13 Dip Recipes That Will Win Over Any Crowd

Hosting your gang’s football party this weekend? Holiday cocktail party coming up? Got invited to Aunt Gertrude’s bookclub this Saturday and don’t want to show up empty-handed?

No matter what kind of party or potluck you’ve got on the calendar, Simply Recipes has a dip for you.

Stock Your Pantry for Easy Dips

The real beauty of dips is how truly fast and easy they are to make — that is, as long as you have all the ingredients. Luckily, most of the ingredients most commonly used for dips are either common pantry staples or can be stocked well in advance for any of your last-minute party needs.

Here’s a checklist of some ingredients to have on hand:

• Cream cheese
• Sour cream
• Mayonnaise
• Shredded cheese
• Canned artichokes
• Canned crab or frozen lump crab meat
• Canned pimentos
• Frozen spinach
• Frozen shrimp
• Beer brats (keep a few in the freezer!)

You’ll also need snacks for serving with the dip, of course! Don’t forget to grab some crackers, pretzels, or chips for the pantry. If you’re at the store, pick up some fresh baguette or a veggie tray.

Bake Until Bubbly…

Most hot dips just need to be baked until bubbly, so feel free to toss them in the oven alongside anything else you might have cooking. As long as the oven is within 50°F or so of the temperature recommended in the recipe, you’ll be fine.

Keep an eye on the edges of the dip and pull it out when you see bubbles.

…Or Chill Until Needed

Other dips can be served room temperature or chilled, and often do well if made a little bit in advance. This gives them a chance to firm up a little and for flavors to meld.

Pull them out of the fridge 15 minutes or so before guests arrive to take the chill off.

Test Kitchen Assistant Catherine Jessee says, “You can buy one 9 1/2-ounce bag of Fritos Scoops, crush the ones that’ll go on the dip itself, and then use the rest for serving with the dip.”

This is THE ultimate Game Day dip, guaranteed to please all sports fans. I love that it’s ready in 30 minutes!

Editorial Director Ariel Knutson says, “If your cream cheese isn’t soft, it’s going to be really hard to mix with the mayonnaise. If you’re really in a pinch, I recommend giving the cold cream cheese a whirl in your stand mixer with the paddle attachment to warm it up.”

Artichoke hearts, mayo, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Simple and oh-so-very satisfying.

Contributor Marta Rivera says, “Pay close attention to the temperature of the sauce after the cheese has been added. This is crucial in achieving a smooth queso. Maintaining a low temperature and a wee bit of patience will set you up for success. No bubbles should break the surface of the dip once you’ve added the cheese.”

This dip can go from shmancy dinner party to birthday party snack table without missing a beat. Keep some frozen shrimp in your freezer so you can make this whenever you need a super-fast snack for hungry guests.

Skip the packet of dried onion soup mix and make this dip yourself! Caramelizing onions is easy and worth the time—just put the onions on the back burner to caramelize slowly while you finish your other party prep.

Founder Elise Bauer says, “This is a fairly thick and heavy dip, so make sure to buy thick, sturdy chips, not the super-thin kind.”

Serve this Reuben Dip with triangles of toasted rye bread and you could practically make it into a meal! All the flavors of your favorite sandwich are right here, but in the perfect party package.

Piping hot, quick, and easy—hot crab dip is a staple for holiday gatherings. Plan on making two batches because one bowl definitely won’t be enough.

I love making this one for game nights with friends—the “nerdy board game” kind of game night, not the football kind. (Though, of course, it would be good for that, too!)

Want something not quite so… cheesy and calorie-filled? Baba ganoush is what you want. If it’s not too cold out, try grilling the eggplant for extra smoky flavor!

Is there anything Pimento Cheese can’t do? Serve it with Ritz crackers, stuff it inside celery sticks, or smear it on top of sliders. You can’t go wrong!