Chili Cheese Dip is the ultimate game day or party appetizer recipe! It’s incredibly quick and easy to make, about 20 minutes, with 3 simple ingredients (chili, cream cheese, and grated cheese)!
This hot cream cheese chili dip will be the first finger food to disappear!
Every party or game day needs appetizers! Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Dill Pickle Cheeseball, Jalapeno Popper Rollups, etc! I also LOVE adding at least one hearty and meaty dip to the lineup!
Cheese Dip with Cream Cheese is the best appetizer ever! It’s flavorful, creamy, and cheesy!
It can also be turned into a quick and easy main dish. Serve chili dip over hotdogs to make chili dogs!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
I have a feeling this chili dip is going to make its way into your regular rotation! I mean, it has double cheese, what’s not to love!
Quick and Easy! This is one of those recipes where all you have to do is open a can, open a package, mix it together and warm it up.
Simple Ingredients! You don’t need anything fancy to make this recipe. And that’s important when you live in the middle of nowhere and only go to the grocery store a couple of times a month. This is a 3 ingredient chili cheese dip recipe!
Cooking Options! You can warm this dip in just a few minutes in the microwave. Cook it in a skillet on the stove. Bake in the oven. Or add everything to the slow cooker and let it go. You decide what works best for you.
3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip:
As usual, I’m going to give you a few options so you can customize this recipe to your tastes, and so you can make it with what you have on hand.
Chili: Canned chili is great in this recipe. You can use no bean chili for a keto-friendly dip, chili con carne (with ground beef), or chili with beans and no meat for a vegetarian option. This is also a fantastic way to use leftover homemade chili if you already have it from scratch.
Cheese: I like pepper jack because it melts well and it adds a little extra kick. Cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey, and Colby jack are all great choices. You can also use Kraft Velveeta cheese if you’d like. I actually love this dip with Velveeta because it’s almost more like queso dip with chili. Use your favorite or whatever you have. Pretty much anything goes here!
Spices: I like adding a little bit of chili powder or taco seasoning to the dip just to give it a little bit of extra flavor. This is totally optional. You can also add a few dashes, or a lot of dashes, of hot sauce to make it spicy.
How to Make Chili Cheese Dip:
I’m going to walk you through the steps for making cheese dip with chili that’s baked in the oven. But, I’ll also give you instructions for making it in the microwave, CrockPot, and on the stovetop.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut cream cheese into cubes. Add canned chili, cream cheese, and grated cheese (reserve about 1/2 a cup of cheese) to a skillet or baking dish. You can also add taco seasoning if you’d like, it’s not necessary though.
Step 2: Set the skillet in the oven for 13 minutes. The cheese will be melted and the cream cheese will be softened.
Step 3: Stir the cream cheese, chili, and grated cheese together until it’s combined.
Step 4: Sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese over the chili with cream cheese. You can use more cheese if you like! I won’t hold it against you!
Step 5: Bake chili dip for 2 more minutes, or until melted and bubbly. Serve hot.
How to cook chili dip with cream cheese
Microwave: Cut the cream cheese into cubes, and set aside. Add the chili to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Add cream cheese and shredded cheese to the chili. Microwave for 1-2 more minutes, or until the cream cheese is soft and the shredded cheese is melted. Spread mixture in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese. Microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the cheese is melted.
Stove-top: Add all ingredients to a skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Sprinkle with additional cheese. Continue cooking, without stirring, for a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted. (Be sure the stove is on medium or the dip will burn)
Crock-pot: Cut cream cheese into cubes. Add chili, cheese, and cream cheese to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 1-2 hours. Stir to combine. Sprinkle extra cheese on the top if desired. Serve.
Smoked: I actually haven’t ever tried this method, but I’m sure adding a smoked flavor would be so good. Follow the skillet instructions, baking on the smoker instead of the oven.
FAQs:
It can be kept in the fridge for up to three days. It will start to separate a little bit. Stir it together and reheat.
Yes! Microwave until heated through. How long it takes will depend on the wattage of your microwave, how much dip you’re heating, and how thick the dip is. It needs to be heated through. Start with a minute and add more time as needed.
Yes. I don’t recommend it though because freezing alters the texture of cream cheese. It’s so easy to make that I don’t really need to freeze it ahead of time anyway. And there are never leftovers at my house!
The best way to make this dip ahead of time is to add all the ingredients to a slow cooker or skillet. Refrigerate until you’re ready to cook it. Continue with the instructions.
What to Eat with Chili Cream Cheese Dip:
Here are some fun ideas for serving this warm dip!
- With tortilla chips or corn chips.
- Use sweet peppers or celery for dipping to keep it lower carb
- Spoon it over hot dogs to make chili dogs
- Serve it over chips to make nachos
- Top it with salsa, sour cream, green onions, tomatoes, diced avocadoes, sliced black olives, etc.
- Add cooked and crumbled bacon.
- Top with jarred jalapenos, or fresh jalapeno if you can handle the heat!
Other Easy Mexican Dips:
Printable Recipe:
The BEST Cheesy Chili Dip with Cream Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 14 ounce cans chili
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups grated pepper jack cheese
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning optional
Instructions
- Preaheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Add cans of chili, cubed cream cheese, and half of the grated cheese, and taco seasoning to a skillet or baking dish.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Turn oven to broil. Carefully stir the chili and cheeses together. Top with the remaining cheese. Broil for about 3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
Jamie @ Roubinek Reality says
This looks delicious! I’m jealous that your little one sleeps until 9! 🙂 I’d LOVE to have you link this up at my linky today, Something Fabulous Wednesday!
http://www.roubinek.net/something-fabulous-wednesday-3/
Amy Engberson says
Thanks for stopping by! As with all things there is a trade. My 6 year old baby sleeps until 9:00, but he doesn’t go to bed until much past his bed time either! I’m headed to your blog right now!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Absolute cheesy goodness happening here! Thanks for posting this at the Saturday Night Fever link party. Hope to see you back on Saturday!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! Cheese makes everything yummy!!
Elaine Duckett says
Looks like a great dip to make, serve and eat for the super bowl. Go Bronco’s. But nobody should eat hot dogs, roasted or otherwise !! YUCK. Maybe I could substitute shredded chicken in my dip. 🙂
Love the picture of Branson and his Dad, they are super cute together. Now Baby Bunnie wears that same shirt. They are growing up way too fast.
Mom
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
I love where your inspiration came from. I think I would be tempted to eat this like a bowl of soup! Delish!
Amy Engberson says
My boys inspire me all the time! If I didn’t love chips so much I probably would eat this with a spoon! There is just something about dips!