17 Dips to Set Out Before Dinner or Add to the Plate

A dip on the table makes those first bites feel more inviting, especially when chips, bread, or vegetables are already out. You can pick a creamy bowl, a warm cheese dip, or a savory spread depending on what else is being served. Set one out before dinner, then keep it nearby for spooning or dipping alongside the plate.

A clear glass bowl with 7 Layer Dip featuring beans, white cream, guacamole, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, lettuce, and black olives. — 7 Layer Dip. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Cheesy Rotel Dip

A skillet filled with creamy cheese dip topped with chopped tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, and sliced jalapeños, surrounded by triangular tortilla chips. — Cheesy Rotel Dip. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Pork sausage gives Cheesy Rotel Dip enough substance to work before dinner or beside a casual plate. Rotel tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, Monterey cheese, taco seasoning, onion, and garlic melt into six servings. The 25-minute recipe cooks entirely in one skillet, with the shredded cheese added gradually for a smooth finish. Serve it warm with tortilla chips, vegetables, or spoonfuls over baked potatoes and nachos.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Rotel Dip

Hot Crab Dip

A spoon lifts a portion of cheesy baked pasta topped with chopped parsley from a casserole dish. — Hot Crab Dip. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Jumbo lump crab anchors Hot Crab Dip under a browned layer of Monterey Jack cheese. Cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Dijon, Worcestershire, Old Bay, garlic powder, and garlic salt make eight servings. The 45-minute recipe bakes for 20 to 25 minutes at 350°F until the edges bubble and the top turns golden. Set out crackers or a toasted baguette before dinner, or add a scoop beside seafood and vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Hot Crab Dip

Buffalo Chicken Dip

A hand dips a tortilla chip into a cheesy baked dish topped with sliced green onions. — Buffalo Chicken Dip. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Hot sauce and ranch turn Buffalo Chicken Dip into a quick baked version of familiar wing flavors. Shredded chicken, cream cheese, blue cheese crumbles, and green onions complete eight servings with only six main ingredients. The 17-minute recipe spends 12 to 15 minutes in a 350°F oven until the top starts to brown. Pair it with celery, carrots, chips, or bread when the table needs a substantial starter.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip

Goat Cheese Dip

A bowl of whipped feta cheese topped with mixed olives, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and olive oil. — Goat Cheese Dip. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Briny olives and sun-dried tomatoes cover Goat Cheese Dip with a topping that contrasts with the whipped base. Goat cheese, cream cheese, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon, and honey blend into eight servings in 10 minutes. Green and Kalamata olives marinate with garlic, oregano, and thyme before going over the dip. Serve it cold with crackers and vegetables, or spread it beside roasted vegetables, chicken, and sandwiches.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Dip

French Onion Dip

Bowl of creamy dip topped with chopped chives and black pepper, next to pieces of toasted bread. — French Onion Dip. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Slow-cooked onions give French Onion Dip a deeper flavor than a mix stirred straight from a packet. Three cups of onions caramelize with olive oil before sour cream, sherry vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic powder, sugar, and chives join the bowl. Active preparation and cooking take one hour, followed by at least two hours of chilling. Set it out with potato chips or vegetables, or use it as a spread for burgers and sandwiches.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Dip

Chicken and Bacon Ranch Crack Dip

A bread bowl filled with a creamy dip, garnished with shredded cheese, chopped green onions, and bacon bits. Celery sticks are placed on the side. — Chicken and Bacon Ranch Crack Dip. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

A hollowed Hawaiian loaf holds Chicken and Bacon Ranch Crack Dip with bread pieces arranged for scooping. Cream cheese, sour cream, shredded chicken, cheddar, bacon, ranch seasoning, Worcestershire, garlic powder, and onion powder make three cups. The no-cook recipe takes 15 minutes and finishes with extra cheese, bacon, and green onions. Serve it before dinner, or place it beside celery, crackers, sandwiches, and grilled food for a richer plate.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Bacon Ranch Crack Dip

Mexican Street Corn Dip

Close-up of a blue corn chip dipped in a creamy cheese and vegetable mixture, garnished with cilantro and sliced jalapeños. — Mexican Street Corn Dip. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Charred corn brings smoky texture to Mexican Street Corn Dip before the creamy mixture warms in the skillet. Cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, jalapeño, lime, cilantro, Cotija, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and garlic season eight servings. The 30-minute recipe reserves some browned corn for the top after the remaining kernels cook with the sauce. Serve it with tortilla chips, tacos, grilled chicken, or a summer plate that needs a warm corn side.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Dip

Whipped Feta Dip

A bowl of creamy dip garnished with chopped black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, rosemary, olive oil, and black pepper. — Whipped Feta Dip. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Block feta gives Whipped Feta Dip a smooth base when blended with Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and cream. The 10-minute recipe makes six servings and needs only a food processor plus a small skillet for the pine nuts. Chopped olives, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and toasted pine nuts add color and texture over the top. Use it with pita and vegetables, or spread it beside grilled meat, wraps, and roasted vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Whipped Feta Dip

Million Dollar Dip

Close-up of a creamy dish topped with shredded cheese, chopped nuts, bacon bits, and sliced green onions. — Million Dollar Dip. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Bacon and toasted almonds give Million Dollar Dip smoky and crunchy elements in every scoop. Mayonnaise, cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, and scallions complete eight servings in five minutes. The ingredients are folded together without cooking, with a small portion of the bacon, cheese, nuts, and onions saved for the top. Serve it with crackers and vegetables, or add a spoonful to sandwiches, baked potatoes, and pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Million Dollar Dip

Cowboy Queso Dip

A tortilla chip is dipped into a skillet of cheesy ground beef and tomato dip, with melted cheese stretching between the chip and the dip. — Cowboy Queso Dip. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ground beef makes Cowboy Queso Dip hearty enough to bridge the space between an appetizer and a casual meal. Onion, garlic, tomatoes with green chilies, cream cheese, cheddar, chili powder, and cumin fill eight servings. The stovetop recipe takes 35 minutes, including five minutes of gentle simmering after the cheese melts. Keep it warm with tortilla chips before dinner, or spoon it over nachos, potatoes, rice, and grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Queso Dip

Garlic Dip

Butter carries fresh garlic and dried herbs into Garlic Dip with a short stovetop step. Four cloves cook for about 45 seconds before basil and thyme are stirred in and the mixture cools. Mayonnaise and a pinch of salt turn the ingredients into four servings in five minutes. Serve it with fries, pizza, chips, or vegetables, or use a small amount beside roasted potatoes, chicken, and sandwiches.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Dip

Greek Feta Dip

Roasted red peppers give Greek Feta Dip color and sweetness besides fresh chile and salty cheese. Feta, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and garlic join the peppers in a food processor for eight servings. The five-minute recipe blends until smooth and can be topped with more chile, red pepper flakes, or crumbled feta. Set it beside pita and vegetables, or add it to grain bowls, grilled meat, sandwiches, and mezze-style plates.
Get the Recipe: Greek Feta Dip

Fried Dill Pickle Dip

A close-up of a creamy dip topped with toasted breadcrumbs, chopped pickles, and fresh dill in a white bowl. — Fried Dill Pickle Dip. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Buttery panko gives Fried Dill Pickle Dip the crunchy topping associated with fried pickle appetizers. Cream cheese, sour cream, chopped pickles, pickle juice, and ranch seasoning form the cold base for eight servings. The 15-minute recipe toasts the breadcrumbs for about five minutes before they cool and go over the dip. Keep the topping separate until serving, then bring out chips, crackers, or vegetables for scooping.
Get the Recipe: Fried Dill Pickle Dip

Beer Cheese Dip

A hand dips a tortilla chip into creamy cheese dip sprinkled with paprika and black pepper. — Beer Cheese Dip. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Lager and cheddar bring pub-style flavor to Beer Cheese Dip without a long cooking schedule. Oil and flour form the roux before milk, beer, Dijon, garlic powder, salt, and three cups of cheese are added in stages. The 11-minute recipe makes two cups, with the cheddar whisked in off the heat for a smooth texture. Serve it warm with pretzels, chips, or bread, or spoon it over potatoes and vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Dip

Lebanese Baba Ganoush

A bowl of hummus topped with olives and herbs, with a piece of pita bread being dipped into it. — Lebanese Baba Ganoush. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Roasted eggplant gives Lebanese Baba Ganoush a smoky vegetable base with tahini, cumin, garlic, lemon, olive oil, and parsley. Two large eggplants bake for 40 to 50 minutes, then cool for 20 minutes before the flesh is drained. The 1-hour 10-minute recipe makes four servings and can be blended smooth or mashed for more texture. Serve it with pita and vegetables, or add it beside grains, salads, and grilled dishes.
Get the Recipe: Lebanese Baba Ganoush

Queso Dip

Close-up of creamy cheese dip being poured over chopped tomato salsa with diced onions and cilantro. — Queso Dip. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Three cheeses make Queso Dip creamy, while onion, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and hot sauce bring heat. Evaporated milk, cream cheese, cheddar, and Monterey Jack form eight servings in one skillet. The 25-minute recipe adds the shredded cheeses gradually over low heat, with regular milk available to adjust the consistency. Top it with pico de gallo for chips, or spoon it over tacos, rice, potatoes, and vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Queso Dip

7 Layer Dip

Refried beans form the base of 7 Layer Dip beneath seasoned dairy, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and cheese. Cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, lime, avocados, red onion, and Monterey Jack help build eight servings. The no-cook recipe takes 15 minutes and is assembled directly in the serving dish. Place it out with sturdy chips before dinner, or use the layers beside tacos and grilled meat for a fuller plate.
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Dip