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I made Ree Drummond’s and Joanna Gaines’ Buffalo chicken dips, and only one was good enough for game day

October 13, 20240
The Pioneer Woman’s recipe for Buffalo-chicken dip was super creamy thanks to the addition of ranch, while I thought Joanna Gaines’ underwhelming.

Rob Kim/Getty Images; Monica Schipper/Getty Images; Erin McDowell/Business Insider

  • I made two different celebrity-chef recipes for Buffalo chicken dip.
  • The Pioneer Woman’s recipe was super creamy, thanks to the addition of ranch.
  • However, I thought Joanna Gaines’ recipe for Buffalo chicken dip was lacking in flavor.

Football season — and game-day snacking — is underway, and nothing goes better with a game than a tangy, creamy Buffalo chicken dip with a side of chips.

I decided to try out two Buffalo chicken dip recipes from celebrity chefs to see which was more of a crowd-pleaser. I made recipes from Joanna Gaines and Ree Drummond, also known as the Pioneer Woman. Gaines and Drummond, both Southern chefs, have gained fame — and fortune — for their family-friendly, comfort-food recipes.

However, in researching and trying out each chef’s recipe for Buffalo chicken dip, I learned they approach the game-day favorite very differently. While Gaines’ recipe was easier to make and required simpler ingredients, the Pioneer Woman’s recipe was far more flavorful, thanks to the addition of ranch dressing and two different kinds of cheese. 

Keep reading to learn how to make each recipe, and see how they compare. 

The Pioneer Woman’s recipe for Buffalo-chicken dip calls for fewer than 10 ingredients.
The cream cheese in a bowl.

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You could leave your cream cheese out on the counter for a while, or microwave the bowl of cream cheese for around 45 seconds like I did. I then used a spatula to slightly mix the cream cheese to make it even softer and easier to combine with the other ingredients. 

I then added in the Buffalo sauce.
The cream cheese mixed with ranch and Buffalo sauce in a bowl.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It might take some extra effort to get all the clumps of cream cheese to combine. I didn’t have one, but you could also use an electric mixer to ensure all of your ingredients are fully combined. 

The Pioneer Woman recommended using a store-bought rotisserie chicken for this recipe.
I pulled apart the rotisserie chicken.

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I then used a large chef’s knife to chop and shred the chicken into smaller pieces. You’ll need about 2 cups of chicken meat for this recipe, which I found to be roughly half the rotisserie chicken. 

I then added the chopped chicken, blue-cheese crumbles, cheddar cheese, and scallions into the sauce.
The Buffalo-chicken dip before going in the oven.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I found that I had the perfect amount of dip for the casserole dish I used. 

I then topped the dip with the remaining cup of cheddar cheese.
The finished Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I let the dip rest for about five minutes before serving it at a friend’s party. 

The edges of the dip were caramelized and super creamy.
The ingredients for Joanna Gaines’ Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

To make Joanna Gaines’ recipe, you’ll need:

  • 1 cup shredded chicken breast
  • 8 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup grated yellow cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
I started by adding the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
The Buffalo-chicken dip in a large mixing bowl.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

This recipe made far less dip than the other one, but you can double or triple the recipe if you need to.

Unlike the Pioneer Woman’s recipe, this Buffalo-chicken dip is served cold and doesn’t ever go in the oven.
A tortilla chip dipped in the Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I also thought Gaines’ recipe could have used more spice — I could barely taste the Buffalo sauce and it definitely didn’t have the same kick as the previous dip. The finely chopped chives added a bit of flavor, but I preferred the stronger taste of the scallions. 

While this recipe was so easy I could have practically made it with my eyes closed, I didn’t think it had the same amount of flavor as the dip that took longer to make. 

Overall, I had to give the win to Ree Drummond’s Buffalo-chicken dip.
The Pioneer Woman’s Buffalo-chicken dip came out on top.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider; Monica Schipper/Getty Images

The Pioneer Woman’s dip was warm, comforting, and a standout dish at the party I served it at.

I did like that Gaines’ recipe required fewer ingredients — if you don’t count the seasonings — and only took 10 minutes to make, not counting the 1 hour it took to set in the fridge. Using an electric mixer also made the process a breeze.

However, I’m not sure I would want to serve Gaines’ version to my family. It tasted fine, but it didn’t bring the wow factor I found with the more elaborate, flavorful recipe from Ree Drummond.

Read the original article on Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/pioneer-woman-ree-drummond-joanna-gaines-buffalo-chicken-dip-2023-2