This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy for additional information.
Why You’ll Love My Recipe
Despite how simple this dip might seem, it’s ooey, gooey, and incredibly delicious, and best of all? It’s able to hold up really well to being baked and staying warm for a long time! Serve it alongside some crunchy tortilla chips, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a good time!
There are few things tastier than cheese and chili. Why not combine them together into one easy and delicious dip with this recipe for Chili Cheese Dip? This is one of our favorite camping recipes, but we also make it at home!
For other great dips to serve at parties, why not try The Best Taco Dip or some Hot and Cheesy Artichoke Dip instead?
Karlynn’s Recipe Notes
- Skill Level: This delicious dip is easy to make and perfect served with some tortilla chips on the side!
- Total Time: You can have this recipe ready to go in approximately 30 minutes.
- Variations: Not a huge fan of canned chili? This is a perfect recipe for times when you have leftover homemade chili kicking around! You can also add some extra zing by putting some fresh garnishes on top! Try sliced green onions, finely diced red onion, sliced jalapenos (pickled or fresh), diced avocados, or your favorite salsa!
- Tools For This Recipe: You will need a cast iron skillet or other oven safe vessel, a silicon spatula to make spreading your cream cheese easy, and optionally a cheese grater to make your own shredded cheese blend as a topping!
What You’ll Need for Ingredients
Cream Cheese: You only need one 8 ounce package of cream cheese for this recipe! Reach for a block rather than the already whipped stuff in a tub, as you’ll get a better melty texture in the end! Just remember to take the cream cheese out of the fridge to let it soften for a bit to make it easier to spread over the bottom of your baking dish.
Chili: You could absolutely use homemade chili for this dip, but to make this recipe truly effortless, use your favorite brand of canned chili! I do this all the time, and my family’s been known to have this dip as dinner when we go camping because of how easy it is to put together.
Shredded Cheese: You can absolutely reach for a bag of pre-shredded Tex Mex cheese from your local supermarket’s dairy aisle and be more than happy with the end result. If you want to elevate this dip in an easy way, however, consider shredding your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheeses are usually packaged with stabilizers that keep them from clumping together on the shelf, which can have an effect on how well they melt. The best thing about shredding your own is that you can have control over ratios, and you can pick your favorite melting cheeses to go on top of this delicious dip!
How To Make Chili Cheese Dip
This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Place a layer of cream cheese on the bottom of your oven safe vessel. Pour the can of chili onto the cream cheese layer and spread it out evenly to cover everything.
- Sprinkle as much cheese as you want on top, making sure to cover the whole surface of the chili.
- Heat in the oven for 20-25 minutes until warmed through and all of the cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for another 5 minutes to make sure the cheese topping is fully melted and lightly browned on top. Then remove and allow to cool until everything’s safe to touch and serve with tortilla chips or scoops.
Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Chili Cheese Dip
- Cheese to Please: This recipe calls for some Tex Mex cheese, but what does that actually mean? Typically speaking, most pre-packaged blends are a 50/50 mix of Cheddar and Monterey Jack. Some companies go even further by adding seasonings like cumin, chipotle powder, and cayenne pepper! When looking for your own blend of cheese for this recipe, stick with picking something that you’d be happy eating on its own!
- Dippin’ Good: A problem with any hot dip made form cheese is that it can tend to solidify if left at room temperature for too long. Luckily, this recipe’s combination of cream cheese and chili layers with that Tex Mex cheese means that really the top will only start to get solid. If you really want to avoid any kind of solidification, consider buying a warming dish or plate! Warming dishes (also known as chafing dishes) usually use a long-lasting candle to keep your container warm, and warming plates or trays are often plug-in electric plates. You can usually find either at your local thrift store, but if you love warm dips and host a lot, even getting one brand new can be a great investment!
Storage Instructions
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe, as the cream cheese and canned chili probably wouldn’t be able to hold up being defrosted without losing a lot of texture.
Refrigerator: If you have leftovers—though I doubt you will—cover your chosen vessel with a tight layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil and you can keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat it, just pop it back into a 350°F oven until it’s heated through and bubbly again. If keeping the integrity of the layers doesn’t matter as much to you, you can transfer your leftovers into an airtight container and refrigerate it that way, but you’ll probably need to shred up more cheese to top it with when you want to warm it up again!
More Delicious Dip Recipes
- Give my recipe for restaurant-style Fry Sauce a try and I’m sure you’ll be keeping a batch of it in the fridge for whenever you get a craving for french fries!
- If you’ve never tried Rotel Dip, The BEST Velveeta Cheese Dip then you’re missing out! It’s only three ingredients and gives you a delicious, velvety queso dip with juicy, flavorful tomatoes and hearty ground beef!
- Not only does my Easy Chunky Homemade Guacamole Recipe make for a delicious dip with chips, but it’s also excellent as an accompaniment to tacos and enchiladas!
This recipe literally could not be easier, and it’s perfect for game day, potlucks, and just about any get together you can think of! Serve it with a side of deliciously crunchy tortilla chips, and you’ve got a real crowd-pleaser on your hands!
Give this dip a try and let me know what your favorite brand of canned chili is in the comments below!
Happy Cooking!
Karlynn
Chili Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- one 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- one 15 ounce can chili
- 2 cups shredded Tex Mex Cheese
- 1 bag tortilla chip “scoops”
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Place a layer of cream cheese on the bottom of the oven safe pan or pot that you are going to use.
- Pour the can of chili onto the cream cheese and spread out evenly to cover it up.
- Sprinkle as much cheese as you want on top, covering the whole area. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
- Heat in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the dip is warm and the cheese has melted. Uncover and cook for another 5 minute to really melt the cheese.
- Remove and let cool until still warm but safe to the touch, then serve with tortilla scoops.
Notes
- nutritional value will depend on brands used
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Leave a Comment or Recipe Tip