25 Easy Dip Recipes

Jazz up purchased spinach-artichoke dip with just three extra ingredients.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Hummus is easier than you might think: Just throw the ingredients in the food processor. Find canned smoky chipotle peppers in the Mexican aisle of large supermarkets.

Roasted Red Pepper-Chipotle Hummus

Lime- and jalapeno-spiced guacamole adds a kick to layers of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes and onions. Serve seasoned tortilla chips on the side.

Bonanza Bean Dip

Our healthy south-of-the-border hummus has sweet potato for silky smoothness, chipotle peppers for smoky heat and pepitas (pumpkin seeds) for crunch. If you like, kick up the heat by swirling some of the adobo sauce from the can of chipotles on top of the dip.

Sweet Potato Hummus

We've seen a lot of dips through the years, but we've never forgotten this one -- juicy veggies, tangy olive tapenade and feta piled on a thick layer of hummus. We like to make it ahead and serve it with warm toasted pita wedges. Originally published: December 2005.

Mediterranean Eight-Layer Dip

Add pizzazz to potato chips or veggies with this dip made from sweet onions, sour cream, fresh chives, and cayenne pepper.

French Onion Dip

Roasted red sweet peppers fleck this dip with a festive crimson touch. Serve the warm, cheese-filled appetizer with bread or pita wedges, or some water crackers.

Hot Artichoke and Roasted Pepper Asiago Cheese Dip

The chips are easy and definitely add to the dip's appeal, but rice crackers, sugar snap peas, celery sticks and baby bok choy leaves all make good Asian-inspired dippers.

Creamy Crab Rangoon Dip with Wonton Chips

Roasting the eggplant, zucchini, sweet pepper, onion and garlic intensifies the flavors of this dip. Try with toasted pita wedges.

Roasted Vegetable Hummus Dip

Roasting beets isn't hard, but you can save time by substituting refrigerated roasted beets. Just start the recipe on Step 3. Serve the dip with sliced apples, celery sticks or toasted baguette slices.

Triple B Dip

Just add mayonnaise and cooked shrimp to purchased dip for this easy party treat.

Garlic Shrimp Dip

Parmesan, Monterey Jack and Swiss cheeses give melty goodness to this classic dip. We served it with toasted pita chips, but you can use crackers or sliced baguette.

Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip

A garnish of pomegranate seeds and mint gives holiday spark to this refreshing dip, but it'’s a healthy choice you'’ll be glad to have in your recipe box year-round. Serve with pita chips, crisp breadsticks or vegetables.

Cucumber-Feta Dip

Ground turkey, reduced-sodium and light ingredients, and a confetti of crisp, colorful veggies make this potluck staple more nutritious than a typical layered dip—but every bit as tasty.

Light and Layered Taco Dip

Combine edamame and avocado with basil pesto, lemon juice and chopped tomato for this easy potluck dip. 

Edamame-Avocado Dip

This chunky, mild salsa gets a generous dose of snipped cilantro. Serve with everything from tortilla chips to chicken. Want more spunk? Add more jalapenos.

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Our recipe calls for processed Swiss cheese because it melts smoothly, but regular Swiss cheese will work fine, too. The dip will have a more stretchy, less creamy texture, but it tastes just as good.

Swiss-Artichoke Dip

This dip is actually a cheesy fondue we like with both bread and tortilla chips dunked into it.

Jack Cheese and Smoky Chipotle Fondue

For an appetizer in minutes, Wendy Porterfield of the Washington House Inn in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, bakes her cheesy dip for 10 minutes, stirs, then spoons it into pre-baked phyllo shells. Then, she bakes the shells 5 to 10 minutes more. "The phyllo cup version makes a great appetizer for a more formal party, where the dip version is great for a crowd," she says.

Fiesta Dip

Make this thick and chunky salsa with fresh tomatoes from your garden. Add more jalapeno peppers if you prefer more heat.

Best Salsa

Combine pantry ingredients, such as canned bean dip and taco sauce, for this easy dip. Serve with tortilla chips.

Mexican Seven-Layer Dip

Try this sweet, colorful salsa with chips, fish or chicken, and feel free to switch the mango or melon for other summer fruits.

Tropical Tomato Salsa

This cheesy dip uses just two ingredients and can be kept warm in your slow cooker. Serve it with veggies, corn chips or tortilla chips.

Other hot dips that are easy to assemble include Artichoke-Spinach Dip, Festive Bean Dip and Season's Eating Taco Dip.

Mudslide Dip

Artichoke-Spinach Dip

Festive Bean Dip

Season's Eating Taco Dip

"A very good fresh tomato salsa is within everyone's reach," says Chicago chef Rick Bayless. He developed this recipe for people who aren't knife wizards. It uses a food processor for the garlic, green chile, cilantro and half the tomatoes. "Green onions are the easiest to cut," he says, "but feel free to use white or red onion if that's what's available or appealing."

Chunky Fresh Tomato Salsa

This salsa does double duty as a tortilla dip or a meat topper. Serve with a slotted spoon over grilled pork, smoked bratwursts or sausages, grilled chicken or salmon.

Black Bean Salsa

Click below for more great Midwest Living party and snack recipes!