Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip

This Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe lightens up your favorite appetizer without sacrificing flavor!

Whenever you go to a party, do you notice which appetizers are the most popular?  I wasn’t sure if that was just a food blogger thing or if everyone notices.

Well, anytime Buffalo Chicken Dip is in the lineup, it’s the first one to go.  Everyone goes crazy for this stuff.

Because it’s so addicting, I decided to create a Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip.  This has everything you love about the traditional Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe, but it’s lightened up. Might as well save a few calories at our next party, right? Football season, or no football season, creamy dips and chips are a family favorite in this household and I’m sure your crew will love this, too.

Arrange a bowl of whole-grain tortilla chips, pita chips, or celery alongside the dip for easy scooping and dipping. Spoon some dip on large and crisp lettuce leaves if you want to keep it healthy. Serve it stuffed inside jalapenos, and you won’t believe the speed at which they get gobbled! Lots of options here!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• As quick and easy as it gets: A few minutes to mix ingredients and then 20 minutes in the oven is all you need to get an irresistible dip – perfect for a quick appetizer. You found your easy buffalo chicken dip recipe!
• Healthy and Low Fat: We’ve replaced cream cheese with Neufchatel cheese, which is lighter and equally (if not more) delicious. There’s a time and place for dietary fat, but cutting back in your appetizers is a smart idea. This recipe is gluten-free and keto-friendly. Woot!
• Super Simple Ingredients: Unlike so many dip recipes, this one doesn’t include ranch dressing. You’ll just need basic kitchen staples that you probably already have in your pantry. If not, they are easily available in grocery stores.
• Great Way to Use Up the Leftover Chicken: The leftover rotisserie chicken has a better fate with this yummy dip.

Ingredients for the Best Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip

I made a few easy swaps and even though the calorie and fat count are lower than regular Buffalo Chicken Dip, the flavor is not.

• Shredded Chicken: You can cook your own in an instant pot (How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot) , slow cooker (Crockpot Shredded Chicken) or a great option is to use leftover rotisserie chicken. I love using leftovers because there is no waste, and it is easy!
• Plain Greek Yogurt: That’s our creamy rockstar for the recipe. Using nonfat Greek yogurt makes this Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip have less fat and calories and more protein than the regular version, but you still get the creamy texture! The high protein content of Greek yogurt helps make our dip healthy. It’s also a great source of B12 and calcium. Your next best option is sour cream or regular yogurt. Cottage cheese would be a good addition, too!
• Neufchatel Cheese: Instead of regular full-fat cream cheese, I used Neufchatel cheese.  It acts just like cream cheese, but generally has 1/3 the calories and fat. You can find it right next to the cream cheese at most grocery stores.It’s a great addition to any recipe that screams for a cheesy touch. Neufchatel cheese also brings a tangy twist to our dip. Yum!
• Blue Cheese Crumbles: That’s a game-changer right here. The salty, bright flavor of blue cheese will make your dip so much tastier. Because I think every Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe should have bleu cheese flavor shining through, I didn’t skimp on the bleu cheese. If you are one of those people who used ranch dressing (who are you?!) instead of bleu cheese, you can use less bleu cheese or sub in a different cheese altogether.  Try shredded cheddar cheese, goat cheese, or even pepper jack would work.
• Hot Sauce: Let this dip remind you of your ever-fave buffalo wings by adding some heat. I love Primal Kitchen’s buffalo hot sauce, but Frank’s red hot sauce or other brands will work also.

If your idea of healthy means leaving out the dairy all together, please check out my Dairy-Free Buffalo Chicken Dip. It has all the goodness of this dip, but without the dairy.

Note: See the recipe card at the bottom with all the required details and measurements.

Tips and Tricks

• I like to let the buffalo sauce and blue cheese flavor shine, but you can add more flavor with a bit of garlic powder and onion powder.
• If you’re making chicken from scratch and in a hurry, use skinless chicken breasts – they are quick to cook.
• For an extra cheese delight, sprinkle some mozzarella cheese or sharp cheddar cheese on top. Get a block of fresh cheese and shred it on your own for the best results.
• This healthy buffalo dip is the yummiest when served hot. If you’re making it in advance for game day or Super Bowl party, use your slow cooker to keep it warm. Room temperature works also; no one turns their nose up at it! 

Variations to Try

• Add Some Veggie Goodness: Green onions are my top choice. They are crunchy and refreshing. You can also use mini bell peppers in different colors to make the dip pop
• To keep this super healthy, use chopped celery sticks for dipping. Oh, and how about some carrot sticks? Delish!
• Vegetarian Version: Leave out the chicken and use roasted cauliflower florets for a satisfying bite.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How should I store creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip?

Keep your leftovers in the fridge, and they’ll last for 3-4 days. Use an airtight container. Reheating it is a breeze – just turn it in your microwave oven for a minute or so or reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

2. Can I freeze Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip? 

I wouldn’t freeze this dip because I don’t think it will remain as creamy when thawed.

3. How to use the leftover dip?

It’s so good that I can even eat it on its own with a spoon. Yum! I’ve also used it as a spread
for sandwiches and in a wrap. Try it!

How to Make Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip

This appetizer is super easy to throw together, especially if you already have some shredded chicken on hand.  Just mix the five ingredients together and bake in the oven!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Stir ingredients until well combined.
4. Transfer the mixture to a medium casserole dish.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
6. Enjoy!

So just how light is this Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip?  I calculated the calorie and fat content of a few recipes for the regular variety, and they came in around 170 calories and 14 grams of fat per serving.  This skinny buffalo chicken dip has 108 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving.  All without sacrificing any flavor!  Trust me, this dip is just as addicting as any other Buffalo Chicken Dip appetizer you’ll come across.

Ready to dig in?!  If you have a Super Bowl party you’re throwing or attending, make sure you save this healthier buffalo chicken dip. 

Are you cooking for the big game? Check out my collection of Healthy Super Bowl Recipes!

If you’d also love the goodness of Buffalo Chicken Dip in a SALAD–try my healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad. It’s amazing!

If you try this Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip or any of my other healthy recipes, please share it on Instagram  and I’ll feature you! Also, if you try it, please leave a comment with a star rating below! Those star ratings are so helpful in helping my recipes get discovered. I appreciate you!

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More Healthy Dips to Make

Choose one of these creamy dips to include at your next party!

Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip

Caramelized Onion Dip

Loaded Vegan Queso Dip

Dill Pickle Dip Recipe

Vegan Nacho Cheese

Caprese Cottage Cheese Dip

This recipe was originally published in 2021. Photos and post text were updated in 2024. Enjoy!