If you need a quick snack, this cheese dip recipe comes together in minutes!
Simply seasoned and extra creamy, this cheese dip uses just a few ingredients (that I always have on hand) and comes together in no time at all.
It’s the perfect dip for chips and vegetables and great spread on crackers.
Our Favorite Easy Cheesy Dip
This cheese dip is a perfect chip dip, great for veggies or pretzels, and thick enough to spread onto toast or sandwiches too! Many cheese dip recipes are heated or cooked (more like a queso dip or a rotel dip) but this is quick to mix and enjoy.
- Ready in 5 minutes, it’s an easy appetizer that is so quick to prepare.
- This dip only gets better the longer it sits and has lots of real cheese flavor (it’s perfect to make ahead).
- While delicious on its own, this recipe also lends itself well to so many additions. It’s the perfect cheesy base, so get creative and make a dip as unique as you are!
- Leftovers can be used as a dip but make a great sandwich spread or it melts well as a pasta sauce with a splash of milk.
Ingredients
Cream cheese is the base of this dip. We love to add in sharp cheddar. Since the cheese isn’t melted, pre-shredded cheese works great in this recipe. Change it up and try pepper jack!
Simple seasonings complement the cheddar flavor but you can certainly add your own favorite seasonings to this recipe. Ranch dressing mix or fresh herbs make great additions! Homemade taco seasoning is another favorite and makes this into a tortilla chip dip!
ADD-INS The possibilities are endless.
- jalapenos or mild green chiles
- chopped bacon
- green onions
- seasonings such as chili powder or a dash of hot sauce
How to Make Cheese Dip
This dip can be mixed and served immediately but the flavor is even better if you have time to allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Beat softened cream cheese with mayonnaise, sour cream, and seasonings.
- Stir in shredded cheese (per the recipe below).
- Chill and enjoy!
Using a hand mixer makes the base fluffy and keeps your chips from breaking when you dip them. This dip can also be pulsed in a food processor if you’d prefer.
To Serve
Serve this easy dip as the center of a dip platter or alongside a bowl of potato chips
- Veggies: celery sticks, carrots, broccoli or cauliflower florets, and cherry tomatoes
- Bread & Crackers: pita, potato chips, bagel chips, toasted baguette rounds, crackers, and tortilla chips
Fill celery sticks with this cheese dip, or pipe it onto cucumber slices. Or, garnish with chopped chives or parsley, olives, halved cherry tomatoes, pimento, or your favorite topping.
Tips for the Best Cheese Dip
- Use a hand mixer or food processor. This will make the cheese nice and soft, perfect for scooping.
- Cheese dip can be made well in advance to allow the flavors to blend. It will keep in the fridge for as long as the shortest expiration date mentioned on your ingredients used.
- Make Leftovers into Pasta! Melt the dip in a large skillet with a splash of milk. Stir in some cooked pasta and enjoy!
More Cheesy Dips
We love cheesy dips form a homemade queso to a ground beef packed velveeta dip. Here are a few of our favorites!
Did you make this Easy Cheese Dip? Leave us a comment and a rating below!
Easy Cheese Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise in a bowl with a hand mixer until fluffy.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until smooth.
- For the best flavor, refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Dip
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This is a great base recipe…I used fresh shredded Boubon Gouda with Bourbon paprika as well…served on crusty bread and crackers!!
I served this, last night, at family dinner. It was a big hit and there were no leftovers!
I love getting your recipes. They are the best!
Thank you, Ken!
Absolutely yummy!
So quick to mix together and so good.
I was disappointed because it was bland. I added some Franks and it was great! This is amazing melted on hamburgers or chicken sandwich es!
This is the best
Liked the basic recipe very much but added another 1/2 cup sour cream, salt, dried parsley, and an envelope of onion soup. Mixed very well and chilled for one hour. Used fresh garlic instead of garlic powder.
Really extraordinary flavor served with celery and carrot sticks, crackers. Great!
This dip is a winner! Took to friend’s house for Thanksgiving. They loved it! Made another batch this morning for left over veggies. It is so good! Thank you!
I am so happy to hear you loved this cheese dip!
Great recipe, thank you!
What can be substitute for dejon, not a fan.
Hi Kristen, you can replace it with a mustard you enjoy or leave it out.
We don’t have strong cheddar at present so I made this dip without any cheese other than cream. Substituted yogurt for the sour cream and used black pepper since we don’t have cayenne either. We also use mashed garlic so that’s what I put into this dip (requires a bit more than garlic powder). Turned out pretty good! Maybe not as strong as yours, but definitely still great! The only thing I’d recommend adding for texture is some minced chives.
Hi Cynthia, great suggestion. The shredded cheese also helps to add a lot of texture to this dip. If you make it again we definitely recommend adding it!
Will the consistency still be good if I use a stand mixer with the whisk or paddle attachment?
Yea for sure, a whisk attachment would be great!
Why can’t I find this on the website??
Hi Lisa, You can use the jump to recipe button at the top of the page. Hopefully, that helps!
Easy & everyone from 28 months- 60 loves this dip! It’s a WIN !
I am so happy to hear this recipe was such a hit Cheryl!
Can the Mayo be substituted for something else?
I would suggest additional sour cream.
In addition to Holly’s suggestion of sour cream as a substitute, here are some other possibilities I found depending on one’s tastes: mustard, pesto, greek yogurt, avocado and hummus.
Super easy and good! Added some green onion.
Great addition Terry.
I just made this. It was so easy and very good. It’s good even without the cayenne pepper. I did add it though and very good. Not too hot. You can always add more cayenne for more heat. Great with celery.