Nothing brings people together like a spread of snacks during the big game! Whether hosting a full watch party or keeping things low-key on the couch, a good lineup of dips turns ordinary snacking into the highlight of the day.
From warm and cheesy options straight out of the oven to cool, tangy dips built for scooping, this list covers every craving. Grab some chips, pick a favorite team, and get ready to work through this countdown of the best dips for game day.
17. 3 Cheese Vegetarian Queso
This cheesy dip skips the meat but never skimps on flavor. Melted cheddar, American cheese and cream cheese combine with diced tomatoes and chipotle peppers in adobo for a smoky kick, with no added chili powder or hot sauce needed.
It comes together in one saucepan and stays gooey for hours in a small slow cooker. Serve it with sturdy tortilla chips or a bowl of raw veggies for guests who want to skip the carbs.
The Best 3 Cheese Vegetarian Queso (Easy Recipe)
Ingredients
Method
- In a saucepan over medium heat, saute the diced tomatoes, ancho chile and dried spices for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the milk. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat.
- Whisk in the cheeses. Allow to bubble and thicken, whisking occasionally, 10-15 minutes. Dip will thicken more as it sits. Serve warm.
16. Classic Buffalo Chicken Dip
Football season just isn’t the same without this spicy dip! Shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce and blue cheese dressing blend into a rich, tangy base that bakes up bubbly. It only takes five ingredients, so there’s no excuse not to make it before kickoff. Pair it with celery sticks for a low carb option or sturdy corn chips for full-on dipping duty.
Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Stir the cream cheese in a bowl until smooth, then add the remaining ingredients until combined. Bake 20 minutes, until bubbly.
15. Chili Cheese Dip
Sometimes the simplest dips steal the whole show. A layer of softened cream cheese gets topped with canned chili and a generous amount of grated sharp cheddar, then baked until bubbly and golden.
Three ingredients are all it takes, which makes this an easy one to throw together between quarters. Scoop it up with sturdy tortilla chips or serve alongside celery and carrot sticks for dippers that keep things lighter.
3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Spread softened cream cheese evenly onto the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish.
- Spread the chili evenly over the cream cheese.
- Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the chili. Bake 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Garnish with chopped scallions, if desired.
14. Southern Pimento Cheese
This Southern classic brings a little sweet heat to the snack table. Sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheese blend with mayonnaise, cream cheese and jarred pimento peppers for a tangy, spreadable dip that’s ready in fifteen minutes with zero cooking required.
Scallions folded in at the end add a fresh, mild bite that balances all that richness. Serve it with buttery crackers or celery sticks, or spread it on white bread for a next-day sandwich.
Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe (Easy Homemade Dip)
Ingredients
Method
- Combine all ingredients except for the scallions in a food processor. Blend until smooth. (Alternatively, blend in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer.) Fold in the diced scallions. Season with salt, pepper and a dash of cayenne pepper.
13. Caramelized Onion Dip
Forget the boxed soup mix version from childhood. This one is a game changer! Onions and shallots cook low and slow with a splash of dry white wine and vinegar until deeply golden and full of flavor.
Once cooled and minced, they get stirred into a base of sour cream, Greek yogurt and fresh chives. Serve with kettle-cooked chips or pretzel chips for the best texture contrast.
Best Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe (With Greek Yogurt)
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and shallots and the minced thyme. Saute until the onions become golden brown in color and begin to caramelize, about 25 minutes.
- Add wine and vinegar and continue to cook the onions down, stirring occasionally, until completely caramelized, about 15 more minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the onion mixture to a cutting board. Mince the onions with a sharp knife. Place the minced onions in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the sour cream, Greek yogurt, chives and onion powder. Mix well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
12. Oven-Roasted Tomato Salsa
For a lighter option, this roasted salsa still brings big flavor. Tomatoes and a poblano peppers roast on a sheet pan until their skins blister, then get blended with onion, jalapeño, cumin and a touch of sugar for balance.
Roasting the tomatoes and pepper first adds a smoky depth that raw salsa just can’t match. Serve it with homemade or store-bought tortilla chips for a dip that disappears fast between plays.
Oven-Roasted Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place tomatoes and poblano pepper on a baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes, until skins start to split. Remove from oven and allow to cool enough so you can handle them.
- Peel the skins off of the tomatoes and peppers and discard them along with the seeds and cores. Place pulp in a blender. Add the remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
11. Greek Feta Cheese Dip
Whipped feta might be the most underrated dip on the table. Feta, cream cheese and Greek yogurt blend together in a food processor until smooth, then get folded with tangy pepperoncini peppers and fresh scallions.
It comes together in about ten minutes with no cooking required, which makes it an easy add to any lineup. Serve with pita chips, warm pita bread or a plate of crunchy raw vegetables.
Greek Feta Cheese Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Combine the feta cheese, cream cheese, yogurt and olive oil in the bowl of a food processor. Whip on high speed until it reaches a smooth and spreadable consistency.
- Transfer the feta mixture to a serving bowl and fold in the sliced scallions and pepperoncini peppers. Garnish with freshly cracked black pepper.
10. Beer Cheese Dip
Pub-style dips don’t get much easier than this one. Sharp cheddar, cream cheese, a splash of beer and a spoonful of Dijon mustard all get blended together until smooth and creamy, with just a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat.
It takes ten minutes from start to finish and tastes even better once it sits at room temperature for a bit before serving. Pair it with pretzels, tortilla chips or kettle-cooked potato chips for the full pub experience.
Beer Cheese Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Melt butter over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the flour and minced garlic. Cook until the mixture bubbles, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the beer, dry mustard, salt, paprika, onion powder, cayenne and Worcestershire.
- Stir in the cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and enjoy.
9. Cold Crab Cocktail Dip with Cream Cheese
This cold dip brings a coastal twist to the usual lineup. Lump crab meat gets folded into a mixture of cream cheese and cocktail sauce, with fresh tarragon adding an herby note that ties everything together.
It needs to chill before serving, so it’s an easy one to make ahead of kickoff. Serve with water crackers or saltines for a dip that feels a little more special.
Easy Cold Crab Cocktail Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Gently flake the crab meat into small pieces with a fork. Do not break it up too much.
- Mix cream cheese and cocktail sauce together in a large bowl. Slowly fold the crab meat and tarragon into the cream cheese mixture. Chill before serving. Garnish with additional tarragon.
8. Sardine Dip
This dip might raise eyebrows, but it wins people over fast. Canned sardines get mashed and mixed with softened cream cheese, fresh lemon juice, minced shallots and chopped parsley for a bright, punchy spread.
It delivers a serious dose of protein and omega-3s along the way, with barely any prep involved. Serve with crackers, toasted baguette slices or fresh vegetables for a dip that stands out from the usual cheese-heavy lineup.
Sardine Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Combine the softened cream cheese and lemon juice in a mixing bowl.
- Drain the sardines and lightly mash them with a fork. Add the sardines to the cream cheese mixture.
- Mince the shallot and add it to the mixing bowl.
- Chop the parsley and add it to the mixing bowl.
- Mix all ingredients together until combined. Season with salt and black pepper. Serve at cold or at room temperature.
7. Guacamole
No snack spread is complete without a classic bowl of guacamole. Ripe avocados get mashed and folded together with diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and a good squeeze of lime juice for a dip that never goes out of style. Fifteen minutes of prep is all it takes, and there’s no cooking involved.
How to Make the Best Guacamole Ever (Easy Recipe)
Ingredients
Method
- Pit the avocados, scoop out and mash with a fork in a medium-sized bowl. Fold in remaining ingredients and serve.
6. Artichoke Dip
Three ingredients are all it takes to make this one shine! Canned artichoke hearts get chopped and combined with mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese, then baked until golden and bubbly on top. Serve warm with tortilla chips, pita chips or baguette slices for scooping.
Easy and Creamy 3 Ingredient Artichoke Dip Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Drain the can of artichokes and place them on a cutting board. Chop artichoke hearts roughly. Combine artichokes, mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese in a large mixing bowl. Stir well.
- Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Bake 25 minutes, until bubbling. Serve warm.
5. Viral Dill Pickle Dip
This dip took over social media for good reason. Diced dill pickles get mixed into a blend of Greek yogurt, sour cream, whipped cream cheese, cheddar cheese and ranch seasoning, then loaded up with bacon and jalapeños for extra crunch and heat. Serve it alongside kettle-cooked chips or pretzel chips.
Viral Dill Pickle Dip Recipe (Worth the Hype!)
Ingredients
Method
- Prep your ingredients: cook and dice the bacon, chop the scallions, dice the pickle spears and grate the cheddar cheese. Remove the seeds from the jalapeño pepper and dice it finely. Reserve some pickle brine from the container.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the yogurt, sour cream, cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning and cream cheese together. Use a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer to do this.
- Stir in the pickles, jalapeños, scallions and bacon. Add pickle juice, if desired, to thin out the dip. (I don't add any because I like the consistency).
- Spoon the mixture back into the Grillo's container for serving and storage, or transfer to a serving bowl.
4. Warm Baked Spinach Dip
This baked spinach dip disappears fast at every gathering. Fresh spinach gets sautéed with garlic, then folded into a mixture of cream cheese, sour cream and Parmesan before a layer of mozzarella goes on top and bakes until golden and bubbly.
A double batch is almost always a good idea, since it never seems to last long. Serve with pita chips, tortilla chips or a rustic bread bowl for dipping.
Warm Spinach Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Give the spinach a rough chop.
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-low heat. Saute the garlic for 1 minute. Add the spinach and saute until wilted. Remove from heat and drain out any excess liquid.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese and salt. Fold in the spinach.
- Transfer the spinach mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top. Bake 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
3. Creamy Cottage Cheese Queso
This high protein queso still tastes like the real thing. Cottage cheese gets whipped completely smooth, then simmered on the stovetop with sharp cheddar, taco seasoning and a can of Rotel until melted and creamy. The texture ends up nearly identical to the classic version, minus the usual heaviness. Serve warm with tortilla chips or drizzle it over nachos and baked potatoes.
Cottage Cheese Queso
Ingredients
Method
- Place the cottage cheese into a food processor and whip until very smooth.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the whipped cottage cheese, grated cheddar cheese, taco seasoning and Rotel.
- Stir until smooth and creamy. Add a splash of milk if it gets too thick. Serve warm.
2. Buffalo Chicken Dip with Ranch
This version skips the blue cheese without skipping any flavor. Cubed cooked chicken gets mixed with cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch dressing and sharp cheddar cheese, then topped with more cheese and baked until melted and bubbling. Rotisserie chicken makes this version come together even faster. Serve warm with celery sticks, tortilla chips or baguette slices for dipping.
Buffalo Chicken Dip with Ranch
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cut cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place them into a large bowl.
- Add the softened cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch dressing, scallions and 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese to the mixing bowl. Combine well.
- Transfer the chicken mixture to an oven safe baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Bake 25 minutes. Serve warm.
1. Cheesy Pizza Dip with Pepperoni
This dip tastes just like a slice of pizza in every scoop. Layers of seasoned cream cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella and chopped pepperoni bake together until golden and bubbly, creating that same cheese pull everyone loves from a fresh pizza.
Twenty minutes in the oven is all it takes to turn a handful of ingredients into the star of the snack table. Serve hot with tortilla chips, pita chips or toasted baguette slices for the ultimate game day finish.
Pepperoni Pizza Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning and salt. Spread the mixture onto the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish.
- Spread a layer of pizza sauce over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese over the pizza sauce in an even layer. Top the cheese with chopped pepperoni.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until warm and bubbling.
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