My latest article in Q Magazine came out last week in which I shared a couple of my favorite, lightened-up tailgating recipes to whip up for this weekend’s football game (no matter which team you’re rooting for!). First up, Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip!
My mouth waters at the mere mention of buffalo chicken dip, but I’m usually dodging giant puddles of butter when digging in – blech. This recipe has NO butter, and is lightened up with Greek Yogurt. It’s sensational!!
Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients:
6oz Low-Fat Whipped Cream Cheese
6oz Plain Greek Yogurt
6oz shredded chicken
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons Frank’s Buffalo Wing Sauce, divided
3/4 cup Mozzarella cheese, divided
1-1/2 Tablespoons Ranch Dip Mix
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, Greek yogurt, chicken, 1/2 cup buffalo sauce, 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese and ranch dip mix. Spread mixture in an 8×8 glass dish and top with remaining Mozzarella cheese and buffalo sauce. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
There are some creamy dips that claim using carrots or celery as dippers is just as good as using chips - that’s a lie. However,this dip IS just as good with veggies as it is with chips, I promise!
The other recipe I shared was for, Bacon Wrapped Dates.
These sweet & savory bites are ABSOLUTELY irresistible and so easy to make.
Just cut 1 slice lean, center-cut bacon into four sections. Wrap each section around a pitted Medjool or California date, secure with a toothpick, then broil on a cooling rack set atop a cookie sheet for 3 to 4 minutes a side.
You can serve these warm or at room temperature, and pop 5 for under 200 calories. Although, I’ll warn you, you’ll want to eat the entire pan!!
Let me know if you give either one of these recipes a whirl this weekend and, go HAWKS! 
PS: if you left a comment on last night’s “So You Want to Start a Blog” post, my brother has posted a reply to it. Check it out!
I love bacon wrapped dates! Especially when they are also cheese stuffed.
IM making this dip next time Im in Ames for a game! GO CYCLONES
Ooooh! I’ll have to try the buffalo chicken dip… I’ve made it before, the REALLY rich kind. But my brother and mother DETEST bleu cheese (so unfortunate, I KNOW) so they might LOVE this one w/o it!
I’m always onboard the bacon train!
Bacon wrapped dates sound SO delicious. Those are two foods I am obsessed with, but would have never thought to combine. It definitely sounds like an amazing sweet and salty combo. I have to make some – yum!
oh my – that dip looks awesome!!!
I’ve had bacon wrapped dates, and they are so addicting!
Love the bacon-wrapped date recipe.
Two extremely pleasing recipes for football season! The Buffalo Dip also works very well with crab for those who don’t eat meat.
I know that this completely unrelated, but you had posted a recipe for Baked Ziti awhile back and I can’t find it! Help!
I love bacon wrapped dates… the last time I made them I um, yeah… I stuffed them with goat cheese first.
GAAH !! so good.
I also love buffalo chix dip – and I make it like you do, a little healthified… and YES INDEED it is good with celery!!
Buffalo chicken dip is the best. No questions. That and a beer and I’m set!
That dip looks awesome! I never would’ve thought of that!! Congrats on getting your recipes published! What an honor.
Oh man I am totally going to make that dip this weekend. Go Hawks!
That buffalo dip looks amazing! I want to try it.
Ok, I need to stop using the little scroll wheel on my mouse to move the page down. At first I thought you said “Up next is my Buffalo Chips”
D’oh!
Totally making those bacon dates for a tailgating party we’re doing next month. Thanks!
That buffalo dip looks a lot healthier than my current version! So glad you shared!
i make a great buffalo ranch chicken dip but i love your lightened up version!
These recipes look yummy! I will have to give them a whirl! Thanks so much for sharing them
I want to be in a magazine!!
The buffalo chicken dip looks so yummy! Trying it for sure!
OMG! this is a definite try and keeper! – oooh – what about with black olives?
I love bacon-wrapped dates. We stuff our dates with blue cheese before wrapping in bacon – amazing!
Yes! I love both of those dishes…..I’m definitely making that Buffalo Chicken Dip this weekend!
So funny, my husband just requested bacon wrapped dates for his b-day party this weekend! I might just have to make the buffalo chicken dip as well. Delicious.
I love the lightened up buffalo dip… I gotta try that out this weekend!
I think I’ll take that Buffalo Chicken Dip to the Iowa game this weekend.
GO HAWKS!!
By the way, since I am taking this to a tailgate, I don’t really want to take glass. Do you think I can bake it in a metal disposable pie pan or something like that? Thanks.
I’ve taken things like this in those gladware – bakeware plastic baking dishes with a lid-I think you can heat up to 400 degrees in these plastic dishes.
Thanks!
I CANNOT believe he responded to that many people! Are you the nicest family in the US?!? I think so.
Tell me – Do you taste the “tang” that is so familiar to Greek yogurt in this?
Didn’t you go to UNI? Go Hawks?? Boooooooooo
I can’t wait to make this Buffalo Chicken Dip! It looks amazing!
That buffalo dip looks amazing! Usually there’s blue cheese in the kind of thing and I am not a fan. So glad this one uses Ranch! I’m SO making this!
I’ve never had buffalo chicken dip…sounds awesome!
I am with you on how the fuller fat buffalo chicken dips, after the first corner is taken, the grease just kind of pools at the bottom – ew!
Yep, your buffalo chicken dip is going on my list of things to make – stat!
Sounds so Stinkin’ YUMMY!! Can’t wait to try both.
)
I LOVE buffalo chicken dip too!!!! It’s a game day staple! I’ve never tried it with Greek Yogurt, so that is on my to-do list!
http://ferventfoodie.com/2010/08/29/buffalo-chicken-dip-rocks-my-world/
The bacon wrapped dates look awesome, I can just taste the rich bacon with the sweet date! Mmmmm!
Congrats on yet another publication! Are you sure you should leave the publisher you worked for??? It just seems like such a good fit!
That dip looks and sounds AmmmaaaaZING! I’ll have to make it sometime!
And yes, GO HAWKS! This is going to be a huge game!
I am making this TOINGHT. Looks delicious, and go Hawks! Norm, Norm, Norm!
I had buffalo chicken dip for the first time last night and loved it, but knew I would never make it knowing all the cream cheese that was in there, but I am putting this one on my list! Yummo and with a lot less fat and calories! Thanks!!
[...] this buffalo chicken then put the leftovers on nachos…or pizza…or in a dip…or on a salad. You won’t have enough for everything because you’ll want to eat it [...]
[...] Bacon Wrapped Dates [...]
Made the buffalo chicken dip tonight for the rose bowl game (sigh, sad result for this wisco fan)~ but the dip was a huge hit! Thanks for the recipe!!
[...] Bacon Wrapped Dates [...]
[...] Ok, so now the lower fat versions. I actually have 2 that I want to try. One is from Iowa Girl Eats. http://iowagirleats.com/2010/10/20/2-easy-tasty-tailgating-recipes/ [...]
[...] this Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe has been in serious rotation at our house. I found it at Iowa Girl Eats, one of my favorite healthy [...]
[...] #1. Iowa Girl Eat’s Buffalo Chicken Dip [...]
[...] buffalo chicken dip from Iowa Girl Eats [...]
[...] With Buffalo Chicken Dip, [...]
[...] partay in a bit. We’re bringing Slimmed Down Buffalo Chicken Dip, Mini Corn Dog Muffins, Bacon Wrapped Dates, and [...]
[...] introduce the savory combination of bacon and swiss cheese, in dip form. (You can thank me later.) Buffalo chicken dip is also a crowd favorite, and you can never go wrong with guacamole. Plate your favorite dips with [...]