Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Our Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip leverages easy swaps to slash fat and calories (but nobody will even notice the updates)! Plus, it's so fast and easy ... in just one dish!
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Includes Make-Ahead Steps •
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups shredded boneless, skinless chicken breast (we use rotisserie chicken; see note)
- 1 cup reduced-fat, shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel cheese)
- 6 tablespoons Greek yogurt-based ranch dressing (see note)
- 1/4 cup Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce (see note)
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup diced sweet onion
- optional for garnish: thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
- Mix the chicken, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, ranch, and hot sauce together in a medium-sized bowl. (You can do this directly in the serving dish.)
- Microwave (on full power) for 1 minute. Stir.
- Microwave again for about 1 1/2 minutes more, until the cheddar cheese is fully melted and the dip is hot (the exact timing can vary slightly based on the wattage of your microwave).
- Before serving, stir the hot dip again to make sure everything is smoothly incorporated, and then stir in the celery and onion. (We prefer to stir the celery and onion in at the end, so they're still crunchy, but if you prefer, you can add them with all the other ingredients at the beginning, for a smoother consistency.)
- Serve immediately, garnished with a few thinly sliced green onions, if desired.
Notes
Chicken: We always use rotisserie chicken breast for this recipe. It's a quick, easy option. But, nearly any boneless, skinless chicken breasts will also work well here, as long as they’re not seasoned with spices or marinades that compete with the other flavors in this recipe. If you prefer, you can simply plan on cooking a couple of extra chicken breasts whenever you’re making chicken, so you'll have extra cooked chicken for this recipe without any extra work.
Ranch dressing: To slash fat and calories, we use a reduced-fat, yogurt-based dressing (typically found in your grocery store's refrigerated section, sometimes near the salad greens, not in the regular salad dressing aisle). After testing several brands, we like the flavor of Bolthouse Farms Classic Ranch the best. If you can't find that specific brand, choose the healthiest you can find (that also tastes great).
Hot sauce: We like to use 1/4 cup of Frank's "Original" for this recipe. That amount creates a bold, pleasantly spicy "buffalo wing" flavor. However, you can adjust that amount to taste, depending on exactly how kicky you want your dip to be.
Make-ahead steps: You can mix up the chicken, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, ranch, and hot sauce earlier in the day or a day before. You can also dice the onions and celery and store them in separate baggies. Refrigerate everything until proceeding with the recipe.
Slow cooker option: If you'd like to make this recipe in an appetizer-sized slow cooker to keep warm throughout a party, refer to our Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip for specific directions and tips.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20 servingsServing Size:
2 tablespoons dipAmount Per Serving: Calories: 62Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 156mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 5g
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.