Creamy, cheesy, and healthy CAN exist in delicious harmony. Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip is the proof! This epic game day appetizer packs in melty cheese, shredded chicken, and spicy Buffalo sauce in a lightened-up form thanks to a few nutritious swaps!
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Why You’ll Love This Buffalo Chicken Dip With Cottage Cheese Recipe
It’s Still Creamy and Cheesy. No one wants salad on game day. This Buffalo chicken dip recipe manages to scratch that snacking itch for something cheesy and creamy, while still being lightened up, thanks to some simple ingredient swaps.
Spicy for the Masses. The Buffalo sauce gives this dish its signature heat and tanginess, but it’s balanced by the Greek yogurt and all those cheeses. If Buffalo Cauliflower Wings and Baked Chicken Wings tossed in Buffalo sauce are too spicy for you, don’t overlook this dip—the heat is much tamer!
Easy to Make Ahead. This healthy Buffalo chicken dip recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to dig in. Just pop it in the oven until it’s melty and warm.
Everyone Loves Buffalo Chicken. From Buffalo Chicken Sliders to Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, it’s a super popular flavor combo, especially while watching sports.
Not Just for Game Day. Potlucks, holiday get-togethers, birthdays, your annual performance review at work—there’s no occasion where this healthy Buffalo chicken dip wouldn’t be welcome at the table.
How to Make Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
The Ingredients
Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese. Neufchatel (AKA reduced-fat cream cheese) is an excellent swap for regular cream cheese, but fat-free is not. Don’t use fat-free! It lacks flavor and has a rubbery texture.
Buffalo Sauce. Frank’s is the classic choice.
Plain Greek Yogurt. My go-to swap for mayo. I used nonfat.
Small Curd Cottage Cheese. Cottage cheese is having a moment (ahem: Cottage Cheese Eggs, Protein Pancakes), and it’s also a key player in our healthy Buffalo chicken dip.
Seasonings. Garlic powder and onion powder add some savory goodness.
Shredded Chicken. Here’s How to Make Shredded Chicken, or make Instant Pot Shredded Chicken or Crockpot Shredded Chicken.
Cheese. Shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded cheddar cheese, or just use all mozzarella.
Green Onions. For a pop of color, texture, and flavor.
Dippers. Fritos scoops, celery sticks, and anything else you like for dipping. (I share some more ideas below!)
The Directions
Combine. Add the cream cheese, Buffalo sauce, cottage cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder to a bowl.
Stir. Until it’s smooth and everything is incorporated.
Add the Next 3 Ingredients. Fold in the shredded chicken, mozzarella, and 1/4 cup of the onions.
Bake. Transfer to a greased baking dish and sprinkle the cheddar on top. Bake your healthy Buffalo chicken dip at 375 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool for a few minutes, then serve with green onions for garnish and ENJOY!
Leftover Ideas
Make your leftovers into the most over-the-top grilled cheese sandwich you’ve ever flippin’ had. Spread the dip onto thick slices of bread, butter the outsides, and toast to perfection on a griddle or skillet. (Or make it Air Fryer Grilled Cheese style.)
More Dipper Ideas for Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Crackers. A buttery cracker a la Ritz would be perfection. Since this is a substantive dip, I’d spoon it onto the crackers rather than using them to scoop it.
Tortilla Chips. Choose a sturdy variety!
Veggies. In addition to celery, halved mini peppers would work well for scooping up this healthy Buffalo chicken dip.
Bread. Spread the dip onto this Beer Bread Recipe or slices of baguette.
Soft Pretzels. Logistics-wise, it might be a little unwieldy, but flavor-wise, this Soft Pretzel Recipe would be incredible with Buffalo chicken dip. Let’s make it work!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Shred Your Own Cheese. It doesn’t matter as much for the mozzarella, but for the cheddar on top, you will definitely have better flavor and more cheese-pull-meltiness with freshly shredded cheddar. (Note, however that this is not a dealbreaker like it is when you’re making Cheese Fondue.)
Adjust the Heat. As mentioned above, this healthy Buffalo chicken dip isn’t overly spicy, but you can make it even milder by easing up on the Buffalo sauce. Just add a small amount, taste, and keep adding until it reaches your desired heat level.
Soften the Cream Cheese. It can be hard to mix fresh-from-the-fridge cream cheese with other ingredients, so I recommend letting it sit on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour before mixing this dip.
Puree the Cottage Cheese, If Needed. If you have issues with the texture of cottage cheese, you can puree it smooth in a mini blender before adding it to the dip. (The oven will melt the cheese curds a little, but not completely; for what it’s worth, I don’t think the curds are very noticeable.)
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Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
This healthy Buffalo chicken dip recipe is lightened up thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. So creamy and cheesy!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 35 minutesminutes
Servings 8-10 servings
Calories 220kcal
Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated
Ingredients
8ouncesreduced-fat cream cheeseat room temperature or Neufchatel, do not use fat free
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°F. Coat an 8×10-inch or similar baking dish with nonstick spray (you can go all the way up to 9×13, the dip will just be thinner and heat more quickly).
In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, Buffalo sauce, cottage cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder. Fold in the chicken, mozzarella, and ¼ cup of the green onions.
Spread the dip in an even layer in the baking dish. Top with the cheddar.
Bake the Buffalo chicken dip until hot and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool a few minutes, then serve with dippers of choice.
Notes
TO MAKE IN A SLOW COOKER: Assemble the dip as described in the recipe, but in a slow cooker insert instead of a bowl. Do not add the cheddar yet. Cover the slow cooker and heat on LOW for 2 hours or HIGH for 1 hour, until the dip is hot and bubbly. Sprinkle the top with cheddar cheese, cover, and cook a few minutes more, until the cheese melts. Top with the reserved green onions and serve.
TO STORE: Store leftover healthy Buffalo chicken dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
TO REHEAT: Warm up the dip in an oven-safe dish at 350ºF for 10-15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
TO FREEZE: This dip can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it according to the instructions above.
