Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip | Renee's Kitchen Adventures

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone.  #FoodDeservesDelicious #CollectiveBias

I am so excited to bring you this delicious dip recipe today!! I'll be honest, although I LOVE the flavor of "buffalo" anything, I have never been a huge fan of the popular buffalo chicken dip.  It never seemed to have enough flavor or texture for me.  This recipe changes that all for me thanks to a few changes and some great additions to the traditional recipe.

Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip:  Lighter on calories but not on flavor!  #FoodDeservesDelicious #shop



The flavor of this "lighter" dip recipe is sensational thanks to Kraft® Lite Classic Ranch Dressing. New Kraft® Pourables have been reinvented with a new, better taste!  For the ranch variety, that means it is now creamier, with more buttermilk and herbs!  For you and me, that means a better tasting and better textured dip!

Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip:  Lighter on calories but not on flavor!  #FoodDeservesDelicious #shop

First off, I did not used canned chicken.  Not that there's anything wrong with canned meat, but it just isn't for me in this recipe.  I used fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts that I seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder then quickly sauteed up in a nonstick fry pan.  If you don't want the work of that, you could certainly substitute some rotisserie chicken or even some leftover chicken breast from another meal.  Just don't use the canned stuff.  The texture is just all wrong.

Second, I sauteed up some finely chopped onion and celery, and added that to the dip for more flavor and some slight crunch.  This made a huge difference in the taste of this dip recipe, I think!

Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip:  Lighter on calories but not on flavor!  #FoodDeservesDelicious #shop

Lastly, I used a lite version of Kraft® Classic Ranch to keep it creamy, delicious and a little lighter on calories than the traditional dip.   This dressing balances out the spiciness of the hot sauce perfectly.

I hope that you will give this dip a try and let me know what you think!  My family thinks it's a winner and I know this will become a family favorite for all those tailgating moments this fall for sure!

How about you?  Are you a fan of traditional Buffalo Chicken Dip?  Would you be willing to give this version a try sometime?  




buffalo Chicken Dip, healthy buffalo chicken dip
Appetizer
American
Yield: 20 servings

Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip

A lighter version of the classic buffalo chicken dip with creamy ranch to cool off the spiciness of the hot sauce!

ingredients:

  • 1 cup of cooked, shredded chicken breast (boneless, skinless breasts sauteed, rotisserie chicken, or leftover chicken from another meal)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup (or more to taste) your favorite hot sauce or wing sauce
  • 1-8 oz. package of Neufchatel cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup Kraft® Lite Classic Ranch Dressing
  • 1/2 cup shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1/4 cup green onions, chopped (optional)
  • Drizzle of Kraft® Lite Classic Ranch Dressing (optional

instructions:

  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. Heat a small skillet coated with cooking spray. Saute the celery and onion until softened, about 6-7 minutes. Set aside.
  3. In med bowl, combine the chicken, hot sauce, Neufchatel cheese, Kraft® Lite Ranch dressing, reserved celery and onion, and 1/4 cup of the shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
  4. Spread mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top with remaining reduced fat cheddar cheese.
  5. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the dip is bubbly and heated through.
  6. Drizzle with some Kraft® Lite Ranch Dressing, if desired, and sprinkle with green onions, if desired. Serve warm with tortilla chips, raw veggies, or crackers.

NOTES:

Nutrition Information is an estimate
Serving size = 2 TBSP
calories
67
fat (grams)
4.5
carbs (grams)
2.1
protein (grams)
4.4
Created using The Recipes Generator


Pin Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip!

Creamy Ranch Buffalo Chicken Dip pin


More dips to love...

Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dip from Flavor Mosaic
Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus from Renee's Kitchen Adventures
Creamy Caramelized Onion Dip from Life Tastes Good 




Like what you see?  Follow RKA on all these social networks!!

17 comments:

  1. I have never made a chicken dip, but am so tempted to give this a try as it looks so creamy and delicious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Angie! You should definitely give this recipe a try! Yes, it is very creamy! We gobbled it up pretty quickly!

      Delete
  2. This looks delicious - I may need to make this for the Eagles game on Friday! I love that you can use the Kraft Ranch Lite version yet not sacrifice on taste. Thanks so much! #client

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you Stephanie!! Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope all your Eagle fans enjoy this recipe! :)

      Delete
  3. This dip is just like a light meal itself.. :) I would love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Considering that I am addicted to all things buffalo chicken, I know I will love this!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Renee, I do love the fact that you use "real" chicken and suggest leftovers. The additions of the sauteed onion I bet makes a big difference in flavor and texture. Since I'm trying to "step away from the bottle" I think I'll try this with my own homemade ranch dressing. Thanks for this tasty inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  6. My kids are coming to visit this week and I think they would gobble up your dip in a flash! I love that you used real chicken instead of canned which not only is healthier but I'm sure has an amazing taste and texture. Thank you for this recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Terrific looking dip you have here; thanks so much for sharing this recipe with us!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've always wanted to try the buffalo chicken dips, but never have! This looks and sounds delish! I look forward to giving it a go! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The recipe doesn't tell what to do with the celery and onion once it is set aside.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Renee! Can I use cream cheese instead of Neufchatel cheese?

    Thanks,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  11. SavŠµd as a favorite, I love your web site!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting! Share what's on your mind and make my day! Make this recipe? I'd love to hear how it turned out for you! Share on social media with #RKArecipes

>