The 2-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Appetizer I Made 4 Times Last Year (My Family’s Demanding I Bring It to Thanksgiving)

A party is only as good as its food, and luckily for you I’m a great host who throws shindigs with exclusively delicious dishes. I have people over at least a few times a week. For the nights when I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, I turn to simple appetizers that deliver on flavor and require minimal (if any) work. 

Last year, the most popular (and re-requested) appetizer was Buffalo chicken cups I made with just two ingredients from Trader Joe’s: a pack of All-Butter Puff Pastry and Buffalo-Style Chicken Dip.

I made these last year for Thanksgiving (which was a much-welcomed break from the turkey) for my family to snack on while we watched football. My brother loved them so much that after his first bite he said, “We’re going to need another platter of these.” The rave reviews from my entire family pushed me to make them for four more parties throughout the rest of the holiday season, and at each and every get-together they were eaten within minutes. 

The Trader Joe’s All-Butter Puff Pastry is made with butter (not vegetable oils, like some other brands) and yields an incredibly flaky and rich pastry that pairs exceptionally well with the slight kick of heat in the Trader Joe’s Buffalo-Style Chicken Dip (made with chicken, cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and chilies). Each item is fantastic on its own, and together they’re magic. 

Aside from a muffin tin, everything you need to make this recipe can be found at Trader Joe’s. The two “ingredients” are $4.99 each, and it yields 20 Buffalo chicken cups that are delicious, hearty, and relatively inexpensive (under $10!) for an appetizer with a homemade feel. 

Not only are these Buffalo chicken cups tasty, but they are also way more assembly than actual cooking. Here’s how I make them.

1. Prepare the puff pastry. If puff pastry is frozen, let defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Cut the pastry dough into 10 squares; five rows of two. Spray a 12-count muffin tin with cooking spray and press each square into the bottom of each muffin tin (you will have to make two batches). 
2. Spoon the Buffalo dip. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spoon roughly two tablespoons of the Buffalo dip into the center of each square. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden-brown and the edges are puffed. 

If you have cut scallions or sour cream on hand they are excellent on top of the squares, but they’re also perfect as is.  

Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s All-Butter Puff Pastry, $4.99 for 18.3 ounces; Trader Joe’s Buffalo-Style Chicken Dip, $4.99 for 12 ounces

Got a two-ingredient appetizer you make for the holidays? Tell us about it in the comments below.