Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip that's every bit as flavorful, creamy, and fabulous as the kind we used to eat! This dairy free and gluten free vegan dip is made with only 8 ingredients and it's a crowd pleaser! Serve it at your next party with our Cannellini Bean Dip, Lemon Ginger Dip, and our amazing guacamole!
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Hi there! Thanks for visiting us, we’re so happy you’re here. If you’re looking for Southern and Midwestern inspired vegan comfort food recipes, you’ve come to the right place.
We love vegan comfort food and we’re really good at making it. Take a tour through our site and you’ll find all of the recipes that scream, stretchy pants required!
The good news, they’re all plant-based recipes, so you don’t need to feel guilty eating them. Now sit back, relax, and eat happy. 🙂
Also, in case you didn't know, we're published cookbook authors. We've written two vegan cookbooks that will help you make amazing vegan BBQ (you don't even need a grill) and everyday meals, from breakfast to dessert.
Click on the titles to check them out. GREAT VEGAN BBQ WITHOUT A GRILL
and THE ULTIMATE VEGAN COOKBOOK
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DAIRY FREE BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP IS A GREAT GAME DAY APPETIZER!
If you know the Midwest, then you know that Buffalo Chicken Dip is required at all game day festivities.
It is the party appetizer to beat all appetizers.
The smoky, spicy, savory flavors are so welcoming with a cold beer, or whatever your beverage of choice may be, and the creamy and chewy texture is perfection.
When we were creating recipes for our cookbook, Great Vegan BBQ Without A Grill, we knew that this spicy vegan dip had to be in it.
It took us a few days of testing this recipe to get it just right, however, all of that work was worth it, because as a result, it’s become the most requested dip recipe by our omni family and friends.
HOW DO YOU MAKE BUFFALO DIP VEGAN?
Cashews and jackfruit are our besties when it comes to making dairy free and meat free recipes, therefore, we use them often.
CASHEWS
When cashews are soaked in water or boiled, they become soft, consequently, when you blend them, they become creamy.
That thick and creamy texture is perfect for duplicating cream cheese, which is an important ingredient in this recipe.
Additionally, cashews have a neutral flavor, so you can make cheese sauce and cheesecake out of them without compromising taste.
Jackfruit is the other star of vegan buffalo dip.
Young green jackfruit is also neutral in flavor, furthermore, it shreds like chicken, so the texture is spot on.
The first time we served this to our omni friends they couldn’t believe that it wasn’t actually made with cheese and chicken.
As a result of the combination of ingredients, this whole food plant-based combo tastes like buffalo wings that are shredded in a cheesy dip.
If you're curious about jackfruit, here are a few more of our favorite jackfruit recipes: jackfruit crab cakes, jackfruit tuna salad, pulled pork.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE VEGAN BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP?
- You’ll need 1 cup of raw cashews that have been soaked in water overnight or boiled for 15 minutes.
- ½ of a lemon: This is what helps give the cashew cream cheese it’s acidic flavor.
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast: NOT brewer’s or active yeast! Nutritional yeast is a different product and it gives a nice cheesy flavor to the cashews.
- 14 oz of young green jackfruit: DO NOT use ripened or fresh jackfruit or it will taste sweet.
- ½ cup Buffalo Sauce: Make our recipe or buy a vegan brand.
- 1/3 cup ranch dressing: Make our recipe or buy a vegan brand.
- ¼ cup chopped fresh chives: These add a nice peppery flavor and color to the dip.
HOW DO YOU MAKE BUFFALO DIP WITH JACKFRUIT?
This is such an easy homemade dip, y’all!
You have a few options for the vegan buffalo sauce and the vegan ranch dressing that you’ll need for this recipe.
Vegan Buffalo Sauce:
You can make our buffalo sauce ahead of time, and we always suggest having some on hand. Or you can buy some.
Vegan Ranch Dressing:
Again, you make our recipe (so good) or you can buy it ready made.
Once you have those two staples, follow these easy steps:
STEP ONE
Drain and rinse the soaked (or boiled) cashews and put them in the blender with the lemon juice, water, paprika, salt (optional), and nutritional yeast and blend until smooth and creamy.
STEP TWO
Rinse the jackfruit well and use your fingers to shred the fruit so it resembles pulled chicken.
STEP THREE
In an oven safe dish (approximately 8-inch), Stir the jackfruit with the cashew cheese, buffalo sauce, and ranch dip until well combined.
Bake for 18 minutes, or until it’s lightly browned on top.
Sprinkle the chives on top.
WHAT SHOULD I SERVE WITH VEGETARIAN BUFFALO DIP?
Here is a list of our favorite dippables:
- Celery sticks - it cools the heat from the buffalo sauce.
- Carrot sticks – we love the sweetness of the carrot with the spicy dip.
- Bell pepper wedges – like the carrots, the bell pepper adds a subtle sweetness.
- Crackers – because, duh! 😉
- Toasted garlic bread rounds – trust us on this. So good!
MORE VEGAN PARTY FOODS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Empanadas
Make our healthy buffalo chicken dip and let us know what you think. We love to hear from you! And, don’t forget to take a picture of your gorgeous creation and tag us @veganosity on Instagram.
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Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip
Equipment
- Blender
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews soaked overnight or boiled for 15 minutes
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup water add more if you need to thin it a bit more
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground sea salt
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast SEE NOTE
- 14 oz young green jackfruit packed in water not brine, SEE NOTE
- ½ cup vegan buffalo sauce link to our homemade sauce is in the instructions.
- 1/3 cup vegan ranch dressing link to our homemade dressing is in the instructions.
- ¼ cup fresh chives chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C).
- Drain and rinse the 1 cup of cashews and place them in a high-speed blender with the 2 tbsp lemon juice, ¼ cup (more if needewater, ¼ tsp paprika, ½ tsp sea salt, and 1/3 cup nutritional yeast.
- Blend on a high setting until smooth and creamy. You shouldn’t see any solid pieces of the nuts.
- Rinse the 14 oz of jackfruit and shred with your fingers until it looks like shredded chicken. Toss the hard pieces away.
- In an 8 inch oven safe dish, stir the jackfruit, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and cashew cheese until well combined.
- Bake for approximately 18 minutes or until lightly browned on top.
- Serve with chopped veggies, crostini, or tortilla chips.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
DO NOT substitute brewer’s yeast or active dry yeast for nutritional yeast. They are not the same things and they will ruin the recipe.
Use YOUNG GREEN JACKFRUIT packed in WATER. It will be too salty if packed in brine. Ripe jackfruit is too sweet and will ruin the recipe.
Nutrition
Christine @ Run Plant Based says
Wow, this looks perfect and I want to plan a party just so we can try it, haha. Thanks!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks! It's definitely the perfect party food.
Rosamonde Simone @ KetoBotyToneAvis says
Your recipe of 'vegan-buffalo-chicken-dip' looks very amazing and easy to make. I love it, thank you for sharing it.
Linda Meyer says
Thank you so much!
Morgan @ Gowell Health Tips says
I want to thank you for this informative read; I really appreciate sharing this great.
Linda Meyer says
Our pleasure. Thank you!
Amanda says
Love this! Just made it tonight as a trial run for a work party. Would putting it in a crockpot work as well? Trying to figure out how to serve it warm at work and have mini “dip” crock pots. Thoughts??
Linda Meyer says
Hi Amanda! It should be fine as long as you keep it on a low setting. Thanks so much for the kind comment, we're happy you like it. 🙂
Marcy says
Can you please tell me more about the jackfruit? I always buy refrigerated jackfruit--did you use canned? I don't like to buy anything in a can because of BPA/BPS. I don't know if the refrigerated jackfruit is young or ripe--it just says jackfruit on the package.
Alex Meyer, MA says
Hi Marcy! Thanks so much for the comment! If you can find a refrigerated young jackfruit then that would be fine! If you don't want a can Edward and Son's has young jackfruit in a box. Hope this helps!
Have a great day,
Alex & Linda
naya says
can I use canned jackfruit?
Linda Meyer says
Hi Naya! Yes, just make sure it's young green jackfruit that's packed in water. 🙂