This dip is warm, tangy, has a great combination of flavor, heat, and saltiness. I suggest serving it with a mild, but crisp veggie like sliced zucchini. You’ll not only be satisfying the required quotient for sports-meat, but you’ll be sneaking in LOTS of reparative Collagen, Proteins, & Amino Acids that will help counterbalance all the booze.
1/2-1package(4-8 ounces) Cream Cheese, softened *(dairy-free alternative: kite hill almond cream for those on paleo/whole30)
1/2-1cupred hot sauce (amount dependent on heat/taste preferences)
1packetRanch Seasoning
1/4-1/2cupCrumbled Bleu Cheese or your favorite shredded cheese
OPTIONAL: ½ cup sour cream/Greek yogurt, optional for added creaminess
Chopped Green Onions or Chives for Garnish
Cut Veggies for Serving: Zucchini, Celery, Peppers, Cucumbers, or gluten-free or cauliflower-based crackers.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a medium bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients until blended, then spoon into shallow 1-quart baking dish.
Bake about 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir. Serve warm with veggies or gluten-free/cauliflower crackers.
Alternative: I layered sliced zucchini on parchment paper, used a small melon baller to scoop out a dollop of (leftover) chicken dip onto each round, (you can use a small spoon or put the dip in a gallon plastic bag and cut a corner and squeeze the mixture out) and topped it with a thimble of hard goat cheese (you can use blue cheese, mozzarella, manchego, really any cheese you want, I’d just use a little to give it that crispy bite at the top). I popped them in the oven on BROIL for about 5 minutes. Just watch for the cheese to get a little crispy. You can top with green onions or chives and red pepper flakes for a little extra color/flavor.
Notes
For a more intense ‘ranch flavor’ you can add an additional ranch packet, or some additional dill, garlic powder, and/or onion powder.
You can bake your own chicken, but I’d suggest making things easy on yourself and pick up $5-7 Rotisserie Chicken, removing the meat and shredding/chopping it up.