Slow Cooker Tapatio Chicken Dip

Mar 22, 2023Updated Apr 30, 2025

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The delicious flavors of rotisserie chicken, ranch dressing, two types of cheese, and the infamous Tapatio hot sauce makes for an incredible Tapatio chicken dip that will leave you wanting more. If you’re a fan of buffalo chicken dip, I think you will enjoy this one even more.

Make your dip bar complete with my Slow Cooker Taco Dip, Slow Cooker 7-Layer Bean Dip, and easy Beefy Rotel Dip.

Long image of tapatio chicken dip on a chip.

What is Tapatio hot sauce?

Tapatio hot sauce is an American-made hot sauce that is very popular in Mexican and American communities. It’s made with very few ingredients, such as water, red peppers, garlic, salt, and spices. While the exact type of pepper isn’t known, most have come to the conclusion that it’s either pequin peppers or chile de arbol. Both of these are the peppers used in Cholula hot sauce.

What typically makes this hot sauce the go-to for recipes and garnishing is the fact that it provides a nice kick without the lingering scorch or vinegar flavor. You’ll notice that it has the expected saltiness and tanginess that you find in most hot sauces. But what sets it apart is the earthiness and smokiness of flavors with a hint of cumin.

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for tapatio chicken dip on a table.

Rotisserie Chicken: Using a precooked chicken cuts out an entire cooking step for this easy dip recipe. Not to mention, a rotisserie chicken will add a smoky flavor in addition to what’s added by the Tapatio sauce.
Tapatio Sauce: This is a form of hot sauce that’s not too spicy but does provide a bit of a kick. It’s much less evident when combined with ranch dressing and cream cheese.
Cheese: A combination of shredded Colby Jack cheese and cream cheese is used to create a creamy and cheesy dip texture. The cream cheese will need to be softened prior to putting it into the crock pot.
Ranch Dressing: The flavors of ranch dressing add a bit of a tang that meshes perfectly with the other ingredients in this recipe.

Step-by-Step Directions

4 images about how to make tapatio chicken dip in a crockpot.

Step One – Add the softened cream cheese, ranch dressing chicken, cheddar cheese and tapatio hot sauce to the slow cooker.

Step Two – Stir all of the ingredients together until well combined. For a cleaner look, wipe down the sides of the slow cooker prior to cooking.

Step Three – Cover and cook on the HIGH setting for 2 hours.

Step Four – Sprinkle the dip with sliced green onions. Serve and enjoy!

Chicken dip on a chip coming from crockpot.

How to serve

This dip can be served as is with a variety of dipping options such as corn tortilla chips, pita chips, Frito scoops, or any other hard-like chip if your choice.
Turn this into a hearty dip by adding toppings like diced jalapenos, diced fresh tomatoes, chopped onions, sour cream, and extra shredded cheese.
This dip can also be used as a topping for tacos, taco salads, enchiladas, burritos, and the like.

overhead shot of tapatio chicken dip in a bowl.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use ground beef instead?

Of course. You can use cooked ground beef, ground turkey, ground sausage, or even baked and shredded chicken breasts.

Is there a way to make this dip spicier?

Add more hot sauce measurement or add jalapenos. If you add jalapenos, including the seeds will make it even spicier.

What can I use instead of Tapatio sauce?

There are several delicious Mexican-style hot sauces you can use: Valentina Hot Sauce, Cholula, El Yucateco, and Huichtol are some of the most popular.

Can I serve this dip in the slow cooker?

Yes. However, I suggest keeping it on the WARM setting and turning it off completely after a couple of hours or if the dip starts to get low (whichever comes first).

How do I store leftover Tapatio chicken dip?

Store any leftover dip in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until warm throughout.