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

History of Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip: New York’s ‘Big Game’ favorite snack? ›

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.

When did buffalo chicken dip become popular? ›

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.

Did Buffalo New York create Buffalo wings? ›

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

When did Buffalo wings become popular? ›

Buffalo Wings Joined Pizza and Became Game-Day Grub

During the 1970s, more restaurants in Buffalo began to serve their own wings. These wings mostly followed the Anchor Bar recipe in that they were fried, broken into pieces and tossed in hot sauce.

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 ...

Did Buffalo Sauce come from Buffalo NY? ›

Deep-fried chicken wings have long been a staple of Southern cooking. But the concept of cooking wings in peppery hot sauce was born in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, when co-owner Teressa Bellissimo cooked leftover wings in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son and his friends.

When did dips become popular? ›

Some food experts believe the chip and dip duo began its rise to popularity in the 1950s when Lipton began advertising a recipe that encouraged people to combine its dehydrated onion soup mix with cream cheese or sour cream and serve it with potato chips.

Why is buffalo, NY called buffalo? ›

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.

Did Buffalo Wild Wings originate in buffalo New York? ›

In 1982, Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery were craving Buffalo, New York-style wings. They had just moved to Ohio and couldn't find an authentic buffalo wing joint in sight. Instead of road tripping back to Buffalo, Jim and Scott decided to open the first Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck.

Why is Buffalo wings called buffalo? ›

The name comes from Buffalo, New York, where the dish was created.

On which day of the year do Americans consume the most Buffalo Wings? ›

According to the National Chicken Council, Americans consume around 1.42 billion wings on Super Bowl Sunday.

What's the difference between hot wings and Buffalo Wings? ›

Hot wings are typically coated in a fiery chile pepper-based sauce not a cayenne-based sauce like Buffalo Wings. Hot Wings are not served with dipping sauce. Buffalo Wings are served with cooling blue cheese and celery sticks.

Why are chicken wings associated with football? ›

So what's the link to football? The buffalo chicken wing got lots of coverage during the early 1990s when the Buffalo Bills played in the SuperBowl for four consecutive years. Today, chicken wings are a staple of the SuperBowl experience.

What food is Buffalo NY known for? ›

10 Best Local Dishes from Buffalo
  • Buffalo Wings. Hit the hot wing trail. ...
  • Beef on Weck. Try a classic take on a French dip. ...
  • See also. 10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Buffalo. ...
  • Spaghetti Parmesan. Try pasta with more cheese than you can imagine. ...
  • Chicken Finger Sub. ...
  • Buffalo-style Pizza. ...
  • Fish Fry. ...
  • Charcoal Broiled Hot Dogs.

What was Buffalo NY famous for? ›

Buffalo is known as the City of Light due to the Hydropower generated from Niagara Falls. Two U.S. presidents, Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland, were from Buffalo.

What state is known for buffalo wings? ›

Once Upon A Time in Buffalo, New York…

This impromptu recipe would form the foundation of buffalo wings as we know them today, and they quickly exploded in popularity after their inception. Bellissimo's recipe would soon be called “Buffalo Chicken Wings” after the city from which they originated: Buffalo, New York.

Who came up with buffalo chicken? ›

Most people believe that Teressa Bellissimo, co-owner of Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, created the original buffalo wings. The story goes that late one Friday night in 1964, Teressa's son Dominic brought a group of hungry friends to the bar and asked his mom to make them something to eat.

How long until buffalo chicken dip goes bad? ›

Leftovers – Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove over low heat. You can also use leftover dip as a filling for some amazing quesadillas, sandwiches, and sliders!

Why is buffalo sauce popular? ›

The Birthplace of Buffalo Sauce: Buffalo, New York

These tasty chicken wings, coated in a spicy mixture of hot sauce, butter, and vinegar, were an instant hit among the locals. The combination of heat and tanginess created a flavor explosion that quickly gained popularity.

When did buffalo chicken pizza come out? ›

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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