Top Ate Buffalo Chicken Recipes

January 24, 2014

There are two reasons why I partake in Super Bowl Sunday festivities.  First, I love the commercials and the half-time show.  I am thoroughly entertained by the Bud-Wei-Ser frogs, the E-TRADE baby and the wardrobe malfunctions.  I also love the snacks. I am not a huge football fan. During the actual game play, I am either eating or drinking. Buffalo Chicken ANYTHING tops my list of game day favorites. My Top Ate Buffalo Chicken Recipes share four common ingredients:

• Chicken: I highly suggest using cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but canned chicken can be substituted to save time.  
• Refrigerated Blue Cheese Dressing: Typically found in the produce department of the grocery store, this ingredient is what makes each of these dishes so fantastic.  Marie's and Marzetti are both great brands.  
• Hot Sauce: Several of the recipes listed have a specified measurement for hot sauce.  Other can be adjusted to taste. If you like it hot hot hot, add more!  If you prefer a more mild flavor, just a quick sprinkle will do!  I highly suggest Frank's Hot Sauce.
• Cheese: While you can certainly use a bag of pre-shredded cheese from the dairy case, the sharpness of the cheese will stand out more if you shred it yourself.  I suggest a sharp white cheddar, but other cheese can be used throughout each recipe if your preference is different.

With common ingredients, it’s just as easy to shop for eight recipies as it is for one on game day!
1. Savory Buffalo Chicken Muffins: I typically associate muffins with breakfast or sweets.  That's not the case with these guys!  Made with biscuits or pizza dough and stuffed with blue cheese, hot sauce and chicken, these muffins are definitely a game day favorite.

2. Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese: Use your panini press to prepare this ultimate sandwich!

3. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs: These bite-sized delights are a game day spin on my traditional Italian Spaghetti and Meatballs.  I've added a little shredded carrot for some crunch and freshness.

4. Buffalo Chicken Dip: The first time I had this dip, I thought I died and floated off to heaven.  Jen, my friend from pre-school, brought this to a party at our house.  Since she first introduced it to me, I've had three separate friends bring a variation of it to a party I attended.  It's super popular and perfectly cheesy!  I've even made it for my vegetarian friends with a chicken substitute product from Morning Star.

5. Buffalo Chicken Quinoa: In case you hadn't noticed, I'm on a quinoa kick.  I tried this recipe for dinner one night with leftover ingredients from the Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.  Unexpectedly, it turned out to be my favorite Buffalo Chicken recipe. The nuttiness of the quinoa pairs perfectly with the creamy blue cheese dressing.  I had to include it in my Top Ate!

6. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Lasagna: There are no words.  Just try it.

7. Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Pot Pies: These pot pies are made in muffin tins so they are really very close to bite-sized.  This is the perfect excuse to eat a half dozen, right?

8. Buffalo Chicken Pull Apart Bread: Each bite-sized piece of bread is stuffed with a cheesy buffalo chicken surprise!






If you are not into Buffalo Chicken, here are some other game day snacks that I think are just great:
Baked Pita Chips
Chicken Quesadillas
Chunky Guacamole
Crunchy Spinach Dip 
Easy Turkey Nachos
Panko Oven "Fried" Chicken
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Toasted Pesto and Artichoke Chicken Sub
Tabouli with Goat Cheese
Cheese Stuffed Garlic Bread
Easy Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms