killed my husband! He could hardly wait to dip his chip!
Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly and heated through, about 20 minutes. If you over fill the dish like I did, make sure you put some foil under the dish to catch the overflow. I just had to cram every last bit of the dip into the dish! Or don’t overfill is another option 🙂
Serve with celery sticks and tortilla chips. For larger groups or if this is the only appetizer you are serving, double the recipe and place the dip in a crock pot. Keeps it warm and you can make it all in one pot!
- 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded and diced
- 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 15-oz. jar blue cheese salad dressing
- 4 ounces crumbled blue or gorgonzola cheese (optional for more chunky blue cheese flavor)
- 12-oz. bottle Frank's Original Red Hot Sauce
- 4-oz. pkg. shredded Cheddar cheese
- Celery sticks
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- Combine cream cheese, salad dressing, blue cheese crumbles and hot sauce.
- Add chicken and stir to combine.
- Spread in a lightly greased 3-quart casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly and heated through, about 20 minutes.
- Serve with celery sticks and tortilla chips.
- Double the recipe and serve it in a crock pot for a larger group of people. Fast and easy!
I always enjoy reading, not only the recipes, but the little personal bits too!
Michele, You rock! Can you make this dip and come right over??!!!
Girls night here soon! You can bring this!!
I love your posts!!!!
Chrissy
Chrissy ~ LOL! Thank you! And Yes, I will bring this dip. Just give me the date and time. I know the place….paradise, AKA your backyard! 🙂
I love buffalo chicken so I’m sure I will LOVE this even more. Can’t wait to try it!
my school made this and it was amazing all my friends gives me theirs because its that good , im defentaly making this for me and my bf 2 yr 5 month dinner 🙂
recipe looks wonderful. i hope you don’t mind but i added this recipe to my site with working links to your page. can’t wait to try this one out!
my school made this and it was amazing all my friends gives me theirs because its that good , im defentaly making this for me and my bf 2 yr 5 month dinner 🙂