Cheesy Chili Dip
This Cheesy Chili Dip is incredibly easy and perfect for parties, cookouts or watching the game. Only THREE ingredients!!
We’re creeping in on labor day weekend, which means (for me) it is officially DIP SEASON. And really, can you think of a better season? There are football games to watch, cool fall evenings watching movies, some last-chance cookouts… all of which are perfect excuses to dust off your favorite dip recipes and start churning them out.
Honestly, give me a great dip and dessert, and I am good to go. I don’t even need the “real” food.
This cheesy chili dip is so ridiculously easy – THREE ingredients! 10 minutes prep time! – that you have to make room for it in your recipe arsenal.
This is a riff on a dip that my mom used to make all the time when we would just be hanging out watching TV at night – she’d spread cream cheese on a plate, cover it with salsa, then shredded cheddar cheese, and pop it in the microwave until the cheese was melted and we’d dig in.
This is almost the same, except that instead of salsa, we’re using chili, and instead of dipping with tortilla chips, we’re breaking out the Fritos scoops. Because chili + Fritos is my life in the fall. I also used the oven to ensure everything was evenly heated and the cheese was nice and bubbling.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – how YELLOW this entire situation is! Between the cheese and the Fritos, it’s like staring directly into the sun. Next time I will probably throw some sliced scallions on top to give it a pop of color, plus it’s another great complementary flavor with the chili.
So how much did everyone love this dip? It was gone – COMPLETELY GONE – before we ate dinner the Sunday that we made it, and we didn’t even have a full house. The appetizers never get wiped out before we eat, but hoo boy, no one could stop eating this! Then my husband requested it again less than a week later when a friend of his was going to be stopping by.
This is a killer appetizer recipe, and couldn’t be easier!
Four years ago: Ginger-Peach Granola Squares
Nine years ago: Ranch Pretzels
Cheesy Chili Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 15 ounce (425.24 g) can chili with beans
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a 9-inch pie plate, spread the softened cream cheese into an even layer. Top with the chili, and then sprinkle the cheese on in an even layer.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 15 minutes. Serve with Fritos scoops, or your favorite tortilla chips.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
This is similar to a recipe my sister-in-law introduced me to in the 80s – it was just 2 ingredients: a can of chili and a pound of Velveeta. This sounds really good – I’ll have to try it! Thanks, Michelle! Have a great weekend!
This is a party requisite in my neck of the woods (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky). Only it has to be Cincinnati style chili. The biggest controversy is over whether it’s Gold Star chili (my personal fave) or Skyline chili.
OMG, you’re killing me! This.Is.Cheeseporn. It’s 10 AM and I’m craving fritos+cheese dip :’)
Not a fan of can chili. So proud Einstein is better. Sorry about this stomach.
I too have been thinking about your dear Einstein. How is he doing?
Hi Nicole, Thanks so much for your concern! Einstein has continued to show improvement over the weekend (can now stand up on his own, and switch positions in his bed)… his therapy session on Friday went really well. Unfortunately the anti-inflammatory meds he was prescribed started doing a number on his stomach yesterday, so he’s been outside every 2 hours. I guess preparing us for another newborn ;-)
I understand. I have two big dogs (a Saint Bernard named Norman) and a Saint Dane (Saint Bernard/Great Dane mix named Hope) and the Saint Bernard has had hip dysplasia all his life. He has a somewhat regular dosage of anti-inflammatory meds and they irritate his stomach now and then as well. I’ll keep your family and beautiful pups in my prayers…
This could not be any more simple! You could also use some sliced black olives on top to break up and compliment the color and flavor of all the yellow cheddar and Fritos. Or maybe even some black beans?? The onions and scallions would pair well as a topper to this dip.
How is Einstein today? How was his & your weekend? Thought about him a lot.
Hi Michelle, Aw, you are too sweet. Einstein has continued to show improvement over the weekend (can now stand up on his own, and switch positions in his bed)… his therapy session on Friday went really well. Unfortunately the anti-inflammatory meds he was prescribed started doing a number on his stomach yesterday, so he’s been outside every 2 hours. I guess preparing us for another newborn ;-)
Do you think I could put this in a small slow cooker? I love to put hot dips in it for fall! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jen, Sure, it just obviously wouldn’t have that layered aspect, but would still work. Just be sure to check occasionally so the cheese doesn’t burn (I would spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray, too).
Yummy! What canned chili do you use? I can’t wait to make this!
Hi Marla, I used Hormel!
Thank you!