Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
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Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip is a delicious, lighter version of your favorite appetizer! Easy, gluten free, keto & loaded with flavor – you’ll love it! There is no cream cheese in this recipe (you don’t need it!)
This post was shared in 2018 but has since been updated.
I mean is there anything better than cheesy, spicy healthy buffalo chicken dip? Let me answer that for you… uh no, no there is not.
This dip is one of my favorite appetizers, with Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip, Parmesan Chicken Wings and Healthy Bean Dip coming in at a close second!
Buffalo chicken dip often gets a bad rep, but this healthy buffalo chicken dip is about to change that.
It still tastes absolutely amazing and is just a little bit lighter then regular buffalo chicken dip.
What makes this buffalo chicken dip healthy?
This buffalo chicken dip is so much healthier than regular buffalo chicken dip! Here’s why:
- Low Fat: Buffalo chicken dip is usually made with tons of cheese, ranch or blue cheese dressing and cream cheese which makes it super high in fat. I swapped out cream cheese/dressing for greek yogurt and cottage cheese. Yes.. you read that right, there is NO cream cheese in this recipe!
- Higher Protein: The greek yogurt/cottage cheese mix still makes this rich and creamy, with way less fat and a whole lot more protein!
- Simple Ingredients: Most dips use cream cheese or ranch dressing. This recipe uses simple healthy ingredients! If you want another easy dip, try our Healthy Onion Dip or Enchilada Dip!
I also added a little bit less cheese to it compared to normal buffalo chicken dip, but if you want to go ahead and add more in – I’m not going to stop you. More cheese is always better!
Now, let’s get into what you’re here for – how do you make healthy buffalo chicken dip?!
Ingredients for healthy buffalo chicken dip:
Making healthy buffalo chicken dip is ridiculously easy. You only need 6 ingredients.
- Cottage cheese (no you can’t even taste it, I swear) – look for a cottage cheese with no fillers/gums and one that is small curd. Good culture is our favorite brand.
- nonfat Greek yogurt
- cheddar cheese – we always grate our cheese fresh, it melts so much better!
- buffalo sauce – this one is our favorite
- cooked chicken
We love to get our chicken from ButcherBox. Learn more about why we love it in this Butcher Box Reviews Post.
Substitutions for this skinny buffalo chicken dip:
This buffalo chicken dip is pretty easy to make and customize.
Cooked Chicken: You can make our crockpot shredded chicken, instant pot shredded chicken or just buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it! I like to make this with chicken breasts, but chicken thighs or chicken tenders will also work.
Cottage cheese: I haven’t tested this recipe without cottage cheese, but if you’re asking because you don’t like it… just put it in there. I don’t like cottage cheese either (at all!) but I swear you can not taste it in this. Do not use fat free cottage cheese. Look for 4% milkfat or a brand with no stabilizers or gums. We like GoodCulture.
Buffalo Sauce: This is our favorite buffalo sauce. It’s made with great ingredients and it tastes amazing! I haven’t tried this dip with other sauces, but I bet it will be delicious!
Cheddar Cheese: We recommend using freshly grated cheddar cheese, not pre-shredded. Pre-shredded cheese does not melt as well and can result in a watery dip.
Blue Cheese: If you like blue cheese in your buffalo chicken dip, sub 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese with 1/2 cup of blue cheese.
Low fat cheese: Low fat cheeses do not melt as well as regular cheese. It will work in this recipe if you like it but it likely will make the dip watery.
Yogurt: Use nonfat Greek yogurt in this recipe. Do not use regular yogurt. Regular yogurt can make this dip watery.
Vegetarian: We made a vegetarian version of this recipe! Check out our Vegetarian Buffalo Dip.
How to make healthy buffalo chicken dip:
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
- Mix until thoroughly combined.
- You can totally top with extra cheese before popping it in the oven, but you don’t have to!
- Pour into an 8×8 glass baking dish (or a glass pie plate!) and bake!
How to serve healthy buffalo chicken dip:
There’s no wrong way to eat this healthy buffalo chicken dip.. but here are a few ideas
- Chips – these chips are yummy!
- Pretzels – (I love these flat ones for dipping!)
- Veggies – Celery, peppers, and carrots go well with this.
- A spoon… kidding? Not really. It’s that good.
- On a sandwich –Leftovers are delicious in a grilled cheese!
Help! My dip is watery
If your buffalo chicken dip is watery, no worries – we can fix it! Take a paper towel and gently blot it against the edges of the dip. You can tilt the dish using an oven mitt towards the paper towel so the excess water drains towards it.
You can bake the dip for an extra few minutes to help absorb the excess moisture.
The dip is likely watery because of your ingredients. If you used a cottage cheese with fillers or gums, this could cause the cottage cheese to separate, resulting in a watery dip. Preshredded cheese can also cause the same issue. Using low fat ingredients instead of nonfat (they’re different!) can also result in a watery dip.
Either way, just try to blot as much of the excess water out and return to the oven to bake for a few minutes to help.
Can you make this keto buffalo chicken dip in the crockpot?
I wouldn’t recommend making this buffalo chicken dip in the crockpot. The water doesn’t evaporate like it does in the oven and it might be watery. Try this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip instead!
How to make shredded chicken
You have a few options for how to make shredded chicken.
Instant Pot: You can make my Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
Crockpot: You can cook chicken in the crockpot (you’d have to do it the day before or in the morning)
Rotisserie Chicken: You can buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it up (Save the bones and make crockpot bone broth !)
Boiled chicken: You can boil chicken for about 15 minutes until it is entirely cooked and then shred.
Canned Chicken: You could use canned chicken… but I think it’s gross and bouncy. If you do use canned chicken make sure to drain it EXTREMELY well. If you don’t you’ll be left with a watery mess.
Storing Buffalo Chicken Dip
Prep ahead of time: You can mix together this dip the night before and put it in the refrigerator (unbaked). When you’re ready to eat let the dish come to room temperature and bake per instructions.
Storing this Dip: This dip will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezing Buffalo Chicken Dip: I haven’t tried freezing this dip but I wouldn’t recommend it. I don’t think it will freeze well. I think it would get watery/ and might not be as creamy.
Reheating Buffalo Chicken Dip: If you need to reheat this Buffalo Chicken Dip – you can put it in your microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese starts to melt.
You can also reheat it in a toaster oven, or use a crockpot set to warm to keep it warm throughout!
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup nonfat greek yogurt
- ½ cup small curd cottage cheese
- 2 cups cheddar cheese divided (can also sub half crumbled blue cheese)
Instructions
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400.
- In a bowl mix cooked chicken, buffalo sauce, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and 1 cup cheddar cheese until thoroughly combined.
- Pour dip into an 8×8 baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Bake at 400 for 25 mins.
- You can turn the oven to broil the last 2 minutes of cooking if you'd prefer a crispier topping.
- Feel free to drizzle the dip with extra buffalo sauce before serving if you'd like. Serve with chips or veggies or choice.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in instant pot base. Add 1/4 cup water.
- Set to pressure cook for 14 minutes. Make sure your pot is set to sealing, not venting. The pot will take 3-4 minutes to come to pressure. Allow it to cook and naturally release for 10 minutes. (You can also quick release if you're in a hurry!)
- Shred chicken with a hand mixer in the pot, or remove from the pot, shred with forks, and return back to the pot. Make sure to drain excess water from the pot/chicken to avoid a watery dip.
- Stir in buffalo sauce, cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese, tossing until warm.
- Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes until cheese has melted.
Crockpot Instructions
- In a bowl mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Pour dip batter into crockpot (top with extra cheese if desired!). Cover and cook for low 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours.
Video
Notes
- Chips – these chips are yummy!
- Pretzels ( i love these flat ones for dipping!)
- Veggies – Celery, peppers and carrots go well with this.
- Instant Pot: You can make my Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Crockpot: You can cook the chicken in the crockpot (you’d have to do it the day before or in the morning)
- Rotisserie Chicken: You can buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it up (Save the bones and make easy crockpot bone broth !)
- Boiled chicken: You can boil chicken for about 15 minutes until it is entirely cooked and then shred.
OMG.. this tastes every bit like the full fat version. So delicious. I will definitely make this over and over again.
So happy you like it, Jackie! Thank you!
I’ve been eying this recipe for so long, and finally made it. I loved it! And I was so surprised at how much it tasted like the standard version. Except this one didn’t make my stomach hurt :). I will be using this recipe going forward! Yum.
Thanks, Kristin! Glad you enjoyed it!!
You’re right! This and your spinach artichoke dip are top shelf. I accidentally discovered a cottage cheese hack that makes it creamier and easier to blend with yogurt. Long story short, I froze and thawed small curd 4% cottage cheese twice. When I opened the container, the curds were nearly gone, having broken down from the freeze thaw cycle. I stirred it up and it was the same texture as softened cream cheese. Now, I do it on purpose for the very reason you use it in these dips…. much less fat, much more protein. Breakstone and Daisy brands work best for me and now I do two freeze-thaw-stir cycles.
So so happy you enjoyed it, Frank! Never heard of that method for the cottage cheese but glad it works for you!
This is a go-to recipe! So delicious !! Made this for a snack for Christmas Eve!
Love hearing that!!
This recipe was amazing! So yummy and made the perfect amount. Also, it tasted so good I will never make Buffalo chicken dip another way! Love this recipe.
So happy you liked it, Noel!!
Loved this recipe, hubs and I could barely taste the difference between this and the regular recipe, would make again 1000 times over. I want to say we didnt eat the whole thing….😬 10/10!
So so happy you liked it!!
I am making this now and I don’t like Greek yogurt or any yogurt at all – the smell is turning me off – can you taste it or tell it’s in there after it’s cooked?
No you can’t. It just tastes creamy. Hope you enjoy it!
This look ssssoooo good!! I’ve been craving this dip for a while now but I don’t need all the extra calories! Now I don’t have any reason not to make it!! Can’t wait to try it!!!
Hope you love it, Sarah!
Yum yum yum! Not a blue cheese fan so subbed in crumbled goat cheese and it was to die for!
So glad you liked it!! Need to try it with goat cheese!
The best dip! So yummy! So easy to make! Crowd favorite!
So glad you like it!!
This is a great recipe that I cant wait to make again!
My husband is super picky and I usually have to make hima seperate meal because I have celiac and he doesn’t.
He absolutely loved this recipe and so did I!
It was so rich and delicious and easy to make!
I just used new primal buffalo sauce instead of Frank’s and so delicious cheddar cheese.
Honestly I havent found any other blog that has healthy recipes that do not lack any flavor but this one!
This recipe and every one of ive tried from the clean eating couple is always so good!
Glad you both liked it! So glad to hear dairy free cheese worked!
This was delicious! My husband is a picky eater and LOVED IT! Thank you so much for the recipe! .
So glad you liked it, Amy! Thank you!!
This dip is delicious! I sub shredded cheddar for the blue cheese though since I’m not a fan of blue cheese.
So glad you liked it, Stephanie!!
I have made a buffalo chicken dip that’s loaded with cream cheese and bottled salad dressing and bagged cheese for so long that everyone loves it, but I never felt that good afterward…. so I gave this version a try and OMG. It was SO good… actually probably better. I actually HATE cottage cheese but you seriously wouldn’t even know it. AND my mom hates blue cheese and she had no idea it was even in here. Plus it was so easy and fast to make, I doubled it and my whole family devoured it. I actually put a glob of it on my cedar salad instead of dressing and I feel like I can never eat a salad another way. You have to try this!
So glad you liked it, Bridget! I’m not a cottage cheese fan at all and you really can’t taste it!!
Definitely want to try this! How much is a serving? (How many grams)
We don’t have the serving size in grams. The serving size is 1/3 cup. Hope this helps!
This recipe is amazing! I love buffalo chicken dip and being able to make a healthier version is so nice. It actually tastes way better than the buffalo chicken dip I used to make. Don’t be turned off by the cottage cheese in the recipe, you absolutely do not taste it in the recipe, it is just thick and creamy! I served this up with chips and veggies and made it my dinner. This recipe is so easy to make, so give it a shot, you have nothing to lose and so much flavor to gain.
Thanks, Elissa! Totally agreed on the cottage cheese.. it’s definitely not my favorite thing to eat but it really helps make this dip so creamy and delicious!
Easy, filling, and healthy. Love the high protein and that it pairs well with both veggies and chips!
Thanks, Kelsey! It’s so yummy with both veggies and chips!
So good! I am follow WW ( Weight Watchers) and am Gluten- Free. I love that your recipes have a genera Wl point value included.
So glad you liked it, Victoria!
So delicious! Made it for the super bowl and it was a hit!!!
Thanks, Robin!!
Made this for Super Bowl Sunday. My husband and two-year-old pretty much devoured it. Yes she like spicy, but I didn’t find it extremely hot. At first I thought it was such a weird combo but decided to try it anyways and I’m glad I did.
They literally wasn’t any left for me except a little sliver LOL
That is awesome!! Love that your two year old enjoyed it too 🙂
Now this is a recipe I can get on board with! I’ve never made a buffalo chicken dip, or any buffalo dip, before. This looks perfect! I totally love blue cheese but was thinking manchego or sharp white cheddar would make a great substitute. Thanks!
You could substitute any cheese you like for blue cheese 🙂
Made this dip for my family and they absolutely loved it! So easy to put together and I feel so much better about these ingredients compared to the traditional version!
Thank you so much, Katie! I’m glad you and your family enjoyed !
I wish I could rate this higher! Tastes just as good as the original recipe with none of the guilt! A regular staple in my household. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Lisa! So glad you like the dip 🙂
What are the points on the new WW purple plan?
Not sure! You can put it in the recipe builder to find out 🙂
This was perfect! I had some shredded chicken already made with Franks. I halved the recipe and used fat free cheeses (cheddar and mozzarella) because it’s what I had on hand. Came out to just 2 pts for the entire dish.
Thanks! Will definitely be making again.
Thanks, Miranda! So glad you liked it!