Crowd Favorite Party Dips That Never Fail
Party dips pull people to the table. One bowl. Many hands. Hot pans stay in rotation while cold bowls cover the gaps. Here is how to build the dip part of your appetizer spread from scratch with style and ease. Warm the hot ones until bubbly. Keep the cold ones crisp and fresh.
How Many Dips Do I Need?
A mix of hot and cold dips is ideal. Dips like beer cheese, queso, spinach-artichoke dip, and dill ranch are always a favorite. Tie it together with chips, pretzels, breads, or crackers. Find out how much with this handy chart:
I like easy repeats. If you need larger quantities of dips, choose to make more of each kind. This way, you aren’t juggling a bunch of recipes.
Table of Contents
These game day dips are the “creamy” lane of your hot + creamy + crispy setup for party and game day appetizers.
Why These Dips Work
One hot, one cold, one fresh, and one spicy covers most crowds. Texture wins. Creamy next to crunchy. Bright next to smoky. A small heat source keeps the hot bowls ready without drying out. Cold dips sit on ice or in a shallow metal bowl so they stay crisp.
Place the correct scoops next to the corresponding bowls of dip. Mark them with little signs if you like. Add chips, pretzels, crostini, and crunchy veggie tray.. Ready to party.
Crowd Favorite Dips
Warm Dips
- Beer Cheese. Smooth and sharp with a little bite.
Serve with: soft pretzel bites, crispy pretzel rods, pigs in a blanket
✔Get the Beer Cheese Dip Recipe - Taco Dip. Layers of flavor, colorful, hearty.
Serve with: tortilla chips, churro-style crackers (sweet heat), carrot sticks
✔Get the Taco Dip Recipe - Buffalo Chicken Dip. Creamy heat with a cool finish.
Serve with: celery sticks, sturdy tortilla chips, baguette toasts
✔Get the Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe - Spinach Artichoke Dip. Garlicky, rich, and stretchy.
Serve with: pita chips, crostini, sweet mini peppers
✔Get the Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe - Chili Cheese Dip. Warm, creamy, comforting.
Serve with: tortilla chips, fresh veggies, pita bread, potato wedges
✔Get the Chili Cheese Dip Recipe - Hot Crab Dip. Briny and rich with lemon at the end.
Serve with: baguette toasts, endive boats, butter crackers
✔Get the Hot Crab Dip Recipe - Skillet Pizza Dip. Tomato, mozzarella, and pepperoni on top.
Serve with: garlic bread chips, breadstick bites, Parmesan pita chips
✔Get the Skillet Pizza Dip Recipe - Jalapeño Popper Dip. Creamy, bacon on top, light heat.
Serve with: Ritz-style crackers, pretzel crisps, cucumber rounds
✔Get the Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe - Queso. Creamy, light spiciness, a classic.
Serve with: Tortilla chips, blue corn chips, pretzel sticks
✔Get the Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe
Cold Dips
- Cowboy Caviar. Beans, corn, and a bright dressing.
Serve with: corn chips, tostadas (broken into large pieces), celery boats
✔Get the Cowboy Caviar Recipe - Pimento Cheese. Sharp cheddar and a little bite.
Serve with: buttery crackers, celery sticks, baguette toasts
✔Get the Pimento Cheese Recipe - Smoked Salmon Spread. Creamy with dill and lemon.
Serve with: rye crisps, cucumber rounds, bagel chips
✔Get the Smoked Salmon Spread Recipe - White Bean Herb Dip. Smooth, garlicky, and light.
Serve with: pita chips, radish halves, carrot sticks
✔Get the White Bean Herb Dip Recipe - Fruit Dip. Cool, creamy, sweet.
Serve with: strawberries, apple slices, grapes
✔Get the Fruit Dip Recipe - Hummus Trio. Classic, roasted red pepper, and lemon herb.
Serve with: warm pita, bell pepper strips, seeded flatbread
✔Get the Hummus Trio Recipe - Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip. Sweet, spicy, creamy
Serve with: toasted baquette slices, crackers, celery sticks
✔Get the Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip recipe - Salsa Bar. Pico, roasted, and a mild option.
Serve with: tortilla chips, cheese crisps, grilled corn ribs
✔Get the Salsa Bar Recipe - Guacamole. Creamy with lime and cilantro.
Serve with: tortilla chips, jícama sticks, seeded crackers
✔Get the Guacamole Recipe - Whipped Feta. Tangy and smooth with lemon.
Serve with: warm pita wedges, cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers
✔Get the Whipped Feta Recipe
Serving Setup
- For hot dips: build in a skillet or shallow baking dish. Cook according to directions. Stir once. Move to a warm (200°) setting in the oven, a warming mat, or a small slow cooker. Serve with large spoons.
- For cold dips: mix ahead and chill. Pull ten minutes before serving so flavors liven up. Serve over a bowl of ice, if temps are warm. Place serving spoons in dips.
Helpful Tips
- Room around the bowls and dippers helps.
- Shallow bowls heat and cool faster.
- A metal bowl on ice keeps cold dips crisp.
- A small splash of milk loosens thick hot dips.
- A spoon of cream cheese thickens thin dips.
- Fresh lemon and herbs right before serving wake up rich bowls.
- Keep a small spoon or spreader in each dish.
FAQs
What dip is always a crowd pleaser?
Spinach Artichoke dip is always a crowd pleaser. It is simple to make, but looks like you really made an effort.
What are some popular dips?
Taco dip, spinach artichoke, hummus, queso, and guac are sure bets. Much depends upon where you live.
Can I make dips ahead of time?
Yes. Cold dips can be made up to 2 days in advance. The extra time develops their flavors. Hot dips can also be made ahead. Some warm dips shouldn’t be assembled in advance. Many dips should be cooked just before serving. Check your recipe.
