Game Day Buffalo Chicken Dip

With football season in full swing, I’m bringing back this game day favorite! This buffalo chicken dip is always a favorite and so easy to make. I love that I can just throw everything in the crockpot and it’s ready to go.

What You’ll Need

  • 8 ouces of Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Ranch dressing (I use Hidden Valley)
  • 1/2 cup Hot Sauce (I use Frank’s Red Hot)
  • 2 cups Shredded Chicken (Rotisserie Chicken is great for this)*
  • 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

*For frozen chicken, put chicken and 1 cup chicken broth and seasonings of choice (I normally use salt, pepper, and garlic powder) in an Instant Pot and cook for 10-12 minutes depending on how large your chicken is. I’ve also used boneless skinless breats and thighs depending on what I have.

In your crockpot, you’ll combine the cream cheese, Ranch dress, hot sauce, and shredded chicken. Top with 1/2 cup of your shredded cheese and cover with the lid. This will cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Once the cream cheese is melted through, mix until everything is well combined. Then top with the reserved 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.

Cook for 15 more minutes and give dip another stir.

Lower to your crockpot’s warm setting and enjoy! I serve mine with tortilla chips, but have also used celery sticks, carrots, and toasted slices of baguette too.

XOXO,
Leah

No Bake Energy Bites

With school in full swing, it’s even more important that I have quick and nutritious things on hand for Kaz!

We love granola in our house and don’t discriminate on the form; bars, bites, baked, no bakes, etc. They’re recipes I can feel good about giving Kaz, and he loves the taste. If you have littles, you know how big of a balancing act this can be.

Not being one for huge long intros to get into a recipe, here’s my favorite, tired and true, one for No Bake Energy Bites (also good if you’re a nursing mama)!

What You’ll Need

  • 2 Cups of Rolled Oats
  • 1 Cup of Peanut Butter 
  • 1/2 Cup of Honey
  • 1/2 Cup of Ground Flax Seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
  • Add Ins of Choice (I typically use about 1/2 cup of chocolate chips)
  • Parchment Paper
  • A Cookie Sheet

First you’ll combine your peanut butter, honey, salt, and vanilla extract until well combined. If you’re not a a fan of peanut butter, you can substitute your favorite nut butter. Agave can be used in place of the honey. I’ve found that maple syrup doesn’t hold the bites together quite as well since it’s not quite as thick.

Add your rolled oats, ground flax seeds, and any add ins you’ve chosen. Mix until everything is well combined.

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.

Roll balls of your oat mixture to your desired size. Mine are normally between one and two inches. If you’re wanting something more of a one bite size, stick to keeping your bites closer to one inch.

Sometimes when I don’t want to roll them all out, I’ll press the mixture on my prepared baking sheet and cut them into granola bars.

These can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for about two weeks. They normally don’t last past the first week here though because they’re that good!

Other variations I’ve done are adding raisins, chopped peanuts, and candy coated chocolates in place of the chocolate chips for a take on monster cookies.

XOXO,
Leah