Heather’s Buffalo Chicken Dip is a delicious and easy buffalo chicken dip that allows you to control the heat level while enjoying every flavor of this hearty dip.
My family loves Buffalo Chicken Dip. This is Heather’s adaptation of the recipe. We like this one a lot because it’s not all mixed together. Drizzling the ranch and buffalo sauce on the top allows you to get a taste of each without them being all combined. It’s also great because you can control the heat level by adding more or less buffalo wing sauce. If you want a real kick on the heat level, you could even sprinkle a little hot sauce on top!.
Buffalo chicken dip is one of my favorite appetizers to make for parties and game days. The combination of spicy buffalo sauce, creamy cheese, and chicken is simply irresistible. However, I’ve noticed that my buffalo chicken dip sometimes turns out unpleasantly greasy. The thick layer of oil floating on top ruins the texture and makes it much less appetizing.
I wanted to find out why my buffalo chicken dip was so greasy and how to make sure it wouldn’t happen again after having this problem a few times. I’ve learned from research and making mistakes in my kitchen what makes buffalo chicken dip greasy and how to make the recipe better. Why might your buffalo chicken dip be greasy? Read on to find out, and learn how to easily avoid making a greasy dip again.
What Causes Greasy Buffalo Chicken Dip?
There are a few key culprits that can lead to a greasy mess when making buffalo chicken dip. Here are the most common causes:
1. Using Full-Fat Dairy Products
Buffalo chicken dip relies on cheese and creamy dairy products like cream cheese or sour cream to achieve its signature texture. However, full-fat varieties release more oil when heated. Using full-fat cream cheese or sour cream instead of lower-fat versions adds more grease to the overall recipe.
2. Excessive Amounts of Cheese
Cheese is essential for gooey, indulgent buffalo chicken dip, but too much can make the dip oily. Many recipes call for up to two cups of shredded cheese. Limiting it to 1 cup max reduces grease without sacrificing cheesy flavor.
3. High-Fat Chicken
The type of chicken used also impacts grease levels. Skin-on chicken thighs or wings add extra fat versus skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Canned chicken can also contain fat from processing.
4. Not Draining Canned Chicken
When it comes to canned chicken, if you don’t drain and rinse it, the extra fat and liquid that gets into the dip makes it greasy.
5. Hot Sauce or Butter
While buffalo sauce and butter provide signature flavor, using too much adds extra oils that lead to greasiness. Go easy on the butter and add hot sauce to taste.
6. Cooking Method
High, direct heat causes oils to separate and rise to the top. Baking gives an evenly cooked dip. Stovetop cooking or microwaving often leads to a greasy mess.
Tips to Prevent Greasy Buffalo Chicken Dip
With a few easy changes and cooking tips, you can enjoy buffalo chicken without the mess and without a dip that’s full of grease. Here are my top tips:
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Use cream cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheese that are low in fat or have been reduced in fat. This lowers the amount of fat that makes things greasy while still making them creamy.
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Drain and rinse canned chicken thoroughly before mixing into the dip to remove excess fat and liquids.
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Skin and debone chicken thighs or breasts to reduce fat content before shredding or chopping.
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Limit butter to 2-3 tablespoons max and add hot sauce gradually until desired spice level is reached.
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Combine all ingredients thoroughly so fats are fully incorporated rather than separating.
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Bake the dip in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes to prevent separating from direct stovetop heat.
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Blot excess grease from the surface with a paper towel halfway through baking if needed.
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Add a cornstarch slurry at the end of cooking if the dip still seems oily to help absorb fat.
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Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving so grease solidifies for easier removal.
Fixing an Already Greasy Buffalo Chicken Dip
What if your buffalo chicken dip has already turned out greasy? Don’t worry, it can be fixed! You have a couple options:
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Spoon or blot off any excess oil pooling on the surface before serving.
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Stir vigorously to reincorporate separated fat back into the dip.
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Add a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1-2 tbsp water to thicken and absorb grease.
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Cook an additional 3-5 minutes to solidify grease for removal.
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Add 1-2 tablespoons of cream cheese or shredded cheese to emulsify and bind grease.
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Transfer to ovenproof dish, top with extra cheese, and bake 5 more minutes.
With a little extra elbow grease, even an already greasy dip can be remedied for a creamy, crowd-pleasing result.
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip Alternatives
If you love buffalo chicken flavor but want to lighten up the indulgence, there are several healthier substitutions you can make:
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Use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or cream cheese for a protein-packed, low-fat base.
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Opt for a low-fat shredded cheese like part-skim mozzarella.
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Mix in chopped carrots, celery, bell peppers, or cauliflower for added vegetables.
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Consider whole wheat crackers, celery, or bell pepper strips for dipping instead of chips.
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Use hot sauce combined with yogurt or cottage cheese rather than heavy butter for creaminess.
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Swap in shredded rotisserie chicken breast instead of fried chicken wings or thighs.
With a few simple tweaks, you can still enjoy buffalo chicken dip guilt-free! The flavor you love doesn’t have to come with extra grease.
Perfectly Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip Every Time
By understanding the common pitfalls that lead to greasy buffalo chicken dip and implementing a few easy preventive strategies, you can feel confident your dip will turn out perfectly creamy and delicious each time. Limit fat-heavy ingredients, drain chicken, mix thoroughly, and bake don’t fry.
Greasy buffalo chicken dip may happen occasionally, but it doesn’t have to ruin a good thing. With my handy tips and tricks, you can conquer the grease and enjoy this appetizer favorite without the mess. Say goodbye to greasy dips and hello to your new go-to recipe for game day success!
How do you keep buffalo chicken dip from separating?
As I mentioned above, oftentimes it’s the ingredients or the baking that causes your chicken dip to separate or get greasy. Here are a few tips to consider to prevent that from becoming an issue:
- This recipe calls for 1 (8-ounce) block of cream cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Be careful not to use too much cheese! Make sure you use the exact amount I say here.
- If you’re sure you followed my recipe exactly when it comes to how much cheese to use and the mixture still turned out greasy or separated, try a lower-fat cheese next time. Getting rid of some of the fat can help stop this from happening sometimes.
- Take the skin off or use lean chicken! My recipe calls for 2 (12) 5-ounce) cans of white meat chicken, drained. When you use a can, you don’t have to worry about the chicken not being lean or having skin on it. If you really want to use your own baked and shredded chicken or a rotisserie chicken, just make sure you get the lean meat and take off all the skin.
- Drain excess liquid from the cooked chicken. In the recipe, I say that the chicken has been “drained.” The chicken in a can comes in water, so make sure to drain off as much of that as you can. Even a paper towel could be used to soak up as much water as possible.
- Bake it for the recommended time, not longer. I really want you to follow this recipe’s baking instructions. Also, don’t cook your dip longer if you see grease building up or the dish separating. Extending the bake time will actually make it worse.
- Skim off any excess oil during baking. It’s okay to use a spoon to remove some of the grease if you see it building up. This will help with the “separating” look.
Why does my buffalo chicken dip get so greasy?
This dip recipe doesn’t usually get too greasy for me, but there are a few things that could be making your buffalo chicken dip greasy. It typically is an issue with the ingredients or the bake time. It’s important that you follow this buffalo chicken dip recipe I have laid out for you just as it is. Trust me… I ended up with several greasy dips before I found the perfect recipe. That’s what I’m here for! I test out the recipes, so you don’t have to!.
Honey Buffalo Chicken Dip goes HARD
FAQ
Why does my Buffalo chicken dip look greasy?
The greasiness comes from the fat in the cheese, particularly if you opt for the common but high-fat choice of cream cheese. Mar 9, 2025.
How do I know if my Buffalo chicken dip is bad?
How do you tell if Buffalo Chicken Dip is bad? First, check the dip for any visible mold or odd colors, as these can be signs of spoilage. Next, give it a good sniff. Bad buffalo chicken dip often develops a sour or off smell.
How to fix Buffalo chicken dip?
directionsBeat cream cheese, ranch dressing, and red hot sauce. Fold in shredded chicken. Spread mixture into pie plate sprayed with Pam. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Add cheddar cheese to top. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot with Frito scoops.
Why is Buffalo chicken dip soupy?
Most of the time, a runny dip means you didn’t use enough chicken or added too much ranch or buffalo sauce. Using low-fat cream cheese will also give you runny results which is why the full-fat type is best.