Frederic Melton
Chili cheese dip is a delicious appetizer that's perfect for game day or any party. It's easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients and about 10 minutes of your time. You can make it on the stovetop, in the oven, or even in the microwave! The key ingredients are chili, cheese, and cream cheese, but you can also add your own twist with various toppings and dips. Serve it with tortilla chips, bread cubes, or vegetables, and get ready to impress your guests!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chili (homemade or canned), cream cheese, shredded cheese, salsa, ground beef, taco seasoning, green onions, jalapenos, avocado, cilantro, scallions, red onion, sour cream, black olives, bell peppers, onion, garlic, tomatoes |
| Number of Ingredients | 3-4 |
| Time | 10-35 minutes |
| Cooking Methods | Stovetop, slow cooker, oven, microwave |
| Oven Temperature | 350°F |
| Serving Suggestions | Tortilla chips, bread cubes, vegetables, hot dogs, nachos, baked potatoes, Fritos Scoops, Tostitos Scoops, corn chips, tater tots, garlic breadsticks |
| Calories | 210-322 kcal |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your ingredients: cheese, chili, and salsa
When it comes to choosing your ingredients for the perfect chilli cheese dip, you have a lot of flexibility, and you can adapt the recipe to your taste preferences. The core ingredients are chilli, cheese, and salsa, but you can add extra ingredients to elevate your dip.
For the chilli, you can use either homemade or canned chilli. If you are making your own, you can add pinto beans and ground beef, or you can use leftover chilli with beans. You will need about 15 ounces of chilli, or 2 cups, depending on your recipe.
For the cheese, it is recommended to shred your own for a better melt and flavour. You can use cheddar, sharp cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey jack, Mexican cheese blend, or Velveeta cheese. You could also add cream cheese to make your dip extra creamy.
Finally, for the salsa, you can make your own or use store-bought. You can also add extra ingredients like scallions, sliced green onions, jalapenos, or diced avocado to add a kick of spice and a fresh flavour.
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Shredding your own cheese
You can use a block of cheese and a grater to shred your own cheese. It is recommended to use full-fat cheese, with pepperjack and sharp cheddar being popular choices for a chili cheese dip. You can also use cheddar cheese, but avoid the low-quality fake varieties.
To shred the cheese, use a box grater, standing grater, or a food processor with a grating attachment. If you are using a box grater, hold the cheese with one hand and rub it against the grater with the other. If you are using a standing grater, place the block of cheese on the standing grater and move it in a circular motion, applying light pressure. If you are using a food processor, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Once you have shredded your cheese, you can add it to your chili cheese dip. A standard recipe calls for 2 cups of shredded cheese, but you can adjust this to your taste.
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Cooking methods: stovetop, slow cooker, or oven
Chili cheese dip can be made on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or in the oven. Here are the instructions for each method:
Stovetop
Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the cheese is bubbly and melted, which should take about 5 minutes. The ingredients include 2 1/2 cups of chili, 4 ounces of cream cheese, 2 cups of shredded cheese, 1/4 cup of salsa, and optional cayenne pepper or hot sauce. Serve with tortilla chips, bread cubes, or vegetables.
Slow Cooker
Spray the bottom of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray or use a liner. Place the cream cheese cubes in the slow cooker first, then add the chili, followed by the salsa, and finally the shredded cheese. Cook on low heat for 1-3 hours, stirring occasionally. You can also add optional toppings such as green onions. Serve with tortilla chips, bread cubes, crackers, or vegetables.
Oven
Although the sources do not mention using an oven to cook chili cheese dip, you can likely adapt the stovetop or slow cooker methods for the oven. Place the ingredients in an oven-safe dish and cook at a moderate temperature until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
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Serving suggestions: tortilla chips, bread, or vegetables
There are many options for what to serve with your chili cheese dip. If you're looking for something carby, you could go for tortilla chips, Fritos Scoops, or Tostitos Scoops. For something a little more filling, you could try garlic breadsticks or bread cubes. If you're looking for something healthier, you could serve the dip with vegetables, or even put it on top of a baked potato.
If you're feeling creative, you could try experimenting with different types of bread, such as garlic bread or breadsticks. You could also try using the dip as a topping for nachos, tater tots, or even a hot dog.
For a more substantial meal, you could serve the dip with a chili hot dog, or use it as a topping for baked potatoes. If you're looking for something a little more indulgent, you could try using the dip as a filling for a jacket potato or a baked sweet potato.
If you have any leftovers, you can store them in the fridge and use them as a topping for tacos or nachos. You could even add some extra cheese and turn it into a chili cheese quesadilla!
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Storing and reheating leftovers
Chilli cheese dip can be made 1-2 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It can also be frozen for 2-3 months. To freeze, store it in a freezer-safe container. When you're ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and rewarm it on the stove.
When reheating chilli cheese dip, it's best to take your time and rewarm the dip slowly to give the cheese time to melt again. This will also prevent the dip from burning. If you're reheating a large amount of dip, use a pan. If you only have a serving or two of dip left, you may prefer to use the microwave.
To reheat chilli cheese dip in a pan, place the pan on medium heat. Pour in the dip and reheat for around 1 minute. Then, lower the heat to medium-low. If your dip is too thick, you can add a little water to thin it out, stirring until you're happy with the consistency.
To reheat chilli cheese dip in the microwave, place the dip in a microwave-safe container and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring regularly.
It's best to only reheat the amount of dip you plan to eat, as reheating the dip twice can cause the cheese to congeal.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need chili, cheese, cream cheese, and salsa. You can use homemade or canned chili, and shredded cheddar cheese.
It takes about 10 minutes to make chili cheese dip on a stovetop. If you are making it in an oven, it will take about 10-20 minutes. In a slow cooker, it will take 1-3 hours.
You can serve it with tortilla chips, bread cubes, vegetables, or over baked potatoes. It also goes well with Fritos Scoops, Tostitos Scoops, or corn chips.
Yes, you can make chili cheese dip in a microwave. Spread the cream cheese in a microwave-safe dish, add the chili, and sprinkle cheese on top. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 5 minutes.
