Our Favorite Chip & Dip Appetizers

October 28, 2013
Beth Dreiling Hontzas
Serve any of these top-rated chip and dip recipes and get rave reviews at your next holiday party or casual gathering.
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Butternut Queso Fundido

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Butternut Queso Fundido Recipe
This queso is a creamy, delectable addition to the party platter. If you prefer, you can roast a halved, seeded butternut squash at 350° for 45 minutes or until soft. Scoop 10 ounces of squash, and use in place of the puree.
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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
If you are feeling adventurous, go ahead and bump up the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper. Just have plenty of liquid on hand the quench the fire. You may also try something sweet, as some people swear that a dessert helps tame the heat. While we suggest serving this dip with chicken wings, it is also delicious drizzled over pulled pork or a baked potato or corn chips.

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Sweet Pea and Avocado Dip with Baked Pita Chips

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Sweet Pea and Avocado Dip with Baked Pita Chips Recipe
Incorporating green peas into this tasty summer snack not only reduces the amount of fat but also adds sweetness and further brightens the green color.
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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.

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Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rose Nguyen
Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip Recipe
Guaranteed to be a crowd pleasing appetizer, this dreamy dip is a mixture of cream cheese and Colby-Jack cheese that's spiced up with chipotle pepper, jalapeño pepper, and chili powder. It also has chopped cooked chicken stirred in, making the dip even heartier.

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Gabriel's Guacamole

Photo: Peden & Munk; Styling: Amy Wilson
Gabriel's Guacamole Recipe
At Gabriel's restaurant in Santa Fe, this guacamole gets mixed tableside to keep flavors ultra fresh. But it's probably the special blend of ingredients that has customers clamoring for the popular dip year after year after year. Serve it with your favorite tortilla chips.
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Chile con Queso

Photo: Annabelle Breakey
Chile con Queso Recipe
Our update on the classic, perfect for Super Bowl Sunday or another sports fest, is made with fresh hot salsa plus hot sauce--but keeps the Velveeta for that chip-coating cling.

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White Bean Dip with Rosemary Olive Oil

Lisa Romerein
White Bean Dip with Rosemary Olive Oil Recipe
A 6-ingredient make-ahead recipe is always a great "go-to" appetizer for the holidays. Serve with quick and easy dippers such as store-bought breadsticks, pita chips, or fresh veggies.

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Brown Sugar Fruit Dip

Photo: William Dickey; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Brown Sugar Fruit Dip Recipe
Add a sweet dessert dip to your appetizer buffet to balance all the salty and savory items. Pair with seasonal fresh fruit.
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Hot Crab Dip

Hot Crab Dip Recipe
Make a statement and serve an elegant warm crabmeat dip as an appetizer at your next party. This one is super-rich and creamy due to the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise.

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Strawberry-Avocado Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr
Strawberry-Avocado Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips Recipe
Bring a little sweetnes to the chip and dip mix! Make the chips in advance, cool completely, and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

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Creamy Artichoke Dip

Becky Luigart-Stayner
Creamy Artichoke Dip Recipe
Offer friends a classic, delicious dish made with cream cheese, Parmesan, hot pepper sauce, and artichokes. It's a top-rated favorite.
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Red Pepper Hummus

Red Pepper Hummus Recipe
Roasted red peppers add both color and rich flavor to a traditional hummus of white beans, garlic and tahini. It's easy to blend everything up a food processor, then you can cover and chill the dip until you're ready to serve.

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Avocado Crema

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Linda Hirst
Avocado Crema Recipe
With just four ingredients, this dip is perfect to make as a last minute appetizer. Simply mash the avocado in a medium bowl with a fork until smooth, then stir in the sour cream, lime juice, and salt.

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Hot Artichoke-Cheese Dip

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Hot Artichoke-Cheese Dip Recipe
This warm dip is laced with delicious artichoke hearts and is just the thing if you want to knock the socks off your guests. It's great for impromptu entertaining, because you are likely to have the ingredients on hand in the fridge and freezer.
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Black Bean-and-Mango Salsa

Black Bean-and-Mango Salsa Recipe
Indulge in a seriously tasty black bean dip made with sweet mango, cilantro, garlic, and all the flavors of Mexico. Chopped green onions and green peppers add color and texture. Serve with multicolored tortilla chips.

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Collard Dip

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez, Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick
Collard Dip Recipe
You may not think of collard greens as a tasty party food, but this fun twist on the traditional hot spinach dip will change your mind.

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Warm Turnip Green Dip

Beth Dreiling Hontzas
Warm Turnip Green Dip Recipe
Warm spinach dip gets a Southern twist with this fast party appetizer made with frozen turnip greens, bacon, Parmesan cheese, sour cream and cream cheese. Keep it bubbling in a small crock pot and serve hot sauce and cornbread crackers on the side.
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