Football games can feel like 100 yards of healthy eating pitfalls. Seriously, who wants to eat carrot sticks and celery spears with hummus when everyone else is jamming down on hot chicken wings and cheese dip? I make sure to have a crudités platter for mindless eating and I love vegetables, but face it — we all know that can feel like rabbit food.

What about gooey, cheesy, spicy, yummy Buffalo Chicken Dip? YES! Read on to find out how to make my lightened-up version of Buffalo Chicken Dip.

Lighten Up!

Buffalo Chicken Dip is typically cheesy, gooey, fat-laden goodness. (Publix has a version they sell in their deli that is ridiculously delicious.) However, I love taking fatty-fat-fat recipes and flipping them into a healthier version.

This full-flavored dip is perfect for lightening up. Loaded with zippy hot sauce and the bang of blue cheese, no one will notice if you sub out Neufchatel for full-fat cream cheese or swap out Icelandic light yogurt for sour cream.

Poached boneless skinless chicken breasts are used as the base, but you could also use rotisserie chicken breast meat. Just a few small changes make this Buffalo Chicken Dip a version you can enjoy without feeling like you’re killing your healthy eating game plan.

Down, Set, Dip

Thanks so much for reading. I hope you enjoy my recipe for my Lightened Up Buffalo Chicken Dip. Please let me know if you give it a try — and make sure to tag me on social if you post it.

Need more healthy game day options? Check out this piece in Men’s Journal with my Seven Layer Dip and for dessert, give my Double Chocolate Cupcakes a try.

Bon Appétit, Y’all

Virginia Willis

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Lightened Up Buffalo Chicken Dip

This makes 4 cups to serve 16 or about 1/4 cup per person -- which is a minimum. Who the heck is going to eat 2 tablespoons of this dip like what is listed on the storebought stuff!?

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, hors d'oeuvres, Snack

Cuisine: American, Southern

Keyword: buffalo chicken, dip

Servings: 16

Calories: 41kcal

Author: Virginia Willis

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup reduced-fat cream cheese or Neufchatel
• ½ cup fat-free yogurt
• ½ cup reduced-fat shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese divided
• ¼ cup Buffalo-style hot sauce
• 2 green onions divided
• 2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
• Celery sticks carrot sticks, and other veg for serving

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350°F. Combine cream cheese, yogurt, Cheddar, half the blue cheese, and hot sauce in a medium bowl; stir until smooth. Fold in chicken and 1/2 of the green onions. Spoon the mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle over the remaining blue cheese and green onions. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Serve with vegetables.

Nutrition

Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Let’s cook something up! If you are interested in hosting me for a speaking engagement, event, cooking class, or a book signing, let me know! Send an email to jona@virginiawillis.com and we’ll be back in touch as soon as possible.

I am not a doctor, RD, or health professional. I am simply sharing what works for me. My blog is for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

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Good and Good for You with Virginia Willis is a lifestyle brand that shares food, fun, and fitness through digital channels and online community; events, seminars, and speeches; and print media. For more information visit virginiawillis.com