This Buffalo Chicken Dip with Cottage Cheese offers a healthier alternative to traditional creamy dips without sacrificing flavor. The combination of shredded rotisserie chicken, spicy hot sauce, and creamy cottage cheese creates a satisfying appetizer that’s both delicious and nutritious.
Perfect for game days, parties, or casual gatherings, this dip is sure to be a hit with your guests. Serve it with your favorite dippers like tortilla chips, celery sticks, or carrot sticks for a delightful snacking experience.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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2 cups cooked and shredded rotisserie chicken breast
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1½ cups cottage cheese
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½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
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½ cup Frank’s RedHot® Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
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½ teaspoon garlic powder
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½ teaspoon onion powder
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¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
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¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
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⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
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Optional: green onions and blue cheese crumbles for garnish
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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In a food processor or blender, blend cottage cheese until smooth.
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In a large bowl, combine the blended cottage cheese, shredded chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, parsley flakes, and black pepper. Mix well.
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Transfer the mixture into a shallow 1-quart baking dish.
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Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the dip is heated through and the top is lightly browned.
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If desired, garnish with green onions and blue cheese crumbles before serving.
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Serve immediately with your choice of dippers such as tortilla chips, celery sticks, or carrot sticks.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20–25 minutes
Total Time: 30–35 minutes
Kcal: Approximately 250 kcal per serving
Servings: 4
Introduction to Buffalo Chicken Dip with Cottage Cheese
Buffalo chicken dip is a staple at parties, tailgates, and casual gatherings. It’s bold, creamy, spicy, and always a crowd-pleaser. But traditional versions of this dip are often loaded with heavy cream cheese, sour cream, and sometimes even butter, making it a calorie-dense indulgence. Enter the Cottage Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip — a lighter, high-protein twist on the classic recipe that maintains all the flavor but with a healthier profile. By using cottage cheese in place of more traditional full-fat dairy ingredients, you get a smooth, creamy texture while slashing the fat and increasing the protein. This version is just as satisfying and makes you feel better about going back for seconds.
Why Cottage Cheese is a Game-Changer
Cottage cheese has made a serious comeback in the health and wellness space. Once seen as a bland diet food, it’s now recognized for its versatility and nutritional value. It’s high in protein, relatively low in calories, and packed with calcium and B vitamins. In this Buffalo Chicken Dip, blending the cottage cheese creates a smooth and creamy base that mimics the richness of cream cheese or sour cream without the extra fat. This makes the dip not only more nutritious but also suitable for those keeping an eye on their macros or looking for higher protein snacks. The mild flavor of cottage cheese is a blank canvas, absorbing the bold notes of buffalo sauce and cheddar seamlessly.
Perfect for High-Protein Diets and Fitness Enthusiasts
One of the biggest appeals of this cottage cheese-based dip is its suitability for high-protein diets. If you’re into fitness, bodybuilding, or simply trying to maintain muscle while losing fat, protein is essential. This dip checks that box with a hearty dose of protein from both the chicken and cottage cheese. It’s also lower in carbohydrates compared to many traditional party dips, making it a great option for those on low-carb or ketogenic meal plans — especially if served with veggie sticks instead of chips. Even if you’re not a gym-goer, having a high-protein snack helps you stay fuller longer and can curb cravings, making it a smart addition to any diet.
Flavor Profile and Texture
This dish delivers a satisfying mix of creamy, spicy, tangy, and savory in every bite. The Frank’s RedHot sauce brings that signature buffalo kick, balanced by the cool, slightly tangy cottage cheese. Shredded cheddar adds richness and a melty finish after baking. Optional garnishes like green onions and blue cheese crumbles give the dip texture and complexity, elevating it from a simple snack to something that tastes gourmet. The texture is velvety and smooth thanks to the blended cottage cheese, with tender shreds of chicken adding heartiness and chew. When served warm and bubbly from the oven, it becomes irresistibly creamy — the kind of comfort food that has people hovering around the appetizer table.
Great for Make-Ahead Meal Prep
Another great advantage of this dip is its meal prep potential. You can easily prepare the mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake. In fact, letting it sit for a few hours or overnight can actually enhance the flavors as the seasonings blend more thoroughly. It’s ideal for busy hosts, as you can simply pop it in the oven 20 minutes before guests arrive. And if you have leftovers, this dip stores well in the fridge and reheats beautifully in the microwave or oven. You can even enjoy it cold, spread on whole-grain crackers or inside a wrap with lettuce for a high-protein snack or light lunch.
Serving Suggestions and Pairing Ideas
While tortilla chips are the go-to dipper for most, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy this Buffalo Chicken Dip. For a low-carb option, try celery sticks, cucumber slices, or mini bell pepper halves — they add crunch and freshness while keeping things light. Toasted pita chips, breadsticks, or pretzel crisps are great for more indulgent snacking. It also works well as a sandwich spread, a filling for stuffed sweet potatoes, or spooned over a salad for a spicy protein boost. For drinks, this dip pairs well with crisp beers, hard seltzers, or a cold glass of lemonade to balance the heat of the buffalo sauce.
Versatility and Customization
One of the best things about this recipe is how adaptable it is. You can spice it up even more with extra hot sauce, jalapeños, or cayenne pepper if you’re into heat. Prefer a milder version? Use less hot sauce or mix in a bit of ranch dressing to mellow the spice. Not a fan of cheddar? Try shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack for a different flavor. You can even make it vegetarian by replacing the chicken with jackfruit, chickpeas, or a plant-based meat substitute. The cottage cheese keeps it creamy no matter what, so you can customize it to suit your preferences without losing the texture.
Why It’s a Party Favorite
Everyone loves a good dip at a party, and this one checks all the boxes: it’s warm, comforting, flavorful, and feeds a crowd. Guests may not even realize it’s a healthier version of their favorite game-day snack. It’s easy to double or triple the recipe for larger groups, and since it’s oven-baked in one dish, there’s minimal cleanup. The spicy aroma of bubbling buffalo sauce and cheddar is enough to get people crowding around the food table. It’s one of those dishes that disappears quickly, so you might want to make extra.
Healthier Comfort Food That Doesn’t Sacrifice Flavor
Comfort food often gets a bad reputation for being unhealthy, but this dip proves that you can enjoy rich, creamy, satisfying dishes without loading up on empty calories. Using cottage cheese is a simple but powerful way to lighten up recipes, and this dish is proof that you don’t need heavy creams or cheeses to make something taste indulgent. It’s also gluten-free and can be tailored to fit a variety of dietary needs. Whether you’re trying to eat better, bulk up your protein intake, or just want a new twist on an old favorite, this Buffalo Chicken Dip delivers.
Conclusion
The Cottage Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip is more than just a tasty appetizer — it’s a smart, protein-rich alternative to traditional dips that fits into nearly any lifestyle. It’s perfect for gatherings, easy to prep, endlessly versatile, and most importantly, it satisfies cravings without the guilt. From its creamy texture and bold flavor to its nutrient-packed profile, this dip is a must-try whether you’re hosting a party, meal prepping for the week, or simply looking to upgrade your snack game. Once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s quickly becoming a staple in health-conscious kitchens and game-day spreads alike.