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    Home » Recipes » RECIPES

    Sam TurnbullAuthor: Sam Turnbull Updated: January 9, 2025

    Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip

    5 from 59 votes
    | 85 Comments
    Save Saved! Pin Comments ↓ Jump to Recipe

    If you're looking for an easy to make vegan version of buffalo chicken dip, you have found the right recipe! This Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip is the perfect creamy, cheesy, spicy goodness every game day, BBQ, party, or movie night deserves. Just like the classic dip, but better because it's completely vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, way healthier, make-ahead, and tasty delicious. Vegan Buffalo Tofu Dip! This vegan buffalo chicken dip, tastes just like the classic, but better because it's easy to make, dairy-free, gluten-free, way healthier, make-ahead, and super delicious. Creamy, cheesy, spicy goodness perfect for any game day, BBQ, party, or movie night. #itdoesnttastelikechicken #veganrecipes

    FEATURED COMMENT: This recipe is insanely good!! Wow! Sam does it again (and again and again) ! Served it with some homemade pita breads and it was sooo good. - Silver

    The shredded chicken in this dip is my shredded tofu recipe which makes for the perfect chewy meaty texture. The base of the dip is made with cashews to make it super creamy and cheesy. Mixed with classic Franks Red Hot and some extra seasonings, you won't believe how addictive this dip is! Vegan Buffalo Tofu Dip! This vegan buffalo chicken dip, tastes just like the classic, but better because it's easy to make, dairy-free, gluten-free, way healthier, make-ahead, and super delicious. Creamy, cheesy, spicy goodness perfect for any game day, BBQ, party, or movie night. #itdoesnttastelikechicken #veganrecipes This Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip can be made ahead of time which saves the stress of last minute cooking. Just prepare the dip fully, store it in the fridge for up to 2 days, then bake it when ready to serve. Serve the dip with tortilla chips, carrots, or celery sticks. Omnomnom!

    To Make Vegan Buffalo Tofu Dip:

    Shredded tofu makes for the perfect chicken substitute. Prepare the Vegan BBQ Shredded Tofu according to the directions, stopping after step 4 is complete. In other words, bake the tofu, but do not mix it with the BBQ sauce and water. Boil the cashews if needed to soften them. If you have a high-powdered blender you can skip straight to the next step. If you have a regular blender, you may want to soften the cashews first to ensure they blend smoothly. To do this add the cashews to a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes until the cashews are very tender. Drain and rinse with cold water before using. Blend all of the ingredients together to make the perfect creamy cheesy buffalo dipAdd the cashews, 1 ½ cups water, Franks Red Hot, miso paste, onion powder, and garlic powder to a blender, and blend until completely smooth and creamy, stopping to scrap the sides as needed. pour over the shredded tofu, mix, and bake! Add the prepared shredded tofu to an 8" x 8" baking dish (or similar sized dish). Pour over the cashew mixture and stir to combine. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until the top has darkened slightly and the dip is heated through. Serve hot with tortilla chips and celery sticks. This Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip is perfect for any game day, a BBQ, or when you need some spicy cheesy vegan dipping! Vegan Buffalo Tofu Dip! This vegan buffalo chicken dip, tastes just like the classic, but better because it's easy to make, dairy-free, gluten-free, way healthier, make-ahead, and super delicious. Creamy, cheesy, spicy goodness perfect for any game day, BBQ, party, or movie night. #itdoesnttastelikechicken #veganrecipes    

    Common Questions:

    Can I make Vegan Buffalo Tofu Dip ahead of time? The unbaked dip can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the fridge for up to 2 days. Then bake when you're ready to serve. If baking straight from the fridge, it may take a couple minutes longer to heat through. Can I freeze Vegan Buffalo Tofu Dip? Yes, you can. As long as you let the dip cool before freezing and then freeze in an air-tight container. Be the dip is cooled as any condensation will result in a layer of frost on the dip. If stored properly, it should last approx. 2 months in the freezer.   If you try this recipe, let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram. Bon appetegan! Sam Turnbull.

    5 from 59 votes
    (click stars to vote)

    Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip

    Tastes just like the classic, but better because it's easy to make, dairy-free, gluten-free, way healthier, make-ahead, and super delicious. Creamy, cheesy, spicy goodness perfect for any game day, BBQ, party, or movie night.
    Prep: 15 minutes mins
    Cook: 1 hour hr
    Total: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Servings: 8 (makes about 4 cups)
    PRINT PIN Save Saved! COMMENT

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 recipe Vegan BBQ Shredded Tofu, (see step 1 before preparing)
    • 1 ½ cups raw cashews
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • ½ cup Franks Red Hot, (or similar sauce)
    • 1 tablespoon white miso paste
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • Tortilla chips and/or celery sticks, for serving
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the Vegan BBQ Shredded Tofu according to the directions, stopping after step 4 is complete. In other words, bake the tofu, but do not mix it with the BBQ sauce and water.
    • Preheat your oven to 350F (180C).
    • If you have a high-powdered blender you can skip straight to the next step. If you have a regular blender, you may want to soften the cashews first to ensure they blend smoothly. To do this add the cashews to a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes until the cashews are very tender. Drain and rinse with cold water before using.
    • Add the cashews, 1 ½ cups water, Franks Red Hot, miso paste, onion powder, and garlic powder to a blender, and blend until completely smooth and creamy, stopping to scrap the sides as needed.
    • Add the prepared shredded tofu to an 8" x 8" baking dish (or similar sized dish). Pour over the cashew mixture and stir to combine. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until the top has darkened slightly and the dip is heated through. Serve hot with tortilla chips and celery sticks.

    Notes

    Cashews: raw cashews are my preferences as they have a mild flavour and are quite soft so they are easy to blend. For substitutions, you can try replacing the cashews with softened blanched almonds, or softened raw sunflower seeds.
    Miso paste: miso paste adds an aged umami taste which makes this dip taste cheesy. Miso is my preferred flavour wise, but you can try subbing sauerkraut, or olive juice for a similar briny flavour.
    Make ahead: The unbaked dip can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the fridge for up to 2 days. Then bake when you're ready to serve. If baking straight from the fridge, it may take a couple minutes longer to heat through.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving without chips (recipe makes 8 servings) | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 706mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg

    ⭐ Did You Make This Recipe?

    I’d love if you left a rating and comment, it helps others find the recipe and makes my day! 💕
    Author: Sam Turnbull
    Cuisine: American
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Photo of cauliflower wings in bowl with overlay that reads Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower
    « Vegan Cashew Ranch Dressing
    Easy Crispy Vegan Crackers »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea says

      July 30, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      5 stars
      First time making this. Huge success! Sub'd hot sauce for BBQ sauce for the shredded tofu recipe and added about 1 cup of Violife mozzarella shreds to the mix before baking. Perfect heat. Super yum!

      Reply
    2. Trisha says

      July 27, 2021 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      Sam, thank you so much for this wonderful recipe! It was so easy and fun to make. My husband and I both loved it! Congratulations on your marriage!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 02, 2021 at 10:27 am

        THank you so much, Trisha! I'm so happy you enjoyed!

        Reply
    3. Ellen says

      February 07, 2021 at 6:05 pm

      5 stars
      Love it. All your recipes are amazing but this is one of my favorites. Cashews and tofu?? It’s another one of those that taste like comfort food but is secretly healthy. Made it exactly how instructed and would not change a thing.

      Reply
    4. Patti says

      February 07, 2021 at 2:15 pm

      My 17 year old who interns as a herdsman on a cattle ranch likes this better than actual buffalo chicken dip - WHAT???

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        February 09, 2021 at 11:21 am

        Hahaha! Love it!!

        Reply
    5. Julie Trujillo says

      January 16, 2021 at 9:25 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Definitely will make again. Next time I will try w/ sunflower seed for my friend who is allergic to cashews.

      Reply
    6. Lauren says

      December 29, 2020 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      Made this for a small outdoor Xmas gathering and it was perfect!! My family couldn’t stop talking about it and asking questions. They said it was their most favourite item on the table along with your baked Brie. How do you keep nailing it?!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        January 05, 2021 at 1:35 pm

        Hahah! A lot of recipe testing... Glad it was such a hit 🙂

        Reply
        • Janice stuhlmacher says

          February 06, 2021 at 5:30 pm

          This looks so good and I'm going to try using a vegan chicken mix that I get from Deliciou. Hope it works.

    7. Sheila McEown says

      December 26, 2020 at 9:39 pm

      Sam I had to push my supper out by an hour because my (non vegan) husband and my (vegan) girls and I devoured this and we were stuffed! So good.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        January 05, 2021 at 1:31 pm

        Hahaha! Love it 🙂

        Reply
    8. Ann Matthews says

      September 27, 2020 at 7:20 pm

      5 stars
      I made this dip tonight for my family and my only regret is that I didn't double it!! It is so delicious and will definitely be bringing it to family parties. Thank you for all your awesome recipes!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        October 01, 2020 at 11:37 am

        Haha! Awesome! You're most welcome 🙂

        Reply
    9. Sara says

      July 27, 2020 at 3:54 am

      5 stars
      Woah, Sam, this recipe is amazing (the only change I made was adding a little nutritional yeast for extra cheesiness). Thanks a lot! I ate the entire dish by myself over the weekend... and I'm already thinking about making it again 🙂

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 31, 2020 at 1:23 pm

        Haha! Wonderful!! So happy you loved it, Sara 🙂

        Reply
      • Stephanie S says

        October 03, 2021 at 11:59 am

        5 stars
        Made this last night for a get together and it was a hit! This was an anti vegan food crowd but the entire thing was consumed! I did add some shredded nabati’s mozza but I don’t think it was needed at all, the recipe as written would be perfect. The shredded tofu alone was delicious too, can’t wait to make that again for other purposes.

        This will be my new go to appy to bring to get togethers. Easy to make! Sure to wow!

        Reply
        • Sam Turnbull says

          October 14, 2021 at 12:22 pm

          Haha love it!!So thrilled it was a hit 🙂

    10. Karen says

      July 04, 2020 at 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      One of your best recipes! But, I love them all! THANK YOU!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 10, 2020 at 4:07 pm

        Haha! Amazing 🙂

        Reply
    11. Courtney R says

      June 30, 2020 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and easy! Husband approved!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 10, 2020 at 3:59 pm

        Yay!! Happy to hear it 🙂

        Reply
    12. Mary says

      June 24, 2020 at 8:53 pm

      On a scale of hot and hot.. how hot is this? Pretty wimpy here!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 30, 2020 at 4:48 pm

        Haha! It's spicy. You could try subbing vegan BBQ sauce instead of Franks 🙂

        Reply
    13. Leanne Paterson says

      June 21, 2020 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      I haven’t even baked it yet and I’m already devouring it.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 24, 2020 at 1:20 pm

        Bahaha! Love it 🙂

        Reply
    14. Vanessa says

      June 20, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      We made it with canned jackfruit due to soy allergies and it came out so delicious! Thanks again for another amazing creamy dish Sam!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 24, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        That's amazing! So happy you enjoyed 🙂

        Reply
    15. Jay says

      June 20, 2020 at 3:49 pm

      5 stars
      Phenomenal! I left the oil out, still awesome.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 24, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Amazing! SO happy to hear it 🙂

        Reply
    16. Yulca says

      June 19, 2020 at 8:40 am

      This looks amazing! Five stars in advance because it's you. Would also be good over baked potatoes, I guess.

      Can't wait to get back to all your delicious ideas once our kitchen remodel is finally finished after 2.5 months with a hot plate, no oven & dirty dishes in the shower .

      Reply
      • Yulca says

        June 19, 2020 at 8:42 am

        5 stars
        Whoops, stars went awol.

        Reply
        • Jessica says

          February 07, 2021 at 4:34 pm

          5 stars
          Just made this for a family dinner. Wow - so good! Since some of us are kinda whimpy, and because I didn’t have any Frank’s, I used 1/4 sriracha instead. So so good! Thank you!

        • Krystle says

          February 13, 2022 at 8:56 pm

          Made this tonight and it was a great addition to our Super bowl snack buffet. I was lazy and crumbled the tofu instead of shredding it and we really enjoyed it that way.

      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 24, 2020 at 1:14 pm

        Oh wow! Best of luck with the renovations!

        Reply
    17. Kendra Pedersen says

      June 19, 2020 at 1:25 am

      5 stars
      This is a delicious recipe! My husband never eats tofu and he liked this so much he ate a whole bowl full. Thank you for always finding new, interesting and easy recipies ♡

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 24, 2020 at 1:14 pm

        Haha!! That's amazing! You're most welcome 🙂

        Reply
    18. Madelyn says

      June 17, 2020 at 6:36 pm

      Could you use Jackfruit for this instead of tofu? just curious if you tried it?

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 18, 2020 at 2:23 pm

        I haven't tried it, but I'm sure it would be great. I would prepare the jackfruit according to this recipe but reduce the BBQ sauce.

        Reply
        • Kendra says

          July 25, 2020 at 7:28 pm

          Do you think if we boil our cashews we should decrease the water added later since the cashews will absorb some water when boiled?

        • Sam Turnbull says

          July 31, 2020 at 1:20 pm

          It's not enough water to make a much of a difference so there is no need. 🙂

    19. Lynda says

      June 17, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      I so want to make this recipe but cashews and me do not agree. Is there anything else I could substitute the cashews for?

      Reply
      • Peter says

        June 17, 2020 at 3:47 pm

        Yes, I'm wondering the same because cashews are pretty high in calories. Maybe a 50/50 compromise with another lower caloric ingredient?

        Reply
        • Sam Turnbull says

          June 18, 2020 at 2:22 pm

          Substitutions are in the recipe notes 🙂

      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 18, 2020 at 2:22 pm

        Yep! Substitutions are in the recipe notes 🙂

        Reply
    20. Nancy says

      June 17, 2020 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      I am making this as I type. I just blended the cheese sauce and it tastes “f”ing awesome. The final product should be amazing. Thanks, Sam! Please give Chickpea a kiss from me.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        June 18, 2020 at 2:21 pm

        Haha! Will do!

        Reply
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    5 from 59 votes (26 ratings without comment)

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