I think we can all agree that buffalo chicken dip is pretty much the most quintessential game day appetizer out there. It’s hearty, cheesy, satisfying, salty, spicy and perfect for dipping.
I wasn’t about to drop another buffalo chicken dip recipe on the internet because a) that’s boring and basic and 2) there are only so many ways to make it. Ya feel?
What I did want to do though, was make a vegetarian buffalo dip without chicken but still have it be just as crave-worthy and addicting enough to belong in your game day spread. As I mentioned before, I’ve been trying to incorporate more plant based and vegetarian-friendly recipes into AK and know that many of you are trying to eat less meat too.
Let’s start with a bomb a$$ white bean buffalo dip that’s creamy, a little healthier than the original version and made with three different types of cheeses for the ultimate party dip!
P.S. if you are going to make a buffalo chicken dip, it should 100% be my Bubbly Hot Chicken Enchilada Bean Dip.
FREE Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide (+ printable checklist!)
Whether you’re hosting or just attending, this Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide email series is for everyone. Enter your email below to get all of my best recipes, tips, and a FREE printable checklist for all of your Thanksgiving needs.
Ingredients in this easy vegetarian buffalo dip recipe
This delicious vegetarian buffalo dip has a creamy buffalo white bean base, three different kinds of cheese, hearty mix-ins and a pop of fresh cilantro on top that you’ll love. Here’s what you’ll need for the recipe:
- White beans: you’ll blend a can of white beans and keep another can whole for a delicious texture. This is your chicken replacement! Plus white beans are packed with fiber, iron and protein. Heck yes!
- Plain greek yogurt: this will add a wonderful creaminess to the cheesy white bean dip. You can also use sour cream. I typically go for whole milk greek yogurt but it’s up to you!
- Cheeses: we’re adding in cream cheese, mozzarella cheese AND sharp cheddar cheese for the ultimate flavor. Feel free to use regular or low fat cream cheese.
- Buffalo sauce: to make it a cheesy buffalo dip! Use your go-to buffalo sauce – hot or medium! I personally love this paleo friendly buffalo sauce.
- Topping: I like to top this veggie buffalo dip with cilantro & green onion for a pop of freshness.
How to make buffalo dip without chicken
This white bean buffalo dip is SUPER easy to make, only requires 8 ingredients and can even be made ahead of time. Here’s how to make it:
- Blend it. In the bowl of a food processor add in 1 can of drained and rinsed white beans, cream cheese, greek yogurt and buffalo sauce; process/blend until smooth. Pour it into a prepared skillet or pan.
- Bake it. Gently stir in the remaining can of rinsed and drained beans, some of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese and green onions; spread evenly. Add remaining shredded cheeses on top and bake until cheese is bubbling and slightly golden brown along the edges.
- Serve it. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, pita chips, plus carrot and celery sticks.
Spice it up
This vegetarian buffalo dip recipe is easy to customize by adding some heat. To make it a little bit spicier, I’d recommend adding:
- A spicy buffalo sauce like this one
- Spicy shredded cheddar cheese
- And some sliced jalapeños on top!
You’ll make the vegetarian white bean buffalo dip the same way while easily swapping in those ingredients. YUM!
Make it ahead of time
If you want to prepare this vegetarian buffalo dip ahead of time, you totally can!
- Mix all ingredients together in the pan as directed and cover with cheese.
- Place foil over the top of the pan, then place it in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Bake when you’re ready! You may need to add 5-10 extra minutes of baking time, but the buffalo dip will still be delicious! This vegetarian buffalo dip can be prepared up to 3 days ahead of time. Perfect for game day!
What to serve with this white bean buffalo dip
There are tons of amazing ways to serve this deliciously cheesy buffalo dip. I recommend:
- Your fav tortilla chips or pita chips
- Plenty of veggies like celery and carrot sticks
- These easy paleo crackers
- On top of tacos, burritos or burrito bowls!
More delicious homemade dips
- Vegan Jalapeño Butternut Squash Queso
- How to Make Super Creamy Hummus (+5 different flavor variations!)
- Spicy Green Cashew Dip
- Bubbly Hot Chicken Enchilada Bean Dip
- Fresh & Healthy 7-Layer Dip
Get all of our amazing dips & salsas here!
I hope you love this vegetarian white bean buffalo dip recipe. If you make it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe — I really appreciate it! xo.
Vegetarian White Bean Buffalo Dip
Ingredients
- For the buffalo white bean base:
- 1 (15 ounce) can white beans, rinsed and drained
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup plain whole milk greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 2/3 cup medium or hot buffalo sauce
- For the mix-ins:
- 1 (15 ounce) can white beans, rinsed and drained
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ¾ cup sharp cheddar cheese (or a spicy cheddar if you’d like), divided
- ¼ cup diced green onion (green part only)
- To garnish:
- Fresh cilantro
- Extra green onion
- For serving:
- Tortilla chips
- Carrot sticks
- Celery sticks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Grease a 9 inch oven safe skillet or 8x8 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a food processor add in 1 can of drained and rinsed white beans, cream cheese, greek yogurt and buffalo sauce; process/blend until smooth. Pour it into prepared skillet or pan.
- Gently stir in remaining can of rinsed and drained beans, 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and green onions; spread evenly. Add remaining shredded cheeses on top and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and slightly golden brown along the edges. Garnish with cilantro and extra green onion. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, pita chips, plus carrot and celery sticks.
Recipe Notes
- a spicy buffalo sauce
- spicy shredded cheddar cheese
- and some sliced jalapeños on top!
Nutrition
This post was originally published on January 14th, 2021, and republished on January 5th, 2022.
134 comments
WOW this is genius! will try and rate when i do!
Enjoy!!
Why didn’t I think of this?! This is so delicious. I love the swap of white beans for chicken. My meat-eating husband even enjoyed it. It’s still a treat for me, since I try to limit my dairy consumption, but I will be making this time and time again. I loved it with celery and pita bread.
Aren’t the white beans delicious? Glad you both enjoyed!
This was really good! Highly recommend. You certainly don’t miss or even notice the absence of chicken. Definitely saving for my next gathering/potluck.
So happy you liked it! Love this one for parties & potlucks 🙂
Super good!
Glad you liked it!
I LOVE this recipe! My husband is a huge fan of buffalo chicken dip and he ate half the pan in one serving. Will definitely be making again.
I’m glad it was a big hit! New fav over here, too 🙂
5 stars ain’t enough for this dip! It’s soooooo good. Better than any version with chicken in it.
So happy you loved it! Agreed about the chicken 😉
I made this for the Super Bowl. My friends are somewhat vegetarian they mostly come back and meets but they loved this dip. And so did I. We had some left over so now I’m heating it different crackers and put it on top of other things. I would make this again
Delicious! Love this dip as a protein-packed snack with crackers 🙂 so glad your friends loved it!
I made this for the super bowl and it was the clear favorite dish! SO GOOD. Used white beans for the base and stirred in chickpeas for the final step. Can’t wait to make again!
Amazing!! So happy to hear that. Love the idea of adding chickpeas 🙂
I dis yesterday. So delicious !!!
Glad you loved it!
So delicious!!! I brought this to a superbowl party and nobody had any idea it was vegetarian. Huge hit and now a go-to for my family instead of the traditional chicken buffalo dip.
Amazing! So happy to hear that!
This recipe was amazing! We used it as filling in baked potatoes for a hearty, delicious dinner. The recipe is perfect as-is – I wouldn’t change a thing!
Love that idea! Sounds delicious 🙂
This was sooo good!!
So happy you liked it!
The BEST buffalo dip I’ve ever had. I’m not a huge fan of chicken so the white beans were a great swap. I will definitely make this again.
Amazing! So happy you loved it!
Another absolute 5-star recipe from AK! Vegetarian guests were super excited for this options………and my carnivores did not even realize there was no chicken – winning! Great with lots o crudite, not just carrots & celery!
On the off chance there is leftovers, AMAZING as a base for Huevos Rancheros or in a burrito…….nachos!
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂 and sounds incredible for breakfast or with nachos!
I LOVE this dip, I could eat it everyday!!
One of my favorites, too! 🙂
This came out sooo good I thought I’d never be able to have buffalo dip again since becoming vegetarian. Thank you!!
So glad you found this one!
Genius! Don’t miss the chicken one bit in this recipe and it’s so, so good!
Right?? The best!
Delicious and super easy to make! My boyfriend eats meat, but absolutely loved this dip!
Amazing! I’m so glad 🙂
DELISHOUS!! I made this for a camping trip – blended everything ahead of time and froze it in an oven proof casserole dish. When it was our day to make dinner, I popped in on the BBQ for 20 min to warm while we did the rest of our food prep and busted out a bag of scoop-y nachos. Everyone DUG IN! So good I’m making it this coming weekend again for camping.
Perfect! Love that idea for camping!
This looks so good! What a great way to enjoy a tasty dip while getting some better nutrients!
Absolutely! The perfect snack 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Does it freeze well?
I haven’t tried it, but I can’t say I would recommend!
This sounds absolutely amazing! Do you think it would wok in a small crock pot?
I think it could work okay! Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
SO GOOD! I’d always make buffalo chicken dip for parties but have been vegetarian for years so haven’t had a buffalo dip in so long and this is so good. I especially love how it gets most of its base/creaminess from the beans and not all cream cheese/dairy like most dips like these do – I’ll be making this again and again!
So glad you found this one! Perfect app 🙂
Fantastic!
So glad you liked it!
This is so delicious! My partner (who is a total meat eater) loves it too. Pairs great with guacamole and salsa for a trio of dips.
So happy to hear that!
This dip was AMAZING we made it for Christmas as an appetizer and we couldn’t stop eating it. I’m a vegetarian but I imagine this is what Buffalo chicken dip tastes like? I was dipping everything, tortilla chips, crackers, carrots, peppers, I put it on my salads, I mean everything. So good.
Absolutely! So glad it was a hit!
Hi! I have loved every recipe of yours I have tried! Can this be made in the slow cooker for parties?
So happy to hear that! I haven’t tried it yet, but I don’t see why not! Let us know if you give it a shot.
Flavorful, quick to make, and really tasty! We are meat eaters through and through and thoroughly enjoyed the flavor. Made as written and wouldn’t change a thing!
Perfect! So happy to hear that 🙂
It was SO good! Didn’t miss the chicken at all, and my entire family (as well as my kids) loved it. I personally used the navy beans because they are creamier than some of the other white beans out there, and it turned out great 😉
Perfect! So happy to hear that!
This dip is amazing. My bf and I are new to the meatless menu and we have been amazed at how good, and good for us, the meals have been. We look forward to trying more recipes from you. Thanks!
Absolutely! Glad you both enjoyed 🙂
Delicious! I made this with cooked dried white beans and it was superb! I love the mix of puréed and whole beans.
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
Vegetarians don’t eat cheese or sour cream. Your title is misleading.
Vegetarians just don’t eat meat. A vegan diet might be what you’re thinking of!
This recipe is AMAZING! I made it for superbowl last year and am making it again this year because it is so good. I modified by using light cream cheese, and non-fat creek yogurt and it still was amazing. Definitely a favorite app!
Love that! Perfect app!
This has become a weekly rotation at our house! We were avid buffalo chicken dip eaters before going vegetarian, so this has been a life savor for us personally. We serve it up in the cast iron and my fiancé and I eat from it! Love it with celery and carrots but also good with chips!
Making this for the second time today! As a true Midwestern, I added extra cheese. It was amazing the first time and I have high hopes for today. Can’t have a Super Bowl without Buffalo dip
Perfect! Love it 🙂
So yummy!
Glad you enjoyed!
I used Frank’s red hot and this was really, really, really salty. Like, we may not be able to finish it salty. In hindsight, that makes sense with this quantity of buffalo sauce but I’d recommend either reducing the amount or getting salt free/reduced salt everything. Otherwise, it was really nice to have the beans to make this healthier and cut the fat.
The amount is pretty similar to a regular buffalo chicken dip and the yogurt + cream cheese should help cut the salt a bit, but definitely noted on the buffalo sauce brand here!
As someone who is so over Buffalo chicken dip, I was excited to see this vegetarian version made with beans! It’s easy to make and tastes amazing. I think next time I’ll add a 1/2 cup instead of 2/3 cup of the Buffalo sauce(it could’ve been the sauce I used, but it was a strong flavor). Otherwise it was a hit with my husband while we watched the big game.
Made this for Super Bowl. We’ve been meatless for a month now and finding recipes that taste good and keep us satisfied is hard. I find myself coming back to ambitious kitchens recipes. Hands down one of the best dips I’ve ever made. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
This recipe is amazing. When I gave up meat, the number one thing I was missing was buffalo chicken dip, this recipe has completely replaced it for me. It’s even better than buffalo chicken dip.
So glad you found this one!
SO yummy!! I’ve made this two weekends in a row and I’m in love. I substituted some cottage cheese in for the cream cheese the first time and that was delicious too. I’ve been eating it with veggies, crackers, and even smearing it on toast!
So happy to hear that! Delicious 🙂
Made this for the superbowl… amazing! Everyone loved it — and perfect for my sister who is a vegetarian and has celiac disease!
Made this for Superbowl snack and it was a hit among everyone in the household! Not only did it satisfy the non-meat eaters, but the meat eaters as well! Served with tortilla chips, the dip was much lighter comparing to traditional chicken buffalo dip. The recipe was very easy and quick to make – no substitutions required! Will make again and again!
I cannot wait to finally make this this weekend! Can you clarify how much of the can of white beans should be added to the food processor with the cream cheese before blending, and how much of the can to fold in after? Thank you!!
You’ll use one full can blended and another full can folded in after 🙂
This dip is delicious- made it twice in the past 2 months. I added some fresh garlic gloves. Thanks Ambitious Kitchen
Love it! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Yum! This is such a great and less heavy version of Buffalo dip! I use only 1/3 cup of the Buffalo sauce – the full 2/3 was too spicy for us. I see this as a go-to for entertaining. 🙂
Absolutely! Perfect appetizer.
I make this regularly and love it so much. I use sour cream and it’s great. I add hemp hearts for added nutrition with no affect to the flavor. So much more than a dip. Top your eggs, put it in a wrap, eat it cold on crackers (mom reality), possibilities are endless.
Perfect! YES love those ideas.
One of my very favorite dip recipes! Just made it for a second time and. My friend loved it!
So happy to hear that!
Delicious! I only added 1/2 c of mozz. and cheddar (and I mixed it all in, didn’t leave any for the topping! Oops, got ahead of myself…) I added a little garlic salt and onion powder too. I love buffalo dip, AND bean dip. Can’t go wrong with this vegetarian version. Love it. Thank you!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
BOMB! Did not miss the chicken at all. Had friends over and this was devoured with tortilla chips and veggies. Will absolutely make again.
Love it! Glad it was a hit!
So happy there’s a vegetarian alternative to buffalo chicken dip. This was delicious!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
I’ve made this dish twice now – both times to rave reviews & very happy guests! Unbelievably simple and crazy good. AK has really saved the day when I needed a vegetarian dish….turns out, her receipt please everyone! Veggie lovers and carnivores alike.
YAY! So happy everyone loves it, Lisa! 🙂 ❤️
This was awesome! I want to make for a large group – how would you double it? What sort of pan and baking time? Thank you!
Hi, Audrey! So happy you loved it 🙂 You can do two pans or one large 9×12″ pan. As for baking time, I think around 30 minutes should still be fine, or until it’s bubbly and golden!
I really liked this dish!! Super easy to make and delicious! Tasted great with veggies and chips.
Made this for gameday and it was a hit!
Best buffalo dip ever! I eat meat and this is better than the chicken version. Used no salt added beans and Frank’s buffalo wing sauce. I love a healthy amount of fresh cilantro and green onions on top. Favorite dippers are sliced cukes and lightly steamed broccoli. No salt tortilla chips would be good too and keeps it all from being overly salty!
SO glad you love this one, Vickie! Those are awesome dipping options 🙂
This was so good. Made half the recipe in a big ramekin and my partner and I ate it with pita and carrots as a lunch! Super filling and flavourful. Best buffalo dip I’ve made and I don’t even care about it without chicken. Very satisfying!
I’m so happy you guys loved it! I don’t miss the chicken either!
This dip was so delicious!!!! I’m not a huge fan of beans so to start I just used one can of beans. I was pleasantly surprised by how yummy this was and I definitely didn’t miss the meat from a traditional Buffalo dip. Cannot wait to make this again!
So happy you loved it, Tamara! Thank you so much for the review 🙂
so yummy, easy, spicy = winner
Will be making again!
I’m so glad you loved it, yay!!
yummy recipe
Unbelievably good! Made a half batch and served with carrots and celery. Omg I think it’s going to be my new signature appetizer!
Delicious!! Perfect Super Bowl dip.
I made this dip for a SuperBowl party tonight, and everyone loved it and had positive things to say! It is so so easy to make and SO flavorful! Thank you for the recipe!
Woohooo! So glad everyone enjoyed it!
I love this appetizer! Made it for Thanksgiving and now the Super Bowl, and all of my relatives/friends have raved about this dip as much as I have. I am vegetarian, but not all of them are, but they love the buffalo beans anyways 🙂
Oh YAY I’m so glad to hear you all loved it!!
Hi! Can this be done without cheese somehow? I thought about subbing in cashews..
I haven’t tried that! But that’s a fun idea. You could try mixing my cashew cheese sauce with the buffalo sauce and white beans and maybe topping with some shredded vegan cheese? Let me know if you try anything!
I made this recipe last night for a friend who was visiting. Neither of us is exclusively vegetarian but I like to try new things. I made this in my $30 blender so if you don’t have a food processor no worries this recipe should still turn out great! My friend loved the dip so much he asked for the recipe for when his vegetarian friend visits he can make him a good meal.
Yay!! SO happy to hear it came out amazing and that your blender worked well 🙂 Thanks so much for the review, Miranda.
This is SO GOOD! Thank you for providing this. Since going vegetarian, buffalo chicken dip is one of those things I’ve found myself randomly missing, haha. This dip is better!
I’m so happy you love it, Molly!! So happy you don’t have to skip the buffalo dip anymore!
This recipe is so good. I made it for my sisters engagement party and it was a huge hit. I doubled the recipe and it made 2 – 9×13 pans of dip. Huge serving and was plenty for around 40-50 people. Really delicious. I made sandwiches with the leftovers and those were great too.
Yay!! Happy everyone loved it. And ooh such a great idea to spread it on sandwiches — I need to try that!
Would it be possible to substitute everything for a dairy free version (cream cheese, yogurt, and shredded cheese) or would that change the taste and texture too much? This looks soooo good!
I have not tested this recipe as dairy free so I am not sure if that would change the texture/taste. I am going to assume that it might change a bit because certain dairy free cheeses don’t really melt as well. If you give this recipe a try dairy free, I’d love to know how it works out for you.
This was fantastic!!
Delicious and easy to make. My guests loved it and asked for the recipe.
Yum! So glad everyone is loving this recipe 🙂
This was a big hit. My vegetarian niece and all of us meat eaters equally loved it. I like how it’s a lighter, healthier version of the traditional heavy dip. I made a couple of changes that my family loved. I used 1 can of white beans to blend and one can of chickpeas to stir in. I added chopped celery, omitted the mozzarella, and added some crumbled blue cheese for that authentic buffalo flavor. Everyone loved it!
Made this for Super Bowl and it is excellent. Perfect dish to snack on.
Wow! This could be one of the most beneficial blogs we’ve ever come across on the subject.