What is buffalo sauce vs. hot sauce?

Many people think these are the same thing, but buffalo sauce is actually a specific type of sauce that's made from hot sauce. A basic hot sauce usually contains vinegar, hot peppers, and salt. Buffalo sauce is a mixture of hot sauce + butter + spices like garlic, Worcestershire, and other ingredients. That's why hot sauce is usually red and buffalo sauce is orange.

How did buffalo sauce get its name?

Buffalo sauce gets its name from Buffalo, New York, where buffalo wings were supposedly invented. Although, the exact origin of buffalo wings , like so many dishes, is under debate.

What's the difference between white vs. yellow cheddar?

The only difference between white and yellow cheddar is that yellow cheddar has a small amount of annatto added to it for coloring. They taste almost identical and can be used interchangeably.

What does braising mean?

Traditionally, braising is a method of cooking that involves dry heat (searing) followed by wet heat (slowly cooking in a liquid.) First, brown the meat to develop flavor. Then, add a liquid and cover the cooking vessel, letting the meat cook low and slow until tender. This method of cooking the thighs– first browning then slowly braising in homemade buffalo sauce- gives the chicken the MOST flavor and ensures it’s perfectly shreddable and moist ◡̈

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Blue Cheese)

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

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This creamy buffalo chicken dip has loads of gooey mozzarella, cheddar, and Colby jack cheese to cool down the spiciness, but NO BLUE CHEESE or ranch dressing! The chicken is cooked right in the hot sauce for maximum flavor.

Author: Kelly @ Butter and Thyme
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
Category: appetizers, sauces and dips
Method: braising
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

8 oz. boneless chicken thighs
12 oz. boneless chicken breast
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2/3 cup hot sauce, i.e. Frank’s original
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
6 tablespoon butter, cubed
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup mozzarella, shredded
3/4 cup Colby jack, shredded
1 cup cheddar, shredded, divided
Salt and pepper to taste
Chives or green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish
Celery, carrots, and tortilla chips for serving

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Instructions

Place a large skillet over medium heat and add vegetable oil. Brown the chicken in batches, about 5 minutes on each side, and remove it from the pan.
In the same (now empty) pan, add hot sauce and vinegar and set over medium-low heat, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add sugar, garlic, paprika, and Worcestershire.
Add the chicken back to the sauce and bring to a simmer. Lower heat to medium-low, and cover with a lid. When the chicken breast is fully cooked (165 °F) remove it from the pan and dice it into bite-sized pieces. Continue to braise the chicken thighs for 30-45 min. until very tender and shreddable. Shred them with a fork in the pan, and remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter and whisk until fully incorporated.
Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Combine the buffalo chicken mixture with the cream cheese, mozzarella, Colby Jack, half of the cheddar, and the diced chicken breast. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, then top with the remaining cheddar. Bake for 25 min. until the cheese is melted and bubbling around the edges (do not overcook). Garnish with chives or green onion. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Notes

If using cooked chicken, use about 1 lb. total cooked chicken breast and/or thighs (raw chicken weighs more than cooked chicken).

Find it online: https://butterandthyme.com/buffalo-chicken-dip/