There is no shortage of sweet treats at our house during the holiday season! There’s the treats we make for ourselves, the treats we eat at parties we attend, the stuff we make for neighbors, the stuff the neighbors make for us… the list goes on and on! And while I do have a bit of a sweet tooth, I’ll inevitably reach the “sweetness overload” stage at some point. After that, I usually start craving something salty!
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So a few Christmases ago, when my daughter-in-law Kaitlyn mentioned that she used to make an easy Chili Cheese Dip all the time when she was in college, I was highly intrigued! I immediately went to my kitchen to see if I happened to have the necessary ingredients. And to my surprise, I did! (Though maybe it shouldn’t have been all that surprising, considering I only needed three ingredients!)
I ended up making Kaitlyn’s dip that very night, and a new family favorite was born! I’ve made it many times since then, and it’s become a Christmastime tradition! It’s the perfect savory dip to help offset all those sweet treats. Pair it with some salty tortilla chips, and you’ll have yourself a quick and easy snack that is almost impossible to put down! Here’s how to make it at home.
3-Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip
Add the cream cheese, salsa, and chili to a pot on your stovetop. (You can also use a slow cooker instead if you prefer!)
Cook over medium-low heat until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is nice and warm. Serve it alongside your favorite tortilla chips!
Not only do we love this dip during Christmastime, but it’s perfect for just about any other occasion too! Have a New Year’s Eve party coming up? Just triple the amounts listed in the recipe card and dump it all in your slow cooker! And check out even more delicious dip recipes at the link below.
Related: 10 Tried And True Dip Recipes You’ll Want To Save
Do you have any go-to savory or salty snacks during the holidays?
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3-Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip
This chili cheese dip is the perfect snack for a holiday party, movie night, or any get-together with friends or family! It's so delicious and easy, you'll want to make it again and again!
Ingredients:
- 12 oz cream cheese
- 15 oz salsa
- 12 oz chili with beans
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a pot on your stove, or to your slow cooker.
Heat until the cream cheese has melted and all the ingredients are combined.
Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or corn chips!
This sounds better to me than the classic Velveeta-chili/Rotel tomatoes dip I’m familiar with!
I have always made this with either Wolf or Hormel brand chili without beans. It has been a staple for us for 30+ years.
This recipe was okay but honestly I was a little underwhelmed. I used Hormel chili with beans, Philly cream cheese and my homemade salsa which is delicious by itself. I was a little short on the cream cheese so I added enough Kraft Mexican cheese blend to make up the difference. Perhaps some chopped green onions and sliced black olives would have livened it up a bit. I would probably add more chili powder and perhaps some cumin if I made it again.
Can I freeze this?
Sure! We never have leftovers, but I don’t see why not :-)
Top with cheddar. Throw it in the oven till melted
Yum, great idea!
We have always made this with Rotel tomatoes and Velveeta, sometimes adding a small can of green chllies. Will have to give this version a try!
Yum!
This looks delicious, and my daughter was just yesterday saying she was ready for something savory after all the sweets! Since I never buy canned chili, I’m not sure which brand is best; if you don’t mind sharing, which one is your favorite?
WE make this dip without the chili…only the cream cheese with salsa and we love it! We’ll definitely try adding the chili !!
Dennison’s!!
I really like the chili from Trader Joes, but you can see a review of some different canned chilis here: https://jillee.co/2CE3FOE :-)