Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (2024)

· Updated: by Sarah Hill · This post may contain affiliate links.· 10 Comments

This Buffalo Chicken Dip is everyone's favorite game-day snack or party appetizer. It's made with Greek yogurt, less fat cream cheese and no ranch for a healthier shredded buffalo chicken dip.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (1)

Cheesy, spicy, creamy and in dip form? Yes, please! This cast iron buffalo chicken dip is my dream appetizer and snack. It's made with simple ingredients like shredded chicken, buffalo sauce and spices you already have in your pantry. This dip will be devoured in no time!

If you love buffalo chicken, you will also love my Crispy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches, Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks and Buffalo Chicken Tacos.

Jump to:
  • 🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe
  • 🥘Ingredients and Substitutions
  • 🔪Instructions
  • 💭Recipe FAQs
  • 👩🏻‍🍳Chef Tips
  • 🥗Serving
  • More Dip Recipes
  • 🍳Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe

  • Healthy, real food ingredients. This buffalo chicken dip is made using simple ingredients made from real food and without blue cheese and ranch dressing.
  • Simple and easy to make. This recipe requires minimal prep and comes together in just a few simple steps. Serve alongside my Warm Crab and Spinach Dip and BBQ Chicken Nachos for game days!

🥘Ingredients and Substitutions

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (2)
  • Cooked chicken. You will need 2 ½ cups of cooked chicken breasts. You can boil, poach or bake the chicken beforehand or use rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken or even canned chicken.
  • Buffalo sauce. Your favorite buffalo sauce will work for this recipe. My favorites are the New Primal medium buffalo sauce and Wegman's brand buffalo wing sauce. The classic Frank's red hot will work great and can be found at most grocery stores.
  • Cream cheese. To make this dip healthier and lower in fat, I recommend using lower or less-fat cream cheese.
  • Greek yogurt. Use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if you prefer.

See the recipe card below for quantities and remaining ingredients.

🔪Instructions

Preheat the oven, remove the cream cheese from the fridge to allow it to soften and gather the tools needed to make this recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (3)

Step 1: Mix the chicken with the cream cheese, yogurt and buffalo sauce. Combine the mixture with the remaining ingredients, aside from cheddar cheese.

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (4)

Step 2: Add the dip to a cast iron pan or other baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese and bake until golden and bubbling.

💭Recipe FAQs

Can buffalo chicken dip be made ahead of time?

Yes! If you want to prepare the dip the morning of or the day before a party, you can. To make this ahead of time, follow steps 2 and 3 in the recipe card below. Prep the chicken and mix everything in a bowl. Now, cover the bowl with foil or plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you are ready to bake.

Preheat the oven, transfer the dip to the skillet and bake as directed.

Do I need a cast iron skillet to make this dip?

Nope! You can use any round, square or oval baking dish around 8x8 inches. If you use a bigger dish, the dip will be thinner and you will need to reduce the cooking time.

For reference, I used a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet.

How long can buffalo chicken dip sit out?

This no-ranch buffalo chicken dip should not sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (5)

👩🏻‍🍳Chef Tips

  • Use precooked shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken. This will make things easier as you don't have to cook the chicken before preparing the dip.
  • Remove the cream cheese from the fridge about 30 minutes before to allow it to soften. Hard cream cheese will be much more difficult to mix.
  • Adjust the spice level. Use a milder buffalo sauce or use just ⅓ cup if you need to make the dip less spicy. You can also add more or a pinch of cayenne pepper if you love it spicier!

🥗Serving

This dip is super versatile and can be served in many different ways! Serve it up with tortilla chips, potato chips, crackers, or celery and carrot sticks.

Spread it on top of crusty bread, on a pita or in a wrap with some greens. Honestly, you can always just dig in with a spoon!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (6)

🥣Storage & Reheating

I highly doubt there will be any leftovers but if there are, store them in the fridge for 2-3 days and reheat in the microwave for about 2 minutes. You can also reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F until warm.

I don't recommend freezing the dip.

More Dip Recipes

  • Spicy Avocado Black Bean Dip
  • Roasted Tomato and Habanero Salsa
  • GarlicHummus without Tahini
  • Easy Oven Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a 5-star⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating & comment below to let me know how it came out. Thanks for visiting!

🍳Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (11)

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch)

This Buffalo Chicken Dip is everyone's favorite game-day snack or party appetizer. It's made with Greek yogurt, less fat cream cheese and no ranch for a healthier shredded buffalo chicken dip.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Recipe for Later

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 5 Servings

Calories: 117.26kcal

Author: Sarah Hill

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups cooked chicken breasts, shredded or diced
  • 1 (8 ounce) block of reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup buffalo sauce
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon green onions, chopped
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

  • In a large bowl, mix the shredded chicken with the cream cheese, yogurt and buffalo sauce.

  • Add in the spices and mozzarella cheese and stir until combined.

  • Transfer the mixture to the cast iron skillet and spread evenly. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble. Set the oven to Broil and broil for 2-3 minutes until the top is slightly golden.

  • Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes and serve with tortilla chips and celery sticks.

Video

Notes

  • Use precooked shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken. This will make things easier as you don't have to cook the chicken before preparing the dip.
  • Remove the cream cheese from the fridge about 30 minutes before to allow it to soften. Hard cream cheese will be much more difficult to mix.
  • Adjust the spice level. Use a milderbuffalo sauceor use just ⅓ cup if you need to make the dip less spicy. You can also add more or a pinch of cayenne pepper if you love it spicier!
  • I highly doubt there will be any leftovers but if there are, store them in the fridge for 2-3 days and reheat in the microwave for about 2 minutes. You can also reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F until warm.
  • I don't recommend freezing the dip.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 117.26kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.99g | Protein: 8.9g | Fat: 8.21g | Saturated Fat: 5.08g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.25g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.34g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 27.65mg | Sodium: 1151.81mg | Potassium: 68.47mg | Fiber: 0.17g | Sugar: 0.91g | Vitamin A: 259.41IU | Vitamin C: 0.28mg | Calcium: 203.91mg | Iron: 0.26mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Did you make this?Leave a comment below below & tag @realfoodwithsarah on social!

More Easy Snack and Appetizer Recipes

  • BBQ Chicken Sliders
  • Green Olive Tapenade
  • Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
  • Smoked Salmon Canapés

Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Anna says

    Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (16)
    Great and easy to follow recipe! Using reduced fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt makes it feel a bit healthier.
    I brought it to a Friendsgiving party and everyone loved it!

    Reply

    • Sarah Hill says

      Hi Anna, thanks for making the dip. Happy everyone loved it!

      Reply

  2. A Hill says

    Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (17)
    Sarah made this for our superbowl party. It was a tremendous hit...so tasty!!

    Reply

    • Sarah Holt says

      Thanks Akeama!

      Reply

  3. Libby says

    Do you have to cook it in a skillet? Can you cook it in the crock pot?

    Reply

    • Sarah Holt says

      Hi Libby, this recipe also works in any regular baking dish! I have not tested it in a crockpot, unfortunately, but you should be able to cook it on low for 2-3 hours or on high for 1-1 1/2 hours. Let me know how it comes out or if you run into any issues, I'm happy to help troubleshoot!

      Reply

  4. Sarah Antal says

    Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (18)
    We love this recipe so much! It is MUCH better than the original version, and we love that it is all simple ingredients. Thank you so much!!

    Reply

    • Sarah Holt says

      Hi Sarah, so happy you love this dip! It's one of our favs also, can't wait to make it again for football season!!

      Reply

  5. Kim Mee says

    Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (19)
    Fabulously yummy!! A big hit
    Thank you Sarah 💗

    Reply

    • Sarah Holt says

      Hi Kim, so happy you enjoyed it! One of my new favorites 🙂

      Reply

Buffalo Chicken Dip (No Ranch) – Real Food with Sarah (2024)

FAQs

What can you substitute for ranch in buffalo chicken dip? ›

You can substitute blue cheese for all of the ranch (or half of it). Cream Cheese – If you prefer to make this without cream cheese, you can substitute sour cream or Greek yogurt.

How to thicken up buffalo chicken dip? ›

There is likely too much liquid in your dip. Whether you added more Ranch dressing or hot sauce or both, there is probably too much. HOW DO YOU THICKEN BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP? You can thicken your buffalo chicken dip by adding more chicken or more cream cheese.

What is buffalo dip made of? ›

Add chicken, cream cheese, shredded cheese, wing sauce, and ranch dressing to a 3 quart crock pot, or 6 quart crock pot. Stir to combine then heat on LOW until hot, 1-1/2 — 2 hours, stirring a couple of times. If you use a 6 quart crock pot, the dip will be hot in about 1-1/2 hours. Serve with dippers.

Is buffalo chicken dip better warm or cold? ›

The dip can be served cold or, if preferred, baked till hot in a shallow casserole dish. For dipping, offer corn chips, ideally with low salt. Place cream cheese, unwrapped, in a large mixing bowl to warm and soften. With wooden spoon or firm spatula, mix cream cheese well till soft.

What can I replace ranch with? ›

Try these ranch substitutes and you'll never head back to the Hidden Valley again.
  • For Dipping Veggies: Greek Yogurt "Ranch" Dip. PIN IT. ...
  • For Marinating Chicken: Italian Dressing. PIN IT. ...
  • For Dipping Pizza Crusts: Honey. PIN IT. ...
  • For Dressing Salads: Avocado Dressing. PIN IT. ...
  • For Topping Burgers: Hummus. PIN IT.
Jun 4, 2018

What sauce can I use instead of buffalo sauce? ›

Options include:
  • BBQ sauce.
  • most Asian ready made sauces at your grocery store (teriyaki, sweet and sour, etc., even better make a homemade version of one of these sauces)
  • honey mustard.
  • melted butter (or extra virgin olive oil) with garlic, Parmesan cheese, and your favorite herbs.
Sep 1, 2015

Why is my buffalo dip soupy? ›

If your dip is runny, it usually indicates you didn't use enough chicken or added too much buffalo sauce or ranch. Using low-fat cream cheese will also give you runny results which is why the full-fat type is best.

What goes well with buffalo chicken dip? ›

The best side dishes to serve with buffalo chicken dip are french fries, chicken wings, nachos, coconut shrimp, pita chips, Korean corn dogs, zucchini fries, spring rolls, stuffed mushrooms, carrot sticks, soft pretzels, tostadas, garlic bread, birria quesadillas, gluten-free bread, fish tacos, blooming onion, and ...

Why is my buffalo chicken dip so runny? ›

Buffalo chicken dip can be runny if you use a reduced fat cream cheese. It can also be runny if you use too much ranch dressing or not enough chicken. You can thicken the dip by adding more shredded chicken, or even more cubes of full fat cream cheese or even more shredded cheddar cheese.

How is buffalo sauce made from scratch? ›

Melt 4 Tbsp butter in a small saucepot over medium heat. Once melted, add ½ cup Frank's Redhot Sauce, ½ tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Whisk the ingredients together and heat through. Use the finished sauce for dipping or drizzling over your favorite foods (baked chicken wings pictured above).

Why is there so much oil in my buffalo chicken dip? ›

Overcooking the dip or having the temperature up too high will result in an oily looking dip. This will not affect the flavor, but doesn't look as appealing.

Why is buffalo dip called buffalo? ›

Buffalo chicken wing dip wouldn't have been created without the invention of the Buffalo chicken wing, which according to New Yorker writer Calvin Trillin, originated in Buffalo, New York.

How to tone down buffalo chicken dip? ›

Dairy has a natural ability to counteract spiciness, so a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkling of cheese can help tone down the heat. You can also try stirring in things such as butter, cream, or yogurt. In addition to that, you can also try making a cream or sauce that can be added on top of the dish.

What kind of chips to serve with buffalo chicken dip? ›

Tortilla chips – I recommend a thick, hearty chip that can stand up to these cheesy chicken dip. You could also spoon the dip over the tortilla chip “scoops”. Corn chips – Frito scoops are perfect for dipping up this buffalo chicken dip! Crackers – I recommend a thick cracker, like Wheat Thins or Triscuits.

How long is buffalo chicken dip good for? ›

Buffalo chicken dip lasts for up to four days—if you're lucky enough to end up with leftovers, that is! Store the dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Warm leftover dip in the microwave or oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°.

Can you use ranch dressing instead of ranch dip? ›

Certainly. It's all about what texture you're going for. Use the dip mix if you prefer a thicker dressing, or the pourable dressing as dip if you prefer a smoother, creamier texture.

Is ranch seasoning mix the same as ranch dip mix? ›

This homemade ranch seasoning mix can be used for both. The difference comes in what you combine the seasoning mix with to make either a dip or dressing. Ranch dressing is typically made with milk and mayo, while ranch dip is typically made with sour cream.

Is ranch similar to mayo? ›

Yes. Mayonnaise plays a significant part in creating that distinctive ranch flavor, and it also lends body to the dressing. Lighter options like yogurt are delicious, but yogurt won't give the same smooth texture and full body.

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