This easy buffalo chickpea dip is so delicious and can be made within 10 minutes! It is a vegetarian and dairy-free version of the classic buffalo chicken dip, yet you won't believe how creamy, rich and flavorful it is! Perfect for game day, family gatherings, spreading in wrap sandwiches and much more.
Whether you are looking for a filling dip to serve with raw veggie sticks that has a nice zing, a secretly healthy vegetarian buffalo dip for game night, a crowd-pleaser easy appetizer or a 5-min make-ahead yummy spread for weekday sandwiches, this vegan buffalo chickpea dip is the recipe you need!
I will take a buffalo-flavored meal over just about anything, especially these vegan buffalo chickpea quesadillas or this buffalo tortellini pasta salad, and this new spicy chickpea dip became a favorite after just the first bite. I bet it will be for you too!
It has everything you love about buffalo sauce: it is spicy, zesty, rich and creamy, plus it is made using only wholesome ingredients that are vegan and easy to find. This dip feels so indulgent and rich, you won't be able to tell it is so healthy and packed with fiber and plant protein. It's a win-win!
Let me know if you give it a try! ❤️
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Easy and fast recipe
- Just like the classic chicken buffalo dip, but made vegetarian and meat-free!
- Perfect appetizer you can whip up in 5 minutes
- Great for sandwiches
- Healthy dip that feels like a rich indulgence
- Ultra creamy and packed with flavor
- Loaded with fiber and plant-based protein, perfect filling snack!
- Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free (can easily be nut-free too if using soy yogurt!)
🗒 Ingredient notes (+substitutions)
- Chickpeas: using canned chickpeas makes this recipe so convenient and fast, but you can also use cooked chickpeas from scratch!
- Cayenne pepper hot sauce: you can use any brand, but my favorite hot sauce for making buffalo recipes is the Original Frank's Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Sauce.
- Dairy-free yogurt: vegan yogurt is the secret ingredient in making this dip so rich and creamy while keeping it healthy and lower in fat. I used the cashew yogurt from the brand Forager, which I think has the best texture and flavor. Just make sure you choose plain yogurt that's unsweetened and that does not have any flavoring such as vanilla. Vegan sour cream would also work well instead of yogurt!
- Nutritional yeast: adds an amazing cheesy flavor to this cheese-free dip!
- Veggies: optional, but adding diced celery and green onion adds more flavor and a nice crunch!
⭐️ Find the full list of ingredients with quantities down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- Warm cheesy dip: you can make a cheesy dip by topping the mixture with vegan shredded mozzarella cheese and warm up in the oven until the cheese is melted (400º for about 10-15 minutes, watch carefully). You could also incorporate some vegan cheese within the dip as well for even more cheesiness. Make sure to use an oven-safe dish!
- Spices: you can play around with the spices you add to the dip. I like including garlic powder and onion powder, but some smoked paprika, ground cayenne pepper or even chili powder would be great also.
- Herbs: add a handful of fresh parsley, dill or chives for more flavor.
- More creaminess: add about ¼ cup of vegan cream cheese to add extra richness and creaminess to your dip!
🍽 How to make a vegan buffalo chickpea dip
Step 1: To a food processor, add chickpeas, nutritional yeast, hot sauce, yogurt, garlic and onion powder and salt.
Step 2: Process/pulse until smooth yet still coarse.
Step 3: Remove the blade, then add the diced green onion and celery.
Step 4: Stir them in using a spatula, then taste to adjust the seasoning.
⭐️ Find the detailed recipe down below in the recipe card!
💡 Helpful tips
- After rinsing the chickpeas, make sure to drain them well so the dip isn't watery. You can even gently pat them dry with a clean towel!
- I highly recommend pulsing the ingredients or do a short blend as opposed to a constant blend so the dip keeps a coarse texture. The idea is to not end up with hummus! Just a few pulses to break down the chickpeas, then you can keep stirring with a spatula so the dip isn't overprocessed.
- Adjust spiciness to your preference. I found that ¼ cup of hot sauce gave it just the right amount of tang and spicy taste, but you can add more if desired or start with less.
- Double up! Planning on a large gathering? This dip will disappear in no time, so make more by doubling the recipe.
➡️ Serving suggestions
This ultra-versatile vegan chickpea dip can be served in so many ways, but here are our favorites:
- Cold dip: serve with crackers, warm pita wedges, raw veggie sticks (cucumber, celery, carrots) or pretzels. These homemade pita chips would be great with this dip!
- Wraps or sandwiches: spread over tortilla wraps and stuff with veggies and lettuce for a healthy and full-of-flavor lunch. Or swap the regular mayo for this yummy spread in sanwiches for more flavors and nutrients.
- Tacos: swap your regular beans for this yummy buffalo chickpea mix, then topped with finely sliced romaine, chopped tomatoes and vegan sour cream!
- Salads: this is the perfect way to serve leftovers! Serve over crunchy lettuce like romaine with cucumber, shredded carrots and croutons.
- Crunchy appetizer bites: place thick slices of cucumber on a serving platter and dollop the dip over. Perfect easy-to-serve finger food for your guests!
❗️ Storage tips
Keep the buffalo dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. I do not recommend freezing it!
You can serve the leftover dip cold or warm.
❓ FAQs
I love Frank's hot sauce and I think that this brand gives the best flavor to the buffalo dip. Primal Kitchen also has a delicious buffalo hot sauce made with avocado oil that would work great for making this dip. Just make sure to look at the ingredient list to make sure the sauce is dairy-free and vegan!
Yes! You can pulse the ingredients in a blender or even, you could simply mash the chickpeas manually using a potato masher or a fork, then stir the ingredients together in a medium bowl.
Frank's red hot sauce is gluten-free, so if using this sauce to make the dip, then this recipe is completely gluten-free!
🌱 More vegan buffalo recipes you might like
I hope you like this cold buffalo chickpea dip recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Buffalo Chickpea Dip (Vegan)
Equipment
- Food processor
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 15 oz canned chickpeas - rinsed and drained
- ½ cup dairy-free plain yogurt - I used plain cashew yogurt from Forager
- ¼ cup spicy cayenne pepper sauce - I used the classic Frank's red hot sauce
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 green onions - finely chopped
- 1 celery stick - finely diced
Instructions
- To a food processor, add the chickpeas, yogurt, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, nutritional yeast and salt.
- Pulse a few times until it comes together. I recommend keeping some texture and avoiding a hummus-like consistency for the best results. You can pulse 3-4 times or until the chickpeas are mostly broken down, then finish mixing with a spatula if needed.
- Carefully remove the blades and add the chopped green onions and celery. Stir them in, then taste to adjust the seasoning. Serve with pita wedges, crackers or raw veggie sticks.
Video
Notes
- After rinsing the chickpeas, make sure to drain them well so the dip isn't watery. You can even gently pat them dry with a clean towel!
- I highly recommend pulsing the ingredients as opposed to a constant blend so the dip has a coarse texture. The idea is to not end up with hummus! Just a few pulses to break down the chickpeas, then you can keep stirring with a spatula so the dip isn't overprocessed.
- Adjust spiciness to your preference. I found that ¼ cup of hot sauce gave it just the right amount of tang and spicy taste, but you can add more if desired or start with less.
- Double up! Planning on a large gathering? This dip will disappear in no time, so make more by doubling the recipe.
- You can serve this dip in so many ways! Try it in tacos, over salads, in sandwich wraps and much more.
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
So flavorful! This is my go to dip!
Thanks for your comment! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Amazing dip, super easy and lots of flavor.