45 Easy But Awesome Game Day Dips

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Greg DuPree

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.

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. 

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

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. 

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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

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. 

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.

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

If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by thinning an equal amount of yogurt with milk. Be sure to use full-fat sour cream here, as it's important for the dip's consistency. Plus, fat-free sour cream tends to taste watery. Serve this with homemade soft pretzels, chicken wings, pizza, grilled chicken, tomato salad, or anything else you think needs a zippy, herbaceous dip. It's not a bad idea to double this recipe because, well, extra dip is never a problem. 

Cook and serve this dip in a slow cooker to keep it warm. Makes a great dish for a Derby party!

As you dip the roasted beets into this delicate fondue, it will gradually turn pink. The cheese stays molten and creamy for a long time--this recipe, adapted from executive chef Jason Berthold of San Francisco's Monsieur Benjamin, is a fondue breakthrough, as far as we're concerned! When the fondue cools, it has the texture of cream cheese; post-Valentine's Day, spread it on toast as a delicious snack.

Say hello to your new go-to party snack. The canned chipotle in adobo lends a remarkable smoky depth and just the right level of heat to this simple black bean dip. Serve with fresh chopped vegetables or tortilla chips.

Sweet Vidalia onions add an unexpected twist to the creamy, crowd-pleasing spinach dip appetizer.

To make Bacon, Onion and Cheddar Dip, add 4 tablespoons mix to 3/4 cup sour cream and 1/3 cup shredded Cheddar. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

If you've never tried homemade ricotta, then you're in for a tasty surprise. This will change the way you think about the store-bought kind. Be sure to stir only when indicated in the recipe.

Serve this dip with baby carrots, broccoli florets, or other fresh vegetables.

Ditch the sodium-bomb seasoning packets and sour cream-and-mayonnaise–laden dip (which can pack a small meal’s worth of calories and sat fat into a single serving) for our homemade dip. And be patient with the caramelizing process—slowly sizzled onions have noteworthy sweetness and concentrated umami. You’ll know the onions are done when they become deep chestnut in color and nearly melt-in-your-mouth tender. And because no dip is complete without a dipper, baked sweet potatoes will satisfy your chip craving for half the calories of most bagged varieties. Dehydrating the potatoes in the oven before roasting helps them develop crispy edges and tender centers. With big flavor and less heft, our healthier ode to the classic is a delicious way to sneak in extra vegetables.