Game Day Eats: Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Dip

Earlier this week, I had mentioned making a stop at the home of The New England Patriots – Gillette Stadium – and nearby Patriot Place for an afternoon of shopping as we head into the regular NFL season. In that post, I also talked about my friendly “Football Rivalries” with friends around the country, some of whom I’ve known for nearly half of my life, and how the Fall always brings us together in the silliest of ways. It’s just one of many things I love so much about this time of year!

With the Patriots set to square off against the Seahawks again next week, I started looking into different recipes to try out on Game Days for the next few weeks and stumbled on one I knew my boyfriend would absolutely love since he is a connoisseur of all things chicken bacon ranch and perked up when I mentioned trying this one out.

This recipe is quick, easy, and can be served with tortilla chips (my personal preference!) crackers or raw vegetables.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

4 SERVINGS:

1½ (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1½ cups sour cream
⅓ cup mayonnaise
⅓ cup buttermilk
1 packet (1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix (or custom blend of chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, and onion powder)
1¾ cups shredded rotisserie-style chicken breast
1 cup cooked and chopped uncured bacon pieces
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and buttermilk together until smooth and creamy. Stir in the ranch seasoning mix until fully combined and evenly distributed.

2. Gently mix in the shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese.

3. While you can eat this dip cold, it tastes even better warmed up. To heat, place the mixture in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring in 30-second intervals until warm and melted through evenly. Serve and enjoy!

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There’s plenty of other appetizer/snack recipes I’m excited to share in the coming weeks, as well as plenty of apple and pumpkin-infused dishes and desserts I feel like I’ve been stockpiling since the Summer, so stay tuned for sure!

And I’ll be back next week with a recap of some early Autumnal adventures I’m setting off on, as well as a look into my closet as I finally start to transition into Fall-friendly ensembles.

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend, everyone! Stay safe out there!