20 Cheese Dip Recipes That Are Too Decadent To Resist

It's hard to go wrong with a cheese dip.

By
Marissa Wu
marissa wu
Marissa Wu

Marissa Wu is a writer with a love for home, food, travel, and art stories. She holds a journalism degree from Boston University. When not editing and producing articles or updating the homepage, she's trying new recipes, jolting along in her manual transmission car, Fitz; hammering out a manuscript on her 1930s Royal Aristocrat typewriter, Georgie; and making film photographs with her Rolleiflex, Cecil. She's currently an Associate SEO Editor for PureWow.

Southern Living's editorial guidelines
Updated on August 8, 2024
Warm Cheese-and-Spicy Pecan Dip
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

A cheese dip recipe is like a great friend. Reliable, doesn't disappoint, always fun to be around. Hosting a tailgate? Make a cheese dip. Going to a church potluck? Make a cheese dip. Dinner party? Holiday party? You know the answer…pull out your favorite cheese dip recipe and it's a pretty solid bet you're taking home a scraped-clean dish at the end of the evening. Cheese dip, in its many forms, always manages to please. In our collection of best cheese dip recipes, you'll find impossibly gooey cream cheese dip recipes, a classic diner nacho cheese dip recipe, and, of course, a Rotel cheese dip recipe. Whichever dip you pick, just know you can't go wrong. And okay, we'll say it: Not to be cheesy…but these dips are very Gouda.

Our 20 Cheesiest Appetizer Recipes Ever
01 of 20

Austin Diner-Style Queso

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Many of us are guilty of filling up on hot, salty tortilla chips and creamy queso before our actual lunch or dinner even hits the table. Make a batch of this diner-style dip and you might have the same problems on your hands at home.

Get The Recipe
02 of 20

Basic Pimiento Cheese

Basic Pimiento Cheese
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Is it a dip? Is it a spread? Either way, the South's favorite cheesy appetizer counts as a cheese dip over here.

Get The Recipe
03 of 20

Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip

Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Who doesn't love a good, warm, multi-layer dip? This one is brimming with diced tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeños in addition to the hearty black-eyed peas. It's basically everything you love about Texas caviar in a cheese dip.

Get The Recipe
04 of 20

Collard Dip

Collard Dip Recipe
Southern Living

Swap the spinach for the collards and throw in a little Swiss and you have this cheesy, warm, and creamy dip. Scoop this dip onto baguette slices.

Get The Recipe
05 of 20

Rotel Sausage Dip

Rotel Dip
Caitlin Bensel

Some vintage recipes are worth reviving. This one is easy and only six ingredients. Have it on hand for the next tailgate, potluck, or family get-together.

Get The Recipe
06 of 20

Baked BLT Dip

Baked BLT Dip
Skyler Burt

If you love the sandwich, then you'll love this dip. A whole pound of bacon is involved. A whole pound. Balance it out with shredded lettuce and cherry tomatoes.

Get The Recipe
07 of 20

Corn And Jalapeño Dip

Corn and Jalapeno Dip
Hector Manuel Sanchez

This one's all done in the slow cooker, leaving you time to prepare other things. Stir in seven ingredients, let it bubble away, then tear open a bag of corn chips.

Get The Recipe
08 of 20

Skillet Beer-Cheese Dip With Pretzel Bites

Skillet beer-cheese dip with pretzel bites in skillet

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

One look at this tailgate-friendly dip and everyone will be diving in. The salty, boozy, tangy goodness comes from hoppy IPA, bacon, and whole-grain mustard. Add the baked pretzel bites right before serving.

Get The Recipe
09 of 20

Hot Cheesy Crab Dip

Hot Cheesy Crab Dip
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

A cheesy crab dip is always welcome, even at the fanciest holiday dinner. Using fresh jumbo lump crabmeat really makes this dip stand out. Endive leaves serve as unique and pretty scoops.

Get The Recipe
10 of 20

Two-Layer Pimiento-And-Cheese Dip With Smoked Almonds

Two-Layer Pimiento And Cheese Dip With Smoked Almonds

Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

During the holidays we like to gussy up the original. This pimento cheese dip is topped with a riff on Spanish romesco sauce and a sprinkle of chopped almonds, parsley, and smoked paprika.

Get The Recipe
11 of 20

Cheesy Artichoke Dip With Spring Crudités

Southern Living Cheesy Artichoke Dip With Spring Crudités on a serving platter

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

In this cheese dip recipe, artichoke hearts are blended with cream cheese and topped with mozzarella, which gets browned in a hot oven. Dip into the gooey mixture with crisp vegetables or crunchy pita chips.

Get The Recipe
12 of 20

Philly Cheesesteak Dip

Southern Living Philly Cheesesteak Dip serving with bread slices

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Convert your favorite sandwich into a party-ready dip. Ground beef stands in for the steak in this recipe, but you could also use finely chopped ribeye or round steak. The final delicious step is covering the dip with provolone slices to melt under the broiler.

Get The Recipe
13 of 20

Jalapeño Popper Dip

jalapeno popper dip in a skillet with beer and tortilla chips

Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

This easy recipe is stuffed with all the flavors of jalapeño poppers and more (more being thick sliced bacon). If you want additional color and texture, fold in chopped red and yellow bell peppers.

Get The Recipe
14 of 20

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Monica Farber

This is the low-maintenance version of Buffalo chicken wings, but a whole lot cheesier. Top with blue cheese and scallions and scoop it up with pretzel chips and celery sticks.

Get The Recipe
15 of 20

Tex-Mex Skillet Poblano Dip

Southern Living Tex-Mex Skillet Poblano Dip in a skillet to serve with chips and beer

Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning

No cheese dip list is complete without at least a couple of quesos. In this version, we broil the poblano chiles before blending them into the Monterey Jack-based dip to add a touch of smokiness.

Get The Recipe
16 of 20

Kentucky Beer Cheese

kentucky beer cheese
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist:Christine Keely Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Kentucky Beer Cheese comes together in the food processor and has a thick, spreadable consistency. Extra-sharp Cheddar, Worcestershire sauce, and stout beer give it a real depth of flavor. Serve this dip with pretzels and wash it down with your favorite beer.

Get The Recipe
17 of 20

Whipped Goat Cheese With Smoky Bacon Jam

Southern Living Bacon Jam on top of whipped goat cheese with crostini to serve

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

The bacon jam that tops this cheese dip is worth the 30 minutes it takes to prepare. You'll find yourself wanting to scoop it with anything you can get your hands on, and the leftover dip makes a delicious sandwich spread.

Get The Recipe
18 of 20

Beer-Cheese Fondue

beer-cheese fondue

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Serve this hot cheese fondue with any of your most-loved dippers, like steamed broccoli, roasted fingerling potatoes, or bratwurst slices. Don't let the dip come above a simmer to keep it from breaking, and serve it over a Sterno flame to keep it warm and smooth.

get the recipe
19 of 20

Million Dollar Dip

million dollar dip on a tray with crudites and crackers

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This easy, cheesy dip is a party cheese ball in a bowl. No need to form or coat the filling. Put it in a bowl and top with almonds and bacon. It's finished in 15 minutes.

get the recipe
20 of 20

Sweet Potato Queso

Southern Living Sweet Potato Queso

Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Sweet potato seems like an unthinkable ingredient in a warm cheese dip, but it's the secret to this healthier queso. Mashed cooked sweet potato keeps the dip creamy, and additions like onion and bacon round out the flavors.

get the recipe
Was this page helpful?

Related Articles

jalapeno popper dip in a skillet with beer and tortilla chips
Jalapeño Popper Dip
Southern Living Hot Corn Dip
Hot Corn Dip
Crawfish Dip
Crawfish Dip
Southern Living Dill Pickle Dip in a bowl to serve with potato chips
Dill Pickle Dip
million dollar dip on a tray with crudites and crackers
Million Dollar Dip
Southern Living Dill Pickle Dip in a bowl to serve with potato chips
22 No-Cook Dip Recipes That'll Be The Star Of Any Potluck
Texas Caviar
Our 20 Best One-Bowl Dips
Hot Cheesy Crab Dip
38 Creamy Dips That Will Have Everyone Asking For The Recipe
Southern Living Cold Buffalo Chicken Dip in a bowl to serve with carrot and celery sticks, chips, crackers, and glasses of beer
Copycat Publix Buffalo Chicken Dip
Southern Living Deviled Egg Dip in the bowl to serve
Deviled Egg Dip
Three-Cheese Spinach-Artichoke Dip
Three-Cheese Spinach-Artichoke Dip
French Onion Dip - Southern Living
French Onion Dip
southern living pumpkin dip
Pumpkin Dip
Southern Living Spinach Dip in a bowl to serve with pita chips
Spinach Dip
Skillet spinach-artichoke dip in cast iron
Skillet Spinach-Artichoke Dip
Southern Living Fritos Corn Salad in a bowl to serve with corn chips
Fritos Corn Salad