30 Easy Party Dips to Serve at Every Occasion

RX_1906_Party Dips for Chips_Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

Photo: Greg Dupree

Every hostess knows the power of a good dip. A really, really good dip? That’s what can set a really, really good party apart from the rest. We also know that if there is one thing that’s guaranteed to please a crowd of hungry Southerners every time, it’s not going to be a cucumber canape. It’s a dip.

No matter what's coming up on your calendar, you can turn to one of these easy dip recipes to get the job done. No summer cookout is complete without our succotash-inspired salsa or bacon-studded guacamole, and no tailgate is game-ready without our ever-classic spinach dip or slow-cooker buffalo chicken dip. Got a fancy affair? Try our creamy crab dip or smoky field pea dip instead. We’ve got the dips, all you need is to bring all of the chips. (Seriously, all of them. Corn chips, tortilla chips, potato chips, pita chips…you get the picture.) Here are the 30 best party appetizer dips to add to your recipe box.

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Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham

Recipe: Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham

Sweet onions and country ham give this classic dip something extra for your tailgate or cookout. Prepare it in a skillet and throw it on the grill to reheat easily.

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Warm Cheese-and-Spicy Pecan Dip

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Warm Cheese-and-Spicy Pecan Dip

Cheese dip...but make it Southern. Be prepared to go heavy on the cream cheese and mayo in this cheese-laden dip. The crunchy, cayenne-spiced pecans make for a show-stopping finish.

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Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip

Imagine your classic Texas caviar—but in a warm, melty, multi-layered dip form.

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Creamy Crab Dip

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip

This update on classic crab dip is welcome at every party. Fresh lump crab is the star ingredient, but the Old Bay seasoning is a close second.

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Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole

You know what's genius? Guacamole with a Southern spin. Three standout ingredients will see you through: bacon, pimiento, and avocados.

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Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Spinach-Artichoke Dip

This is the only spinach-artichoke dip you'll ever need. It's the ultimate blend of cheesy, creamy, and melty goodness.

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Succotash Salsa

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Succotash Salsa

A summer-favorite side dish gets a snack-worthy makeover. It's got everything you love—fresh lima beans, corn, tomatoes, and sweet onion—but it's fit for a party.

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Collard Dip

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Collard Dip

Leave it to Southerners to turn collard greens into a delicious take on hot spinach dip. It'll be scooped clean in 15 minutes flat, we guarantee.

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Crawfish Dip

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Crawfish Dip

Don't let crawfish season pass by without making this crazy-flavorful dip. Even better: You can make it in a slow cooker for ultimate ease and to ensure it stays warm.

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Rotel Dip

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Rotel Dip

This dip sometimes gets a bad rap—but we don't want those people at our party anyway. In this recipe, simplicity is key. (Oh, and Velveeta is key, too.)

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Cast-Iron Salsa

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Cast-Iron Salsa

You'll forget all about that jarred stuff after tasting this easy recipe. The extra step—charring the garlic, peppers, and onions—takes salsa to the next level.

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Baked BLT Dip

Southern Living

Recipe: Baked BLT Dip

Everyone's favorite sandwich—especially during the summertime when tomatoes are at their peak—is even better when reimagined into a crowd-pleasing baked dip.

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Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

This Southern spin on classic hummus is sure to have everyone talking—and dipping! Smoked paprika is the secret touch.

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Corn and Jalapeño Dip

Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Corn and Jalapeño Dip

Sweet corn and spicy jalapeño are a flavor match made in heaven. The bacon doesn't hurt either.

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Creamy Shrimp Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Shrimp Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips

This is certainly not your average seafood dip. Paired with addicting crispy wonton chips, it's ready to wow the crowd.

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Pimiento Cheese Dip

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pimiento Cheese Dip

We'd dip everything but a tractor tire into this melty version of classic pimiento cheese. (And you can quote us on that.)

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Tomato and Feta Dip

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tomato and Feta Dip

It's the combination you never knew you needed. We like to think of this as the sassier cousin of baked brie with preserves.

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Hot-Sauce-and-Honey Chicken Dip

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Hot-Sauce-and-Honey Chicken Dip

The two best friends that ever existed: sweet and heat. Use store-bought rotisserie chicken to make this the easiest (but heartiest) dip ever.

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Creamy Crab Dip with Peppadews

Southern Living

Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip with Peppadews

Southerners love a creamy dip, and this creamy crab dip uses the trifecta: cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise.

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Queso Fundido with Mushrooms and Chiles

Wynn Myers

Recipe: Queso Fundido with Mushrooms and Chiles

This molten three-cheese dip gets extra flavor from a mixture of toasted garlic, mushrooms, and green chiles. Need we say more?

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Eggplant-Yogurt Dip

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Eggplant-Yogurt Dip

This take on classic baba ganoush is the summer-ready appetizer that feels a tad lighter than your creamy cheese dip.

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Smoky Field Pea-and-Greens Dip

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Smoky Field Pea-and-Greens Dip

Have you met a dip more suited for a Southern tailgate? It's made with bacon, spinach or kale, and plenty of field peas—and it doesn't skimp on the cream cheese, mayo, and shredded cheese either.

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Sausage, Bean, and Spinach Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sausage, Bean, and Spinach Dip

In our world, sausage makes everything better. In the world of dips, this is definitely a proven fact.

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Texas Caviar

Southern Living

Recipe: Texas Caviar

You won't find a bigger hit with a Southern crowd than traditional Texas caviar.

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Classic Pimiento Cheese

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese

Showing up to the potluck with a container full of pimiento cheese is as foolproof as it gets.

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Creamy Feta-and-Herb Dip

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Feta-and-Herb Dip

This tangy, homemade dip is simple in construction but packed with flavor from herbs and seasoning.

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Blueberry Salsa

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Blueberry Salsa

Put those summer berries to good use with this not-your-ordinary salsa recipe.

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Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip

Skyler Burt

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip

Making this game-day favorite just got easier. Let your slow cooker do the work.

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Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Imagine all of the fixings of the greatest loaded baked potato ever mixed into a bowl, waiting to be scooped up with potato chips or waffle fries. Sound pleasant? We thought so.

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Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

This is a tastier version of French onion dip, using Southern-style Vidalia onions instead. Get those ruffled potato chips, and start snacking!

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30 Easy Dip Recipes Guaranteed to Get the Party Going

1 of 31

Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham

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Warm Cheese-and-Spicy Pecan Dip

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Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip

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Creamy Crab Dip

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Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole

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Spinach-Artichoke Dip

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Succotash Salsa

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Collard Dip

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Crawfish Dip

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Rotel Dip

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Cast-Iron Salsa

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Baked BLT Dip

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Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

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Corn and Jalapeño Dip

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Creamy Shrimp Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips

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Pimiento Cheese Dip

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Tomato and Feta Dip

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Hot-Sauce-and-Honey Chicken Dip

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Creamy Crab Dip with Peppadews

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Queso Fundido with Mushrooms and Chiles

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Eggplant-Yogurt Dip

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Smoky Field Pea-and-Greens Dip

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Sausage, Bean, and Spinach Dip

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Texas Caviar

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Classic Pimiento Cheese

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Creamy Feta-and-Herb Dip