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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!

hand dipping chip in chili dip


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!

dip in pie plate

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.
hand dipping chip in chili dip

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!
tortilla chip scooping chili cheese dip

Chili Cheese Dip

5 from 19 votes
Chili Cheese Dip with 3 ingredients is perfect served hot with tortilla chips!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Yield 8 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

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 Video

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 66mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 665IU | Calcium: 231mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American

Other appetizer recipes that are perfect for game day:

Last Updated on January 4, 2024



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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7 Comments

  1. 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!!

  2. Love this recipe, I bri g a double batch when invited to game night, parties etc. I bring a copy of it on recipe cards when asked!

  3. Hi there,

    This looks so amazing and I would love to try it out but I am from South Africa, and we do not get canned chili.

    Is it a chilli sauce or crushed chillies? Do you perhaps have a recipe so I can make my own? 🙂 🙂

  4. Geeze AGNESS, who cares if you’ve been making this 20 years. Why you even on her recipe for then.

    Excellent! Thanks for sharing is amazing and my first time making exactly as your recipe.

    Much appreciated by me.