If you love comfort food that’s easy to make and perfect for sharing, then you’re going to be all over this Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe. I absolutely love how this dip turns out with that smoky barbecue kick combined with gooey cheese and tender chicken—you’ll find it’s a total crowd pleaser for game days, parties, or casual get-togethers. Best part? It’s all done in the slow cooker, so you can set it and forget it while you get on with the other fun stuff.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Effortless Preparation: Just toss ingredients in the slow cooker and come back to rich, melty goodness.
- Flavor Packed: The combination of barbecue sauce, cheese, and bacon creates a smoky, creamy dip that hits all the right notes.
- Perfect for Sharing: Ideal for parties, potlucks, or casual nights in with friends and family.
- Customizable: Easy to tweak with spices, cheese types, or add-ins to suit your taste buds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients come together like a dream. I always pick up a rotisserie chicken for convenience, and Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce is my go-to for that classic tangy flavor that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
- Barbecue sauce: Sweet Baby Ray’s is my favorite because it’s perfectly balanced—sweet, smoky, and tangy.
- Rotisserie chicken: Saves you tons of prep time and adds juicy, shredded chicken effortlessly.
- Sour cream: Brings creamy richness and balances the tangy barbecue.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: I love using sharp cheddar for that bold flavor which melts beautifully.
- Bacon: Cook it until just crispy to add a salty crunch that’s pure comfort in every bite.
- Onion powder: Adds subtle savory depth without overpowering the dip.
- Black pepper: Freshly ground for a hint of spice and earthiness.
Variations
I often switch up this dip depending on the season or my mood—personalizing it keeps things exciting and lets you cater it exactly to your cravings. Feel free to experiment and make it your own!
- Spicy Kick: I discovered adding diced jalapeños and swapping some cheddar for pepper jack cheese gives it a fantastic spicy twist that my family goes crazy for.
- Ranch Flavored: Tossing in a packet of ranch seasoning mix creates a creamy, herby vibe—great for when you want a flavor variation without extra fuss.
- Bacon Bits Shortcut: When I’m pressed for time, I use prepackaged bacon bits, which still deliver that smoky crunch but save cooking effort.
How to Make Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe
Step 1: Combine the Ingredients
Start by placing your shredded rotisserie chicken, barbecue sauce, sour cream, onion powder, black pepper, and most of the shredded cheddar cheese into the slow cooker. Give it a gentle stir to combine everything evenly. Be careful not to over-stir—you want the cheese to melt gradually and create that perfect creamy texture without clumping.
Step 2: Add the Final Cheese Layer
Sprinkle the remaining sharp cheddar cheese over the top. This creates a delightful cheesy crust once melted, locking in all those flavors beneath.
Step 3: Cook and Wait Patiently
Cover the slow cooker and set it on HIGH for about 2 hours. Resist the temptation to peek under the lid during this time—this keeps the heat steady and guarantees the smoothest cheese melt with perfectly blended flavors. This is probably the hardest part for me because it smells so good already!
Step 4: Garnish and Serve
Once cooked, sprinkle the top with the remaining cooked bacon slices and chopped green onions if you like. This adds a pop of color and an extra layer of smoky goodness. Serve it warm with garlic bread or your favorite crackers—both work beautifully for scooping up every last bit.
Pro Tips for Making Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe
- Use Good Quality Chicken: I always use rotisserie chicken because it’s juicy and flavorful, but leftover roasted chicken works great too.
- Resist Lid Lifting: Opening your slow cooker during cooking drops the temperature and can cause uneven cooking—trust me, wait the full 2 hours!
- Stir Gently: Combine ingredients carefully to keep the cheese from clumping before it melts smoothly.
- Crispy Bacon Finish: Cook your bacon separately until just crisp and add it at the end for texture and smoky flavor.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping mine with thinly sliced green onions for freshness and a sprinkle of extra crispy bacon because I’m all about texture contrasts. It just makes every bite feel a little more special.
Side Dishes
Serve your barbecue chicken dip with an assortment of dippers like garlic bread, buttery crackers, tortilla chips, or even crunchy celery sticks. One of my favorite combos is pairing it with pretzel crisps—they have just the right salty crunch to complement the creamy dip.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I like to spoon the dip onto mini slider buns topped with fresh greens for an irresistible appetizer. Another fun twist is to stuff it inside jalapeño halves—bake until bubbly for hands-down the best jalapeño poppers I’ve had!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying your dip, any leftovers go straight into an airtight container in the fridge. I’ve kept mine for up to 4 days with no problem—the flavors just settle and get even better.
Freezing
Sometimes I freeze this dip in portions using freezer-safe containers. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, just thaw in the fridge overnight. Freezing doesn’t impact the flavor, but texture can be a bit softer, so stirring well after reheating helps.
Reheating
I reheat leftovers gently in the microwave or oven until just warmed through and gooey again. Stirring halfway through microwaving helps keep the cheese smooth rather than rubbery.
FAQs
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Can I make this Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe without a slow cooker?
Absolutely! If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can make this on the stovetop over low heat in a covered pot, stirring occasionally until cheese melts and everything is heated through. You might need to adjust cooking times.
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What’s the best way to shred rotisserie chicken for this dip?
I like to use my hands to pull apart the meat—it’s quick and gives you nicely sized pieces. If you prefer, use two forks to shred, but keep chunks bite-sized for easy scooping.
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Can I use different types of cheese in this recipe?
Definitely! While sharp cheddar is classic, mixing in pepper jack adds heat, or Monterey Jack provides a milder creaminess. Mixing cheeses lets you customize flavor and texture easily.
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Is this Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe gluten-free?
The dip itself is naturally gluten-free, but be sure to check your barbecue sauce and crackers or bread for gluten if needed. Many brands offer gluten-free options to keep everyone happy.
Final Thoughts
This Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen because it’s the go-to when I want effortless flavor with minimal fuss. The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, and the result is always warm, cheesy, and irresistible. I hope you give it a try—it’s one of those dishes where you’ll find yourself reaching for “just one more scoop” before you know it!
Print
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Dip is a creamy, cheesy, and smoky appetizer perfect for parties and casual gatherings. Combining shredded rotisserie chicken, tangy barbecue sauce, and sharp cheddar cheese, this warm dip is easy to prepare in a slow cooker, making it a hassle-free crowd-pleaser. Garnished with crispy bacon and green onions, and served with garlic bread or crackers, this dip offers a comforting and flavorful way to enjoy barbecue in a shareable form.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue sauce
- 2 ½ cups diced rotisserie chicken
- 16 oz. sour cream
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and sliced
- ¼ tsp. onion powder
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
For Serving
- Sliced green onion
- Garlic bread or crackers
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add the barbecue sauce, diced rotisserie chicken, sour cream, most of the shredded cheddar cheese (reserve 1 cup), cooked and sliced bacon, onion powder, and black pepper to the slow cooker. Stir everything gently to mix the ingredients evenly.
- Top with Remaining Cheese: Evenly sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the dip mixture in the slow cooker to create a cheesy topping.
- Cook the Dip: Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 hours. Avoid opening the lid during cooking to ensure the dip heats thoroughly and cheese melts perfectly.
- Add Final Garnishes: Once cooked, sprinkle additional cooked bacon slices and sliced green onions over the top of the dip for extra flavor and texture.
- Serve: Serve the warm barbecue chicken dip immediately with garlic bread or crackers for dipping.
- Enjoy: Dig in and enjoy the creamy, smoky flavors of this gooey slow cooker appetizer perfect for any occasion.
Notes
- Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave until warm and gooey again before serving.
- Prep the dip ahead of time and refrigerate; heat it before guests arrive to save party-day stress.
- Serve with a variety of dippables like tortilla chips, Fritos, crackers, celery sticks, or pretzel crisps for versatile snacking.
- Transform the dip into other dishes, such as stuffing jalapeño poppers or as a topping for mini sliders.
- Variations include adding pepper jack cheese or diced jalapeños for spiciness, using bacon bits for ease, or incorporating ranch seasoning mix for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe (approximately 1/2 cup)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
