Buffalo Chicken Fried Pickle Dip is creamy, spicy buffalo chicken dip loaded with tangy pickles and pickle brine, topped with crunchy garlic-cayenne breadcrumbs and even more pickles for the ultimate buffalo chicken and fried pickle mash-up.

If you love the bold, spicy, tangy combo of buffalo chicken and pickles, you’re going to want to try my irresistible Chicken and Waffle Bites and Buffalo Chicken Cheez-it Crackers too!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

I’ve always thought buffalo chicken dip was one of those appetizers that is impossible to mess up. It’s creamy, cheesy, spicy, and perfect for scooping up with just about anything.

And then there are fried pickles. Crispy, salty, tangy, and especially good when they’re dipped into something creamy. So why not put them together?

That’s exactly what this buffalo chicken pickle dip does. Instead of serving two separate appetizers, you get all of those flavors in every bite!

The base is made with cream cheese and sour cream, which makes the dip rich and creamy without being overly heavy. Shredded chicken gives it that classic buffalo chicken flavor, while hot sauce brings the heat.

Then come the pickles.

Chopped pickles and a splash of pickle brine get mixed right into the dip. The brine adds that salty, vinegary tang that makes you immediately think of a good fried pickle.

It’s basically two game day favorites smashed together into one ridiculously good dip. And honestly, that’s what makes this recipe so good! It’s creamy, spicy, tangy, crunchy, and completely addictive!

Ingredients you’ll need:

Cream cheese- softened
Sour cream
Franks Red Hot
Pickle brine
Rotisserie chicken- shredded
Dill pickles- chopped and divided
Butter
Panko bread crumbs
Garlic powder
Cayenne pepper

The best part might actually be the topping! Instead of frying the pickles themselves, we’re getting that crispy fried pickle feeling from garlic and cayenne toasted breadcrumbs.

The breadcrumbs get golden and crunchy, with garlic for extra savory flavor and cayenne for a little kick. Spoon that over the creamy buffalo chicken dip and you’ve got the perfect contrast between creamy and crunchy. Then add more chopped pickles on top. Because when it comes to pickles, more is usually better! 😉

Now don’t get me wrong, classic buffalo chicken dip will always have a place at the game day table. But sometimes you want to switch things up!

This Buffalo Chicken Fried Pickle Dip takes something familiar and gives it a fun twist without making it complicated. If your friends love buffalo chicken dip, they’ll love this. If they love fried pickles, they’ll love this. And if they love both?

You’re probably going to need to make a double batch.

How to make the best Buffalo Chicken Fried Pickle Dip:

In a medium mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sour cream. Mix until smooth, then add in the Franks Red Hot and pickle brine. Mix again to combine.
Fold in your shredded chicken and ⅔ cup chopped pickles. Then transfer the dip into your serving dish.
Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. Add in the panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder and cayenne, then toast until the breadcrumbs are deeply golden in color.
Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the dip, then top with the remaining chopped pickles. Enjoy immediately or chill in the fridge until serving.

This is the kind of game day appetizer that doesn’t require a ton of work but still feels special.

You don’t need to deep fry anything. You don’t need a bunch of complicated ingredients. The creamy buffalo chicken mixture comes together quickly, and the breadcrumbs take just a few minutes to toast.

It’s also one of those recipes you can make ahead when you’re having people over. Get the dip ready, toast your breadcrumbs, and then assemble everything up when you’re ready to eat.

Put it on the snack table with some chips, crackers, toasted bread, or crunchy vegetables and let everyone dig in. Just don’t expect it to last very long!

You know those appetizers where everyone says they’re just going to have a little bit, and then somehow the bowl is empty ten minutes later?

This is that dip.

I love putting it out when we’re having people over because it feels like a fun twist on something everyone already knows. Nobody needs an explanation about buffalo chicken dip or fried pickles. They hear the name, take one bite, and immediately understand the assignment.

And honestly, I think that’s what makes a great party appetizer. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be really, really good!

My top tips:

CREAM CHEESE: It’s important to use softened cream cheese in this recipe to ensure this dip has a smooth and creamy texture. If you don’t have time to soften cream cheese, you can substitute for whipped cream cheese which doesn’t require softening.
BUFFALO SAUCE: My favorite buffalo/hot sauce to use here is Franks Red Hot. Feel free to use whatever hot sauce you prefer. If you like your buffalo chicken dip extra spicy, add an additional ¼ cup of buffalo sauce.
MIXING: I like using an electric hand mixer to combine the cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce and pickle juice, but then I recommend switching to a spatula to fold in the chicken and pickles to avoid crushing them too much.
CHICKEN: I like taking the shortcut of shredding up a rotisserie chicken to make the buffalo chicken dip mixture, but you can also boil 2 chicken breasts for about 15 minutes and shred those up instead.
SERVING BOWL: I like serving this dip in something wide and shallow, like a pie plate, so that there’s more surface area for the toasted breadcrumbs and extra pickles in every bite!
TOASTING: When toasting your breadcrumbs, be sure to stir constantly so they don’t burn! You’ll want to toast them until they are extra crispy and reach a deep golden color (this takes about 5 minutes).
MAKING IN ADVANCE: If you plan on making this more than a few hours ahead of time, I recommend mixing all the dip ingredients together, but hold off on topping with the toasted breadcrumbs. Wait until you’re ready to serve to add the breadcrumbs to prevent them from becoming soggy.
STORING: Transfer leftover Buffalo Chicken Fried Pickle Dip into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Looking for more game day recipes? Check these out!

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