Name: Nashville Hot Chicken Dip Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened; 2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided; 1/3 cup mayonnaise; 1/3 cup sour cream; 2 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish; 2 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Cholula); 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper; 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar; 2 teaspoons paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; Kosher salt, to taste; 12 oz fresh or frozen breaded chicken, prepared and cubed; 8 slices white bread; 3 tablespoons melted butter; Kosher salt, to season; 1/3 cup pickle chips; Additional sliced green onions

Introduction

Nashville Hot Chicken Dip is a creamy, spicy appetizer that brings the bold flavors of Nashville’s famous hot chicken in an easy-to-share dip. Perfect for game days or casual gatherings, it’s loaded with melty cheese, zesty spices, and tender chicken bites.

The dish is served in a black cast iron skillet on a white marbled surface, featuring a layered bake. The bottom layer is a rich reddish tomato sauce spread evenly, topped with a layer of melted, creamy white cheese that is slightly browned in spots around the edges. Scattered on top are small, golden brown crispy chicken pieces adding a crunchy texture. There are several thinly sliced, crinkled green pickles spread mainly in the center. A triangular piece of toasted at the side is partially dipped in the cheesy chicken mixture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
2 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Cholula)
1 tablespoon cayenne
2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt
12 oz. fresh or frozen breaded chicken, prepared and cubed
8 slices white bread
3 tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup pickle chips, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, 1¾ cups of mozzarella, mayonnaise, sour cream, sliced green onions, hot sauce, cayenne, brown sugar, paprika, and garlic powder. Season with kosher salt to taste. Gently fold in almost all of the cooked, cubed chicken, reserving about ¼ cup for topping.
Step 2: Transfer the dip mixture to a medium baking dish or oven-safe skillet. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the top. Place the reserved chicken pieces in the center of the dip. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the dip is bubbly and the cheese has turned slightly golden.
Step 3: While the dip bakes, prepare the toasts. Brush one side of each bread slice with melted butter and season lightly with salt. Cut each slice diagonally into quarters. Spread the pieces on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until lightly golden and crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly.
Step 4: Once the dip is finished baking, garnish with additional green onions and pickle chips. Serve warm with the toasted bread pieces for dipping.

Tips & Variations

For extra heat, add a pinch of extra cayenne or a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce on top before serving.
Substitute the breaded chicken with grilled or rotisserie chicken for a less crispy but equally flavorful dip.
Serve with tortilla chips or sturdy vegetable sticks instead of bread for a gluten-free option.
Use pepper jack cheese instead of mozzarella to introduce a subtle spicy kick.
Make the dip a day ahead. Refrigerate and bake when ready to serve for convenience.

Storage

Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm it in a 350°F (175°C) oven until bubbly throughout, about 10 to 15 minutes. Toasts are best fresh but can be kept in an airtight container for a day; re-crisp them in a toaster oven before serving.

How to Serve

A woman's hand lifts a piece of fried chicken topped with melted, stretchy white cheese from a black cast iron skillet. The dish shows several layers: at the bottom, a red-orange sauce coats the skillet, followed by crunchy, golden-brown fried chicken pieces scattered on top. The chicken is covered with melted white cheese that stretches as the piece is lifted. Slices of green pickles with ridged edges are placed on the chicken and cheese, adding a fresh, contrasting texture. The background has a smooth white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use pre-cooked chicken in this recipe?

Yes, pre-cooked chicken such as rotisserie or leftover chicken works well. Just cube it and fold it into the dip before baking.

Is this dip very spicy?

This dip has a noticeable heat from the cayenne and hot sauce but can be adjusted to your taste by reducing or increasing the amount of spicy ingredients.

Nashville Hot Chicken Dip Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 137 reviews

This Nashville Hot Chicken Dip is a fiery, cheesy appetizer perfect for game days or parties. Cream cheese, mozzarella, mayo, and sour cream create a creamy base spiked with cayenne, hot sauce, and smoky spices. Cubed breaded chicken adds hearty texture, while buttery toasted bread quarters provide the perfect dippers. Finished with pickles and green onions for an extra kick and crunch, this baked dip delivers the iconic Nashville hot chicken flavors in a shareable dish.

Author: Lena
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Dip Ingredients

1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
2 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Cholula)
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt, to taste
12 oz fresh or frozen breaded chicken, prepared and cubed

Toast Ingredients

8 slices white bread
3 tablespoons melted butter
Kosher salt, to season

Garnish

1/3 cup pickle chips
Additional sliced green onions

Instructions

Make the Dip Base: Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, 1¾ cups of shredded mozzarella, mayonnaise, sour cream, sliced green onions, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, and garlic powder. Season the mixture with kosher salt to taste. Gently fold in almost all of the cooked cubed breaded chicken, reserving about ¼ cup for topping later. Mix until just combined to keep it light and creamy.
Bake the Dip: Transfer the prepared dip mixture into a medium-sized baking dish or oven-safe skillet. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly on top. Add the reserved cubed chicken to the center of the dip. Place in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the dip is bubbly and the cheese on top is slightly golden.
Prepare the Toasts: While the dip bakes, prepare the bread slices. Brush one side of each white bread slice with melted butter and season lightly with kosher salt. Cut each slice diagonally into quarters to make bite-sized toasts. Arrange these on a medium baking sheet and bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly golden and crisp. Remove from oven and allow to cool a bit.
Garnish and Serve: Once the dip is done baking, remove it from the oven and garnish with additional sliced green onions and pickle chips for a tangy crunch. Serve the warm Nashville Hot Chicken Dip immediately alongside the toasted bread quarters for dipping.

Notes

For an even spicier dip, increase the cayenne pepper or add extra hot sauce.
Use fresh breaded chicken if possible, but frozen precooked chicken works well too—just ensure it’s fully cooked before cubing.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
Pickle chips add a nice tangy contrast; you can substitute with pickle slices if preferred.
This dip pairs perfectly with other dippers like tortilla chips, crackers, or celery sticks if you want variety.

Keywords: Nashville hot chicken dip, spicy chicken dip, baked chicken dip, game day appetizer, party dip, creamy chicken dip