Hot Cheese Dip

If there’s one dish that instantly brings people together, it’s a bubbling bowl of hot cheese dip. A combination of simple ingredients—shredded mozzarella and cheddar, green chiles, onion, creamy mayonnaise, and optional pepperoni and olives—becomes a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Baked until golden and gooey, this irresistibly rich dip makes a perfect pairing with crackers or veggie spears.

This classic party staple is the ultimate football food on game day, especially when paired with other crowd-pleasers like chicken wings and sliders. The cheesy dip is easy to dress up, too. For fancier party hors d’oeuvres, serve it alongside tiny meatballs or stuffed tomatoes.

Hot Cheese Dip Ingredients

• Shredded mozzarella: Mozzarella melts into a rich, creamy base for the cheese dip. Grate your cheese from a block for the best meltability.
• Shredded cheddar cheese: Use mild or medium cheddar cheese, both of which melt smoothly.
• Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise adds richness and flavor to the dip, and its high moisture and fat content ensure a creamy, spreadable texture. Use any of the best mayo brands that you prefer.
• Onion: Minced onion adds a sweet, sharp flavor and keeps the dip from feeling too heavy.
• Chopped green chiles: Using canned chiles adds heat without the fuss of roasting or peeling peppers. Use mild or hot chiles, according to your preferences.
• Optional: Top the dip with briny black olives and pepperoni for extra flavor and texture.
• Assorted crackers and fresh vegetables: Classic butter crackers, crunchy wheat crackers, or gluten-free rice or almond crackers are all great matches for this dip. It’s also delightful with crudites such as sliced peppers or carrots.

Directions

Step 1: Assemble the dip

Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses, mayonnaise, onion and green chiles.

Spread the mixture into a greased shallow baking dish or pie plate. If desired, top it with olives and pepperoni.

Step 2: Bake the dip

Bake the dip for 25 minutes or until it’s bubbly. Serve it with assorted crackers and fresh vegetables.

Hot Cheese Dip Variations

• Dial up the heat: Stir in your favorite hot sauce for an extra kick.
• Play with mix-ins: Mix chopped capers, multiple types of olives, minced jalapenos or bacon bits into the dip. Garlic lovers know you can always add minced or crushed garlic.
• Change up the cheese: Most melting cheeses would work in this dip. Consider replacing some of the cheddar with pepper jack, Monterey Jack or American cheese.
• Stir in the pepperoni: Rather than topping the dip with pepperoni, chop it up and stir it into the dip before baking it so it’s more evenly distributed. You could also try chopped sausages or a meatless alternative instead.

How to Store Hot Cheese Dip

Store leftover hot cheese dip in the refrigerator. Cover the baking dish with storage wrap, or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. It will last for up to four days.

How do you reheat hot cheese dip?

You can reheat hot cheese dip in the oven. Simply bake it, covered with foil, at 325° until it’s hot throughout. You can also microwave cheese dip. Transfer it to a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a paper towel and heat it on medium in 30-second increments, stirring often, until it’s heated through. If the dip has dried out a bit, stir in a dash of milk, yogurt or sour cream before heating it.

Hot Cheese Dip Tips

What can you serve with hot cheese dip?

Hot cheese dip pairs well with so many different dippers. Crackers are the obvious choice, from Ritz crackers to Club crackers, airy rice crackers to wholesome whole wheat crackers. You can even double up the cheese by serving the dip with savory cheese crackers. Almost any starchy snack works. Think pretzels, breadsticks, tortilla chips or even thin slices of baguette. And cool, crisp vegetables aren’t only a healthier choice; they also make a pleasing contrast to the warm dip. Try carrots, bell peppers, broccoli or cauliflower. If you’re up for some light cooking, steamed or boiled green beans or asparagus stalks are a gourmet addition.