50 Easy But Awesome Game Day Dips

October 18, 2019
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
No party is complete without chips and dip—especially on game day. Toss your tired jar of salsa in favor of one of these easy-but-awesome party dips. 
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Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robby Melvin
Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips Recipe

Olive Garden got this one right, folks—lasagna in dip form is all kinds of wonderful, especially served with freshly fried, crisp pasta chips. Trust us, this meaty, cheesy appetizer will be a welcome addition to any party.

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Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Onion Dip

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin
Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Onion Dip Recipe

Up the veggie presence in your next party spread with this cheesy, savory, so-snackable Roasted Cauliflower and Onion Dip. Inspired by a favorite Trader Joe’s frozen appetizer, this vegetarian dip is easy to make, but delivers big on flavor. 

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Miso Ranch Dip

Victor Protasio
Miso Ranch Dip Recipe

Get ready—this dip is about to become your party go-to. It’s quick and easy to make, and you can serve it with any type of vegetable (we particularly like it with carrots, radishes, and cucumbers). Be sure not to puree the chives or pepper, as they will discolor your sauce. Use leftover dip as a spread for pulled pork, hamburgers, or other sandwiches, or thin it out with water or another tablespoon or two of buttermilk to dress lettuces.

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Creamy Feta-and-Herb Dip

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food styling: Torie Cox
Creamy Feta-and-Herb Dip Recipe

The real secret to a crowd-pleasing crudités platter? A rich, tangy homemade dip. Choose feta that’s sold in blocks stored in brine. Crumbled feta contains an additive that prevents clumping, and it will not blend as smoothly. Serve on a tray piled with colorful baby vegetables such as rainbow carrots, English cucumbers, and French Breakfast radishes. This dip can easily be made ahead, refrigerated, and transported for a party. Instead of the usual plastic container, choose to store the dip in a mason jar, which can also double as your serving dish. If you do make it ahead, give the dip a quick stir before serving to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.

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Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Hector Manuel Sanchez
Artichoke and Spinach Dip Recipe

You'll love this healthier, colorful update on a crowd favorite. Leftovers are delicious tossed with hot pasta.

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Creamy Artichoke Dip

Victor Protasio
Creamy Artichoke Dip Recipe

This is a creamy, rich, yet healthier riff on the classic—and is great for entertaining. We process half of the artichokes to sneak more veggies into the dip, plus a little tofu to help cut back on cheese and boost protein. Using frozen artichokes instead of canned helps keep sodium in check. Serve each ramekin with different sides—we like a medley of vegetables, crackers, or bread. Or keep it super simple and bake in one larger baking dish.

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Muffaletta Dip

Time Inc. Video Studio
Muffaletta Dip Recipe

Ever wondered what it might taste like if hot artichoke dip and a muffuletta had a baby? We did… and just FYI, it’s delicious. We transformed the New Orleans classic sandwich into an epically flavorful dip—perfect for a Mardi Gras party or Super Bowl snacking. 

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Greek Spinach Dip

Photo: James Baigrie; Randy Mon
Greek Spinach Dip Recipe

This savory Greek spinach dip takes its flavor cues from spanakopita. Serve it with warm pita bread or crisp crudités.

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Macadamia-Coconut Dip

Greg Dupree
Macadamia-Coconut Dip Recipe
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Beet Yogurt Dip

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
Beet Yogurt Dip Recipe

Harness beets' striking color and earthy-sweet flavor in this glorious spread inspired by Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. For a little extra heat, use up to 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper. You can try 1 1/2 teaspoons za'atar spice blend as a substitute for fresh thyme, but skip ground thyme because it lends a dirt-like taste. Serve with raw carrot slices, cucumber slices, pita bread, or rice crackers for scooping.

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Jalapeño Popper Bean Dip

Photo: Greg DuPree
Jalapeño Popper Bean Dip Recipe

Think beyond tortilla chips for this crowd-pleasing dip. You don't want to deny guests the deliciousness of chips, but those can get a little heavy; supplement with veggie dippers to keep things lighter overall. We suggest mini sweet peppers because their sweetness helps offset the heat of the jalapeños.

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Charred Eggplant Dip with Tahini

Sara Tane
Charred Eggplant Dip with Tahini Recipe

Perfect for entertaining or a hearty spread to snack off of all week, this nutritious charred eggplant dip is as easy as to make it is delicious. Roasting the eggplant at a super high temperature leads to a creamy flesh that's the perfect backbone for a your dip. Don't worry if the skin is extra charred and looks burnt—this makes for a more flavorful end product. Mixed with Greek yogurt and tahini, this Meditteranean-inspired spread is ultra rich. Serve it with fresh veggies, warm pita, or smear it across a piece of toast. You could even use it as your sauce for a flatbread or pizza; simply top with roasted or fresh veggies and a sprinkle of crumbled feta or goat cheese.

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Skillet Nacho Dip

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Skillet Nacho Dip Recipe

We combined our favorite elements of cheesy queso dip and loaded beef nachos into one epic skillet dish.

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Pesto Yogurt Dip

Photography: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen.
Pesto Yogurt Dip Recipe

Use this herby dip to anchor a tray of what we call Snack Dinner. Surround it with lots of fresh vegetable dippers, seasonal fruit, sliced cheese, olives, nuts, and a little meat.

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Eggplant-Yogurt Dip

Greg DuPree
Eggplant-Yogurt Dip Recipe

Greg DuPree

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Anne's Hot Sausage Dip

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski
Anne's Hot Sausage Dip Recipe

Whether you're at the game or cheering from home, kick off your tailgating party with our first-string collection of snacks, spreads, and dips. For starters, scoop up this hearty sausage dip and keep it warm at the tailgate party in an insulated casserole dish carrier.

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Buffalo Beef Dip

Photo: Sara Tane
Buffalo Beef Dip Recipe

Why make the same old Buffalo chicken dip when you could incorporate beef? Beef is naturally richer and more savory, so its no surprise how delcicious it is when paired with the iconic heat of Buffalo sauce. Serve this perfect twist on a crowd-pleasing favorite while watching the big game. Our bet is that you never go back to the bird. Be sure to look for packaged, pulled beef without sauce (since you will be adding your own). Alternatively, you can always use leftover smoked, shredded beef from your favorite BBQ restaurant. 

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Easy Chili-Bean Dip

Photo: Hannah Burkhalter
Easy Chili-Bean Dip Recipe

Get your dip on with this super easy, 7-ingredient Tex-Mex dip. Just combine your ingredients and heat them together on the stove.

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Nashville Hot Chicken Dip

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez, Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick
Nashville Hot Chicken Dip Recipe

Nashville Hot Chicken Dip image

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Creamy Crab Dip

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez, Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick
Creamy Crab Dip Recipe

Creamy Crab Dip image

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Collard Dip

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez, Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick
Collard Dip Recipe
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Pomegranate-Goat Cheese Dip

Photo: Jennifer Causey, Styling: Mindi Shapiro 
Pomegranate-Goat Cheese Dip Recipe

A burst of fruity flavor sets this dip apart from the crowd.

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Layered Buffalo Chicken Dip

Photo: Daniel Agee, Food Styling: Blakeslee Giles, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Layered Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

This buffalo chicken dip is a completely homemade labor of love, and your guests will fall head over heels for this incredible appetizer. This dip offers the complete buffalo chicken experience all in one dish and combines layers of different ingredients and flavors along with a unique scratch-made carrot ranch dressing. There is a crunch, a richness, and a level of spice all mixed together in this wow-worthy dip that make it the perfect contributiion to any party or tailgate. This dish delivers intense flavor and an all-inclusive and truly delicious buffalo chicken experience. 

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Three-Cheese Spinach and Caramelized Onion Dip

Photo: Daniel Agee, Food Styling: Blakeslee Giles, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Three-Cheese Spinach and Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe

This rich and flavorful dip easily becomes a fun and fancy take on a cheese and spinach dip when topped with crispy pancetta and crunchy fried shallots, which are essentially like mini onion rings.

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Jalapeño Popper Dip

Photo: kenzipooch
Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe

Creamy cheese, crisp bacon, and spicy jalapeño. What more could you want in a dip?

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Goat Cheese Queso Dip with Vegetable Chips

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick; Prop Styling: Thom Driver
Goat Cheese Queso Dip with Vegetable Chips Recipe

This warm, tangy twist on fundido is perfect with sparkling wine; the bubbles help cut through the richness. We pair with veggie chips, but you can also serve with crudités for a fresher take.

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Lemon-Garlic Edamame Dip

Photo: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Cat Steele; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower
Lemon-Garlic Edamame Dip Recipe

Photo: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Cat Steele; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower

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Caramelized Leek and Spinach Dip

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Caramelized Leek and Spinach Dip Recipe

Beautifully caramelized leeks and onions cannot be rushed; resist the urge to crank up the heat. Leeks become especially silky and sweet when left to cook awhile. If they start to stick to the bottom of the pan, add a tablespoon or two of water, and stir (the liquid will evaporate during cooking). Instead of bread or crackers, serve the dip with an array of vegetables, such as baby carrots, endive leaves, radishes, diagonally sliced cucumber, and mini sweet bell peppers for a bit of freshness, color, and crunch. You'll also save calories and room for the rest of the meal.

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Miso, Sesame, and Sweet Potato Dip

Photo: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Randy Mon
Miso, Sesame, and Sweet Potato Dip Recipe

What's good about it: Sweet potatoes are naturally silky textured yet low in fat. They're also a great source of beta-carotene and fiber. Serve with baby bok choy, separated into leaves.

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Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Roasted Red Pepper Dip Recipe
Upping the pepper quantity cuts calories--160 of them.
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Pigs in an Everything Blanket with Cream Cheese Dip

Photo: Rebecca Longshore
Pigs in an Everything Blanket with Cream Cheese Dip Recipe

Two finger food favorites collide as pigs in a blanket get an everything bagel makeover. Rather than the traditional canned biscuit or croissant dough, the "blanket" of this playful appetizer is made with fresh pizza dough that is first boiled, brushed with egg wash, and rolled in an "everything" seasoning blend (poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried minced onion, dried minced garlic, and coarse salt) before being baked. Using a yeasted dough and this double cooking method is what gives these tailgate-ready bites their bagel personality. Serve them up with a tangy cream cheese dip for a party-perfect snack platter. 

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Nutella S'mores Dip

Nutella S'mores Dip Recipe

This easy, 5-ingredient S'mores Dip brings the campfire to your kitchen in less than 10 minutes.

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Caramelized Onion-and-Spinach Dip

Photo: Becky Stayner; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Caramelized Onion-and-Spinach Dip Recipe
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Pimiento Cheese Dip

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Pimiento Cheese Dip Recipe

This quick-fix dip is a perfect match for Homemade Soft Pretzels. Don't try to substitute a more natural cheese in place of the processed cheese, like Velveeta, the recipe calls for—it's what makes the dip so smooth and melty. Pimientos (also called pimentos) are large, red chili peppers that resemble a bell pepper, but with a sweet, more complex favor. This recipe calls for pre-prepared, canned pimientos. 

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Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell
Loaded Baked Potato Dip Recipe

Take your love of loaded baked potatoes and move it from the side dish spread to the appetizer buffet with this hearty dip featuring melty cheese, crisp bacon, and rich sour cream. Serve with waffle fries baked extra-crispy for dippers.

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Louisiana Hot Crab Dip

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Emma Crist
Louisiana Hot Crab Dip Recipe

Fresh crab meat is the star of this classic NOLA appetizer dip.