Description
Spicy buffalo ranch chicken pull apart bread brings game day excitement straight to your table. Cheesy, zesty layers of shredded chicken and bold flavors make this crowd-pleasing appetizer irresistible for you to devour with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded chicken
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Bread and Seasonings:
- 1 loaf ciabatta bread
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 1–2 cloves garlic (minced or grated)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons jalapeño brine
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°F. Carefully slice bread into a grid pattern, ensuring not to cut completely through the loaf, creating 1-inch cubes while maintaining bread’s structural integrity.
- Craft a fragrant herb-infused olive oil mixture with garlic, parsley, and chives. Gently massage this aromatic blend into bread’s interior surfaces.
- Whisk cream cheese, ranch dressing, and buffalo sauce until smooth. Fold in shredded chicken, half the cheddar cheese, blue cheese, and cracked black pepper. Meticulously stuff this spicy mixture between bread’s crevices, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously drizzle additional buffalo sauce over the bread, then sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese into the gaps. This creates layers of intense flavor and melty texture.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling blanket and filling reaches optimal warmth throughout.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and optional extra buffalo sauce or ranch dressing. Serve immediately while bread remains warm and crispy.
- For make-ahead preparation, assemble through step 4, refrigerate up to 24 hours. Before baking, allow bread to reach room temperature and proceed with final cooking steps.
- Vegetarian option available by completely removing chicken from the recipe.
Notes
- Slice carefully without cutting through the entire loaf, creating a grid-like pattern for maximum filling distribution.
- Generously brush olive oil herb mixture inside bread to enhance overall taste and create a rich, aromatic base.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for smoother blending and even incorporation of ingredients.
- Easily swap chicken with roasted vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or cauliflower for a plant-based version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 304 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 603 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 57 mg