Easy Dips for the Big Game

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What makes a party a party? Friends, drinks, and food—especially DIP. Some of my favorite dips are the classics—ranch dip with veggies, spinach dip with Hawaiian Bread, queso with tortilla chips. But sometimes I get adventurous (read: too lazy to go to the grocery store for missing ingredients) and make up a dip with whatever I have on hand.

I use this basic formula as the base for most homemade dips: one cup sour cream, one cup mayonnaise, and 4 ounces (half a block) of cream cheese. This is super flexible. If you don’t have any cream cheese, use half mayo, half sour cream. If an especially cheesy dip sounds better, use a whole block of cream cheese and adjust the other ingredients. Use your best judgment, and what you have on hand.

Directions: Almost all of these dips (except the fruit dip) begin with the basic dip base-mayo, sour cream, cream cheese. All except the French Onion Dip, have super simple instructions as well. Just combine the ingredients in a bowl, stir, and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Overnight is even better.

I’ve broken them down by what your “dipper” of choice may be…Enjoy!

For tortilla chips: Corn Dip

Ingredients:
Basic dip base
2 cans of corn, drained
¼ cup sliced green onions
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 TBS taco seasoning

For veggies: Fresh Dill Dip

I usually just use sour cream and mayo as the base for this dip. If you include the cream cheese, it will be delicious, but you may need to thin the dip with a bit of milk to get the desired consistency.

Ingredients:
Basic dip base
3 TBS grated onion (or 1 TBS dried minced onion)
3 TBS chopped fresh dill (or 1 TBS dried dill)
3 TBS fresh chopped parsley (or 1 TBS dried parsley)
1 tsp vinegar (preferably cider or white wine, but regular white will do)
1 tsp seasoned salt

For crackers: Cajun Crab Dip

Ingredients:
Basic dip base
8 oz. package of imitation crab, diced
¼ cup sliced green onions
1 TBS lemon juice
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp-1TBS Cajun seasoning (The saltiness and heat of these vary widely so add to taste. Start with a little, taste, and decide if it needs more.)

For bread: Spinach Artichoke Parmesan Dip

Ingredients:
Basic dip base
1 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 jar artichoke hearts, drained and diced
1 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
1 tsp fresh minced garlic

For potato chips: French Onion Dip

This is the only dip that requires a little extra effort, but it is SOOO worth it. You can caramelize the onions a couple days in advance so on Game Day, all you need to do is stir and enjoy.

Ingredients:
Basic dip base
2-3 onions, thinly sliced
1-2 TBS olive oil
1 tsp salt (divided)
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp pepper

Add oil to skillet and heat to medium low. Add onions and ½ tsp salt, and slowly caramelize, stirring frequently for 20-30 minutes. Allow onions to cool completely. Add remaining ingredients, stir, and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

For fruit: Lemon Cheesecake Dip

Ingredients:
1 8 oz block of cream cheese
1 7 oz container of marshmallow fluff
¼ cup powdered sugar
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
zest of one lemon

Whisk all ingredients together and chill. Serve with strawberries, pineapple, banana slices, and other favorite fruits.

Even if you care less about football, these dips are reason alone to host a party!  If you have any others we should add to the list, please share! 

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