History of Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip: New York’s ‘Big Game’ favorite snack (2024)

NEW YORK (WSYR-TV) — The Big Game isn’t too far away as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 11.

Watching the Big Game doesn’t come without snacks of course, and in New York, the favorite Big Game snack is Buffalo chicken wing dip, whose roots come from western New York.

According to a new study by NCSharp using Google search volume, New York’s favorite Big Game snack is Buffalo chicken wing dip.

The dip has taken the country by storm as the study also found the Buffalo chicken wing dip is the second most popular dip in the United States.

But what about this dish makes it so popular? And how long has it been around?

History of Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

Buffalo chicken wing dip wouldn’t have been created without the invention of the Buffalo chicken wing, which according to New Yorkerwriter Calvin Trillin, originated in Buffalo, New York.

Trillin, who has the most authoritative account of the history of the Buffalo chicken wing, found that Frank Bellissimo, founder of the Anchor Bar on Main Street in Buffalo, invented the classic dish in 1964.

“Dom Bellissimo asked his mother to make something special to pass around gratis at the stroke of midnight. Teressa Bellissimo picked up some chicken wings—parts of a chicken that most people do not consider even good enough to give away to barflies—and the Buffalo chicken wing was born. Dom and Frank agree that Teressa Bellissimo chopped each wing in half and served two straight sections that the regulars at the bar could eat with their fingers. She “deep-fried” them, applied some hot sauce, and served them on a plate that included some celery from the Anchor Bar’s regular antipasto and some of the blue cheese dressing normally used as the house dressing for salads. Dom and Frank also agree that the wings were an immediate success—famous throughout Buffalo within weeks,” stated Trillin.

Years after its invention, Buffalo chicken wings are as popular as ever and have inspired many iterations of the recipe, including Buffalo chicken wing dip, which became popular in the early 2000s.

According to many blogs from 2006-2011, Franks RedHot seems to be the originator of the chicken wing dip recipe as the hot sauce company released its recipe own recipe around 2011, and it has been a staple in many homes for the Big Game for years.

Since the early 2000s, Buffalo chicken wing dip has taken social media by storm, especially in recent years with recipes trending on TikTok with over 10,000 videos and 250 million views for #buffalochickendip.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

If you want to make the iconic Buffalo chicken wing dip, here’s Franks RedHot iconic recipe you can follow, or feel free to make your own iteration of the dip!

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into a shallow 1-quart baking dish.
  2. Bake for 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired, and serve with chips, crackers, and/or cut-up veggies.

If you are planning to watch the rematch of Super Bowl LIV — when KC topped San Fran 31-20 — you can watch Super Bowl LVIII at 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 11, on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

History of Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip: New York’s ‘Big Game’ favorite snack (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of buffalo chicken dip? ›

Trillin, who has the most authoritative account of the history of the Buffalo chicken wing, found that Frank Bellissimo, founder of the Anchor Bar on Main Street in Buffalo, invented the classic dish in 1964. “Dom Bellissimo asked his mother to make something special to pass around gratis at the stroke of midnight.

What is the history of buffalo chicken wings? ›

One is that Buffalo wings were first prepared at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, by Teressa Bellissimo, who owned the bar with her husband Frank in 1964. At the time, chicken wings were inexpensive and undesirable, and normally thrown away or reserved for stock or soup.

Is Buffalo NY known for wings? ›

From the mumbo sauce-covered breaded and fried delights by early wing pioneer John Young to the classic deep-fried hot sauce and butter version made famous by Anchor Bar, the Queen City has been perfecting the Buffalo wing over the last six decades using special sauces, secret family recipes, and preparation methods ...

Why is the dish Buffalo wings called as such? ›

A popular bar food and appetizer, wings can be ordered mild or spicy, and boneless varieties are also common. The name comes from Buffalo, New York, where the dish was created. Several origin stories exist, but the basic recipe is the same.

What is the story behind buffalo sauce? ›

One of the most widely circulated stories is that Teressa Bellissimo, who founded the city's long-running Anchor Bar with her husband Frank, created the deep-fried snack in 1964. According to the restaurant's website, she slathered chicken wings in her own “secret sauce” and served them to her son's friends.

Why is buffalo sauce popular? ›

Buffalo is renowned for its tangy, almost buttery flavour and moderate heat, making it a much-loved accompaniment to chicken wings.

What makes buffalo NY famous? ›

Buffalo is known as the City of Trees due to the vast amount of parks. Buffalo's city parks system was built by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. Kleinhans Music Hall, home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, is rated as one of the country's acoustically perfect halls.

Why is it called buffalo NY? ›

The origin of the place-name is in dispute, as buffalo (bison) did not inhabit the area; it may reflect a mispronunciation of the French beau fleuve (“beautiful river”), in reference to the local Buffalo Creek. The first steamboat on the upper Great Lakes, Walk-on-the-Water, was built at Buffalo in 1818.

What's the difference between chicken wings and Buffalo wings? ›

Generally, chicken wings are characterized as being smaller wings with not that much meat on them. They are then lightly breaded and fried and served with various sauces and sides. They are often sold as appetizers. Buffalo wings, on the other hand, are generally larger and will have much more meat.

Are Buffalo wings healthy? ›

Chicken wings are more nutritious than we think! One skinless and boneless chicken wing contains 203 calories per 3.5 ounces, 30.5 grams of protein and 8.1 grams of fat which means 64% of the calories come from protein and 36% from fat.

Why is buffalo sauce orange? ›

Plain ordinary hot sauce is usually a darker red. Most mild flavored wing sauces will be a lighter orange color. The lighter color of wing sauce is typically due to the amount of butter or oil added to the hot sauce.

Why does buffalo chicken dip separate? ›

Why does buffalo chicken dip separate? Overcooking is the most common culprit in the separation as is cooking too hot too fast. That's why the slow cooker is the best method for keeping your buffalo chicken dip in the perfect way.

Does buffalo sauce have buffalo in it? ›

It has nothing to do with bison. The spicy sauce was named after its birthplace: Buffalo, New York.

Where did buffalo chicken pizza originate? ›

This spicy, flavorsome dish traces its origins back to Buffalo, New York, in 1964. The story, as most recount it, unfolds with an impromptu late-night creation by Teressa Bellissimo, who was looking to prepare a quick, easy snack for her son and his friends.

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