My keto buffalo chicken dip recipe combines JUICY shredded chicken with heaps of melty cheese and buffalo sauce. It’s creamy, spicy, and only 3 grams of net carbs.
I’m admittedly not a big sports fan, but my friends are. When the game’s on, you can usually find me in the kitchen making dips. In fact, I think a game was actually on when I came up with this recipe….
I wanted classic buffalo chicken dip flavors–but with low-carb substitutions. The result is a thick, creamy dip with spicy buffalo sauce and fall-apart chicken. When you put it that way…well, go team!Table of Contents.
Buffalo chicken dip is a hearty, creamy, and incredibly tasty snack that is always a hit at parties and potlucks. But if you’re trying to cut back on carbs, you might be curious about how many are hidden in each scoop of this tasty appetizer.
Here are some of the common ingredients in buffalo chicken dip. I’ll also talk about how to make it lower in carbs and give you some serving suggestions. Let’s look more closely at how many carbs are in this popular dish!
An Overview of Traditional Buffalo Chicken Dip
In order to make buffalo chicken dip the traditional way, you start with two cups of crushed cooked chicken. Next, you’ll need two boxes of cream cheese and half a cup of ranch dressing to make it thick, rich, and creamy.
For flavor, most recipes call for 1/2 cup of hot buffalo wing sauce. The exact brand and spiciness can vary based on your tastes. Finally, 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese adds even more indulgence and that iconic orange color.
When all the ingredients are combined, you’ll have a luscious, scoopable dip that can be served warm or cold. It’s tangy, spicy, cool, and irresistible. But how does this snack stack up in terms of carbs?
Determining the Carb Count
To calculate the amount of carbs in buffalo chicken dip, we need to look at the nutrition information for each ingredient. Let’s break it down:
- Chicken – Skinless, boneless chicken breast has 0g net carbs
- Cream Cheese – Around 2-3g net carbs per ounce
- Ranch Dressing – Roughly 1-2g net carbs per 2 tablespoon serving
- Buffalo Sauce – Typically 0-1g net carbs for 2 tablespoons
- Cheddar Cheese – About 1g net carb per ounce
Based on the usual amounts of ingredients, a half-cup serving of buffalo chicken dip has about 2 to 4 grams of net carbs. Compared to many dips and appetizers, this is a pretty small amount. Most of the carbs come from the cream cheese and ranch dressing.
How to Reduce the Carbs in Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you want to lighten up this indulgent snack, there are a few simple substitutions you can make:
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Use full-fat Greek yogurt instead of some of the cream cheese. This cuts down on carbs while maintaining creaminess.
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Opt for a low-carb ranch dressing or make your own with yogurt, spices, and a touch of oil.
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Look for a low-carb buffalo sauce or hot sauce to flavor the dip. Franks RedHot and Cholula are good options.
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Consider part-skim, low moisture mozzarella instead of full-fat cheddar cheese. This saves a gram or two of carbs per ounce.
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Add some blue cheese crumbles for tang without carbs.
Serving Suggestions for Buffalo Chicken Dip
When served in moderation alongside low-carb dippers, this snack can definitely fit into a ketogenic diet or low-carb meal plan. Here are some serving ideas:
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Celery sticks – Celery is very low in carbs and provides crunch.
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Cucumber slices – Another low-carb veggie for scooping up the dip.
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Bell pepper strips – For more color and flavor.
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Pork rinds – These crunchy low-carb chips are perfect dunked in buffalo chicken dip.
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Cheese crisps – DIY keto-friendly crackers for dipping.
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Baked tofu – An alternative protein for dipping.
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Chicken tenders or wings – Dip these keto classics right into the buffalo dip!
Tips for Making and Storing Buffalo Chicken Dip
Preparing this yummy appetizer ahead of time can save you time when guests arrive. Here are some pointers:
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It can be made 1-2 days in advance and stored covered in the fridge until ready to bake or serve.
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For convenience, use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.
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Let it come up to room temperature before baking to prevent a thin, dried out layer on top.
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Bake until hot and bubbly, then keep it in a slow cooker on warm for serving.
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Freeze leftovers in individual portions for quick snacks and lunches.
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Refrigerate within 2 hours of serving to prevent bacterial growth. Discard if left out too long.
Satisfy Your Cravings the Low-Carb Way
Buffalo chicken dip is easy to make lower in carbohydrates with just a few simple ingredient swaps. A 1/2 cup serving can have as little as 2-4g of net carbs, allowing you to enjoy this tasty snack while sticking to your daily carb target. So go ahead – dig into this warm, cheesy, buffalo-y dip without all the guilt! Moderation and smart substitutions are key for savoring this addicting appetizer.
How to make keto buffalo chicken dip
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post to print out the full recipe instructions and amounts of the ingredients.
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven and grease a baking dish. Shred the chicken and set aside.
Step 2- Mix. Combine the cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and sour cream in a bowl. Fold in the chicken, shredded cheese, and a handful of green onions.
Step 3- Bake. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and top with blue cheese and shredded cheese. Bake until bubbling. Step 4- Serve. Let the dip cool briefly, then garnish with the remaining green onions and serve.
Can I make this in a crock pot?
Yes, if you’d rather make keto buffalo dip in a slow cooker, just put all the ingredients in there and mix them together. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Before serving, stir it and garnish with green onions.
- Use canned chicken. It was still pretty tasty after being cooked this way, even though it wasn’t as juicy and tender. If that’s all you have, use it!.
- Adjust the heat. That’s how much spice I used. You can add more or less. Add some Frank’s hot sauce or diced jalapeño peppers if you like it really spicy.
- Give it some crunch. Fold in chopped celery for added texture.
- Add ranch flavor. Swap the sour cream for my keto ranch dressing.
- As a side dish, you can use my keto tortilla chips, parmesan crisps, keto crackers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, or broccoli florets to dip.
To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To freeze: Freeze the cooled dip in shallow containers for up to 2 months.
To reheat: Bake the dip or microwave for 20 seconds or until warm.
If you use buffalo sauce that has sugar or carbs, regular buffalo chicken dip might not be keto-friendly. That’s why I like to make it from scratch.
Regular buffalo chicken dip may contain up to 20 grams of carbohydrates, whereas my homemade recipe contains only 2 grams of net carbs.
I noticed the leftover dip sometimes separates when it’s reheated, but just give it a stir and it should taste great.
Why I love this recipe
- Great for sharing…or not. This recipe makes a lot of dip, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also make half of it for myself.
- You can also make it in the crock pot. I like the oven method better because it’s faster, but I also tried the slow cooker method.
- Easy to modify. You can use any flavored buffalo sauce instead of Frank’s if you don’t like it. Just make sure it doesn’t have any extra sugar or carbs in it.
- Shredded chicken. I like to get a mix of chicken breast and thighs from store-bought rotisserie chicken, but you can also make your own shredded chicken breast.
- Cream cheese. Use full-fat and softened cream cheese.
- Buffalo sauce. Frank’s Buffalo sauce is keto-friendly. If you want to switch brands, check the ingredients again to see if there is any extra sugar.
- Sour cream. This makes the dip creamier and less sour, balancing out the cream cheese.
- Mozzarella cheese and Mexican cheese blend. I prefer mozzarella for creaminess and another cheese for saltiness. If you can’t find a Mexican three-cheese blend, shred cheddar cheese instead.
- Blue cheese crumbles. You don’t have to, but I love adding crumbled blue cheese on top for extra tang.
- Green onions. For garnish.
Buffalo Chicken Dip #onestopchop
FAQ
How many calories are in Buffalo Chicken dip?
The Daily Value (DV) tells you how much of a nutrient is in a serving of food. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. What is my Recommended Daily Intake (RDI)? There are 59 calories in 2 tbsp of Buffalo Chicken Dip. Calorie breakdown: 65% fat, 7% carbs, 28% protein.
Is Buffalo Chicken dip low fat?
However, when it comes to this cheesy buffalo chicken dip, I prefer the classic buffalo chicken wing flavors. The mild heat and sourness of the hot sauce go so well with the creaminess of the other dip ingredients (blue cheese, sour cream, and cream cheese). This is not a low-fat recipe. Also, people go nuts for this stuff.
What is Buffalo Chicken dip?
This buffalo chicken dip recipe is super simple and tastes great. It’s a great cheese dip appetizer for any kind of party, like New Year’s Eve or the Big Game, which is the best game of the year. 🙂 This recipe is sponsored by Kettle Brand Chips.
How long does it take to cook a chicken dip?
Use a spatula to evenly distribute the dip, and smooth the surface. Place in the oven, and bake for 20 minutes. Broil the dip for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven, and garnish with sliced green onions if desired. Serve warm with veggie sticks, such as celery, or low carb tortilla chips.
How many carbohydrates are in buffalo chicken dip?
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Chicken Dip | |
| Cholesterol | 125 mg |
| Sodium | 1035 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 5 g |
Can I have buffalo chicken dip on keto?
Yes, if you’d prefer to make keto buffalo dip in a slow cooker, add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and combine. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Before serving, stir it and garnish with green onions.
How many carbs are in buffalo chicken strips?
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Cholesterol 35mg | 12% |
| Sodium 550 mg | 24% |
| Total Carbohydrate 13g | 5% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
Is buffalo chicken dip unhealthy?
Yes, buffalo chicken dip can be unhealthy, primarily due to its high fat and calorie content, especially when made with traditional ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, and cheese.