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This easy chili cheese dip has just 3 ingredients and is done in under 20 minutes. It’s the perfect cheesy appetizer for game day or any party! There’s nothing fake in this appetizer, just delicious gooey chili flavor!
BEST Homemade Chili Cheese Dip
This easy cheesy chili dip is comfort food at it’s finest: a hot layer of chili and cream cheese mixed with cheddar cheese. It’s such a delicious way to eat your weight in tortilla chips. It has just three ingredients and is so sinfully good!
When I was thinking about what to make for my newest game day appetizer, I knew I wanted to do a hot and cheesy dip. I’ve made pizza dip before, as well as a cheesy pesto dip, and both were hits. Chili dip was my next great idea.
It turns out that chili cheese dip isn’t just a good appetizer, it’s a fantastic dinner too. He inhaled this dip while watching the playoff games last weekend!
3 Ingredients Needed
- Cream Cheese – Make sure that it’s softened. I don’t recommend using low fat or nonfat cream cheese – the dip will taste better with regular full fat.
- Cheese – I also use real cheddar cheese (not the fake stuff – I know traditionally it’s made with velveeta cheese but…no) because I love the flavor of cheddar cheese on chili. You can also use pepper jack cheese.
- Chili – When it comes to chili, just be sure to get a brand and flavor you like. It’s easy to make this dip vegetarian by using vegetarian chili, or use one with meat or beans as you wish. We love using hormel chili!
How to make Chili Cheese Dip
- Stir together cream cheese and chili until combined. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese.
- Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate or similarly sized pan. Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake until hot and cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.
Tip From Dorothy
Expert Tips
- You can also do this in the slow cooker – see my crockpot chili cheese dip recipe for how to. You can also make that one on the stove top.
- Storage: Store leftover chili cheese dip in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat it in the microwave.
- Serve with tortilla chips, Fritos, or Frito Scoops.
- Want it spicier? Add some diced or pickled jalapenos on top!
Chili Cheese Dip
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (226g) Cream Cheese , softened
- 1 15 ounce can chili (with or without beans) , any brand/flavor
- 2-3 cups cheddar cheese , shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Stir together cream cheese and chili until combined (mixture will be chunky). Stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
- Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate or similarly sized pan. Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake until hot and cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.
- For a spicier dish, drizzle dip with hot sauce (to taste) after baking.
Recipe Nutrition
Other appetizer recipes that are perfect for game day:
- Peanut Butter Football Dip also uses Challenge cream cheese.
- 7 Layer Pizza Dip is also a hot cheesy dip!
- Cheesy Pesto Dip is another fantastic appetizer.
- Make a sweet appetizer with my Peanut Butter Cheese Ball!
This was fabulous and oh so easy! I had leftover homemade chili in the freezer, so just measured out 15oz of that. Used Tillamook Sharp Cheddar cheese. I also sprayed the pie plate with a bit of nonstick spray. Topped the finished baked dip with chopped green onions and served with Fritos Scoops, plus sliced jalapenos and salsa on the side. It was a HIT! Four of us polished the entire thing off before dinner. Such a great way to use leftover chili – I’ll be making this again and again. 🙂
I make a chili cheese dip almost the same as this, but I add a pound of ground beef (cooked) with a package of taco seasoning added to it. I learned it years ago from a Tupperware party where they were demonstrating some of their microwave cookware. It can all be done in the microwave. I may try this recipe how it’s written without the ground beef to see how I like it. I’m just not that crazy about the “meat” that comes in the canned chili so I like adding the ground beef to help cover it up. Lol. If I do make this recipe, I will come back and rate it. Thanks for the recipe, Dorothy!!
WHat great tips thank you!!
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