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.
Truly could not be easier, and so delicious. I keep waiting to be tired of it but instead I just keep coming up with new ways to eat it and using it as meal prep for easy lunches and dinners!
Wish I could rate this 10 stars!!!! My husband was skeptical on “healthy” buffalo chicken dip but he loved it!!!! We wish we could eat this every day! So so so yummy and easy to make!!!!!
It was delicious and easy to make! We substituted the cottage cheese for cream cheese this time but next time I will try the cottage cheese.
My son and I love this dip!
This is now our family’s go to recipe for buffalo chicken dip! Even the non cottage cheese lovers were pleasantly surprised at how good it was!
Love Love Love!! I’ve used this recipe quite a few times and always get compliments! Will most definitely be using the recipe again this weekend for the superbowl. I add in blue cheese and everyone enjoys it.
My favorite healthy Buffalo chicken dip! Perfect for an app when you’re working on health goals but want some dip! A crowd pleaser too! Love that it helps me reach my protein goals. Make this!!!
This is sooo good! I honestly prefer it to another recipe I’ve used with cream cheese and ranch.
I can’t believe how good this is! I was skeptical about using cottage cheese, but it’s amazing!
Super easy to make and delicious
So good! Like every one of your recipes! I have never found a blog that I like everything! But I do with yours! Thank you for sharing your recipes with us!
Thank you! I’m so glad you like the dip!!
This recipe got me hooked on The Clean Eating Couple! I’ve not been disappointed in a single recipe I’ve tried on this site. This is one of the many that I go back to regularly. I will eat it for three meals a day if I’m not careful. So good. You don’t feel like you are eating a healthier version. It’s just so good!
This recipe is THE BEST! We even make this for dinner sometimes bc it’s loaded with protein. My kids that don’t like cottage cheese never even know it’s in this recipe. We serve with carrots (my fave), celery, sweet mini peppers, and tortilla chips to make it a well balanced meal/snack! Trust me, you want to make this!
I’ve made this several times and it is SO good. Can’t even taste the cottage cheese!
I followed the recipe exactly and found it to be really tasty. That said, it did not set up thickly and solidly as you would expect from a more traditional recipe. It stayed more liquid. Once it got cold, though, it reheated to a more solid state. I also highly recommend using this as a quesadilla filling on one of those low carb tortillas.
Glad you liked it! Next time you can try dabbing it with some paper towels if you find there is too much liquid. Sometimes depending on the brand of cheese, % milk fat you use, and if you use pre-shredded or freshly grated cheese it can impact if it’s watery or not!
This was the first recipe I made from the clean eating couple and it does not disappoint! This is a go-to appetizer in my house now. High protein & guilt free- the best!
This makes me so happy to hear! Thanks, Sydney!
This tasted amazing before it went in the oven, but after it was really oily and watery. Tasted pretty good but really dissapointed 🙁 Could have just been my oven but I did follow all the steps
Did you make any substitutions to the ingredients? Did you use fat free cheese or low fat cottage cheese? Or fat free yogurt? Or plain yogurt instead of greek? There is a difference between fat free cheese and regular cheese, as well as with nonfat cottage cheese and low fat cottage cheese. Same with greek yogurt and regular yogurt. They all interact differently in the recipe. I’m wondering if that’s what happened?
Holy moly, I just made this for New Year’s Eve. I also brought my “famous” wing dip which has cream cheese and blue cheese dressing along with this one and everyone RAVED about the healthier version, not knowing it was “healthier”!! 10/10!!!
Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear 🙂
How much is the serving size?
1/3 cup. The full nutrition facts are in the recipe
I made this recipe and it’s delicious, however mine turned out a little watery. Any tips for this? This is going to be a new staple!
Did you use low fat cheese or yogurt? That can sometimes make it watery. I also find some cottage cheeses are more watery than others. Good culture is my favorite!
I made this twice before and it turned out great, made it today and it was watery. I’m not 100% sure but I think it might have to do with where my oven rack was positioned. It seems like this recipe boils off a lot of water as it cooks so if the rack is a little too high it won’t evaporate enough water.
It could also be the cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese that you used. Different fat content of cheese/yogurt and different brands release more water. Did you use a fat free cheese?
I made this for the first time yesterday for football Sunday. It was so good! Our family loved it with carrots and celery. Will definitely be making again!
Thanks, Casie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious! Thank you for a healthy version!
so glad you liked it!!
Sooo good and so easy! Definitely a keeper!
Delicious! I make this all the time. Easy to follow recipe. Thank you,
So glad you like it, Vanessa!
This was absolutely delicious. I am not a big fan of cottage cheese but you have no idea it is in it. A must have for a party and I will be making it again!
Yay! So happy to hear it!