Guilt-Free Game Day: Easy & Healthy Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites Recipe
Craving that classic buffalo chicken flavor but looking for a healthier alternative? Look no further! These Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites offer a delicious, creamy, and spicy twist on your beloved buffalo chicken dip, cleverly substituting traditional cream cheese with protein-packed hummus. Each bite is a perfect explosion of flavor, baked inside a delicate, crispy mini fillo dough shell and then beautifully garnished with fresh blue cheese crumbles and crisp celery. They are the quintessential tailgating appetizer, ideal for game day gatherings, parties, or any occasion where you want to impress with minimal effort and maximum taste!
The Ultimate Game Day Appetizer: Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites
As the air gets crisper and the excitement for football season builds, my mind invariably drifts to one thing: buffalo chicken everything! From hearty buffalo chicken dips to these ingenious Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites, I want that signature spicy, tangy flavor to be a staple on my table. These bite-sized wonders pack all the incredible flavors you love about buffalo chicken into a neat, easily shareable package, making them an instant crowd-pleaser for any gathering. Imagine the thrill of your guests discovering this delightful twist on a classic, offering both familiarity and a fresh, lighter feel.
A Healthier Twist: The Magic of Hummus
Most traditional buffalo chicken dips rely heavily on cream cheese for their characteristic creamy texture. While there’s certainly a time and place for rich, indulgent cream cheese, I often find myself wanting a lighter option that still delivers on taste and texture, especially when I plan to enjoy more than just one serving. This is where hummus truly shines as a fantastic substitute!
The hummus in these Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites provides the same luxurious creaminess you expect, but with far less guilt. Hummus, made primarily from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil, is not only naturally creamy but also offers a boost of plant-based protein and fiber. This means you can indulge in a few extra bites without feeling weighed down. For this recipe, I opted for Sabra’s Classic Hummus, as its neutral flavor profile acts as the perfect canvas for the bold buffalo spices, allowing the chicken, hot sauce, and blue cheese to truly stand out.
Beyond this recipe, hummus is incredibly versatile. It can effortlessly replace cream cheese, mayonnaise, or even be transformed into delicious salad dressings, making it an excellent ingredient for lightening up countless dishes. Its smooth texture and mild taste make it an adaptable hero in the kitchen, enabling you to create healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods.
Crafting Your Spicy & Creamy Fillo Bites
The preparation for these delightful Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites couldn’t be simpler, requiring just a handful of ingredients and minimal time. This delicious buffalo chicken mixture – a harmonious blend of tender, shredded chicken, creamy hummus, tangy blue cheese, and fiery hot sauce – is nestled perfectly into delicate mini fillo dough shells. These thin, crispy pastry shells provide the ideal crunchy contrast to the soft, flavorful filling, creating an incredible textural experience in every bite. Once baked to golden perfection, each bite is crowned with a sprinkle of freshly chopped celery for a refreshing crunch and more crumbled blue cheese, enhancing both flavor and visual appeal.
Imagine this: only six core ingredients and a mere 20 minutes from prep to plate! That’s all it takes to have these irresistible appetizers ready for your tailgate party, football viewing, or any casual get-together. The convenience factor makes them a go-to recipe for busy hosts who want to serve something impressive without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re cheering on your favorite team, like the Packers for Mike and me, or just enjoying a cozy evening with friends, these mini bites are guaranteed to be a hit and disappear fast!
Serving Suggestions and Customizing the Spice Level
These Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites are incredibly versatile when it comes to serving. While they are phenomenal warm, straight out of the oven, their flavors also hold up well if they cool slightly, making them perfect for a buffet-style spread. The combination of savory chicken, creamy hummus, tangy blue cheese, and fiery hot sauce creates a flavor profile that appeals to most adults. Mike and I are huge fans of all things buffalo, so these were an instant success in our household!
When it comes to the kids, or guests with varying spice preferences, you can easily customize the heat. For little ones, or those who prefer a milder flavor, simply reduce the amount of hot sauce by half, or even omit it entirely for a completely kid-friendly version. You could even create two separate batches – one spicy for the adults and another mild for the younger crowd. This ensures everyone can enjoy these fantastic appetizers without a problem. Remember, the goal is to make these bites enjoyable for all your guests, so don’t hesitate to adjust the spice to suit your audience.
If you’re hosting a large party, a word of caution: these disappear quickly! I highly recommend doubling or even tripling this recipe to ensure you have enough to go around. They are genuinely addictive, and your guests will keep coming back for more.
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Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1/4 cup hummus
- 1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 15 mini fillo dough shells
- 2 stalks celery , leaves chopped and stalks chopped
- 1/4 cup blue cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
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1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C).
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2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, hummus, blue cheese crumbles (1/3 cup), and hot sauce. Stir thoroughly until everything is evenly coated in the hot sauce, creating a creamy, spicy mixture.
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3. Arrange the mini fillo dough shells on a baking sheet. Using a small spoon, carefully fill each fillo dough shell with the buffalo chicken mixture.
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4. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges of the mini fillo dough shells are golden brown and the blue cheese in the filling is melted and bubbly.
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5. Garnish generously with additional blue cheese crumbles (1/4 cup) and freshly chopped celery. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Mini fillo dough shells can usually be found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. If you have a specialty food store nearby, they are likely to carry them as well.
- Customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of hot sauce. Use more for an extra kick or less for a milder flavor, especially if serving children or those sensitive to heat.
- For quick and easy shredded chicken, I often use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Simply shred the meat and it’s ready to go. Any leftover chicken can be used for other recipes like chicken salad or quesadillas.
- When chopping celery for garnish, don’t discard the leaves! They are edible and make a beautiful, fresh-looking addition to the plate.
- These Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites can be prepared ahead of time. Assemble them in the fillo shells and store in the refrigerator. Pop them in the oven to bake just before you are ready to serve.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 1g,
Protein: 4g,
Fat: 3g,
Saturated Fat: 1g,
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 1g,
Cholesterol: 12mg,
Sodium: 321mg,
Potassium: 75mg,
Fiber: 0.4g,
Sugar: 0.2g,
Vitamin A: 72IU,
Vitamin C: 6mg,
Calcium: 33mg,
Iron: 0.3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We hope you enjoy these incredibly easy and flavorful Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites as much as we do. They offer a fantastic way to enjoy a classic comfort food with a lighter, healthier twist, proving that “guilt-free” doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor. Don’t forget to share your creations and tag us!
This post is sponsored by Sabra. As always, opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that allow me to create quality content and recipes.