The holidays are a time for gathering, which means two things: food and fellowship. Outside of the main feasts on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, or Kwanzaa—depending on how your family celebrates—there are tons of other opportunities for merrymaking at festive fetes all throughout the season. From elegant cocktail parties to cookie swaps to Friendsgiving potlucks, there’s one thing that nearly every holiday gathering has in common, and it’s dips. The ultimate party food, dips are a perennial crowd pleaser that naturally bring people together. If you’ve ever found yourself hovering around the French onion dip for hours at a time during a get-together, you know exactly what I mean. If you’re hosting a holiday gathering this year, or even attending one where you want to bring something to contribute, a dip is always a safe—and much appreciated—way to go. Looking for some recipe inspiration? We’ve rounded up 25 of our favorite dip recipes for holiday hosting.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This no-cook dip will become your go-to dip for any festive occasion. Not only is it easy to make and delicious to eat, but it’s also spirited with holiday colors.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
There’s nothing like diving into a hot dip on a cold day. Utilizing jumbo lump crabmeat (or claws, if you’d like to be a little more budget-friendly), this recipe is more than worthy of your special occasion. Serve with endive cups for the best elegant dipper.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This one’s a huge hit during football season, but is also great for more casual daytime holiday get togethers. It’s also a recipe that comes together easily with plenty of pantry staples like refried beans, taco seasoning, and cream cheese.
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
A welcomed change from the classics we’re used to seeing at holiday party after holiday party, this spread melds spicy, tangy, sweet, and creamy all into one bite. The salsa, which features two types of cranberries, thawed and dried, a splash of orange juice, and a hint of jalapeño packs in the flavor and works well against a layer of whipped cream cheese.
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Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
It honestly wouldn’t be a Southern gathering without pimento cheese, and those rules apply to the holiday season too. This tried-and-true dip is one your guests will be familiar with, but this is a version they’ll likely ask for the recipe for.
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Senior Editor Ivy Odom’s favorite party dip will be an instant classic from the first time you venture to make it. Says Odom, “While I enjoy this version spooned over goat cheese, it’s perfectly acceptable to use the bacon jam as a topper for whatever you like—sandwiches, veggies, and more.”
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Few foods are as synonymous with parties as good old spinach-artichoke dip. Creamy, cheesy, and packed with just the right amount of green to make you feel a little less bad about all the cream cheese and Parmesan, this recipe is a winner.
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It’s always great to have a couple cold appetizers in your spread that won’t take up oven space while you’re trying to keep the rest of the meal hot. This caramelized onion dip is one to add to your regular rotation. The key to perfectly caramelized onions is to cook them over medium heat until they’re translucent before reducing the heat to cook until they’re brown.
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Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
This smoked fish dip, which comes from the kitchen of Adam Evans, chef at award-winning Birmingham restaurant Automatic Seafood and Oysters, will be on the table in just 20 minutes (just stir all the ingredients together—it really is that easy).
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
A sweet dip is a welcome change from a full spread of savory appetizers. This caramel apple dip is a luscious combination of cream cheese, dark brown sugar, and vanilla, all topped with a sugar coating that’s caramelized in the oven, crème brulée-style, and served with fresh apple slices for dipping.
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
With a name that includes “million dollar,” there’s no excuse not to have your spread taste like a million bucks. Described as a “lazy person’s cheese ball,” this recipe has all the hallmarks of your classic Southern cheese ball, just mixed into a casual and easy-to-assemble dip rather than a fussy orb.
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Monica Farber
It may not be the most elegant appetizer in the world, but absolutely no one will be upset to see this on a holiday spread. There’s something purely irresistible about the combo of chicken, buffalo sauce, and cream cheese that just can’t be replicated.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
It doesn’t get much easier—or more delicious—than this two-ingredient dip that hits all the right notes: hearty, cheesy, tangy, and supremely comforting.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Southerners love pickles and Southerners love dips, so why not put the two together? Dill pickle dip is wonderfully chunky, briny, tangy, and sharp, with a hint of heat (though you can leave that out—or play it up—if you want).
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Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Another major component of a Southern cold plate or crudite platter, deviled eggs are noticeably missed anytime they get left off the menu at a Southern gathering. This dip takes all the wonderful flavors of a deviled egg and converts it into one savory, addictive spread.
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Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
No one can resist a bowl or skillet of bubbling queso. This recipe makes the most of the season—and hides some hidden health benefits—with the addition of sweet potato for a slightly earthy, sweet taste and super-creamy consistency.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Yes, you can pick up a tub of this party classic at the grocery store, but you could also make it yourself and earn some major respect from your guests. Learn how to make homemade French onion dip to impress at your next party. But be warned—you won’t be able to go back to store-bought.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey
Two classic recipes combine for one decadent dip that will be the star of your appetizer spread. Serve alongside toasted baguette, pretzels, and crudite for a nice variety.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel
This easy, six-ingredient Rotel Sausage Dip is the perfect party appetizer. It’s so simple to prepare, and it’s a great, crowd-pleasing starter to have on hand when hungry guests are knocking at your door.
Credit: Southern Living
A bowl of collard greens isn’t a completely foreign sight on a Thanksgiving table, but the quintessential Southern vegetable typically doesn’t find its way to the appetizer spread. This recipe proves that it absolutely should.
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Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
The secret to this recipe is using fresh rather than dried dill. Serve with crisp veggies and crunchy kettle cooked potato chips for the best results.
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
If you don’t feel like standing out by the grill during the holiday season, you can easily oven roast the corn, jalapeños, and onions in this recipe to release some of the same sweetness that makes this guac so excellent.
Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Also known as Cowboy Caviar, the longer this scoopable relish/salsa marinates in the refrigerator, the better it gets. This is a great one to make a day or two before your holiday get-together to get some of your prep work out of the way.
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Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
It only takes five minutes to whip up this dip that brings all the same great flavor as a pumpkin pie, but with a fraction of the work.
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Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning
Anything served in a cast-iron skillet immediately earns points for being extra comforting. This punched-up queso gives all the ooey, gooey goodness you could ask for. The best part is it can be assembled and placed up in the fridge up to three days in advance.
Dining and Cooking