The BEST Easy Chili Cheese Dip Recipe (Made In 10 Minutes)

This chili cheese dip recipe is packed with creamy, savory, cheesy, and meaty goodness. It combines chili with cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and salsa to create a dip that's just out-of-this-world good. Plus, it's so, so easy to make! In fact, just 10 minutes is all it takes to whip this tasty chili dip up!

The Best Chili Cheese Dip

If you love chili, just wait until you try this epic chili cheese dip recipe.

Honestly, I have a feeling you're going to be obsessed with it! I mean, this stuff is just loaded with so many flavors and delicious elements. The combination of canned chili with rich cheese and salsa makes for a dip that's guaranteed to become the new family favorite.

Gah, it's just so good!

Plus, it's so easy to make too. Just a few simple steps and 5 super basic ingredients are all that's needed to make this easy chili cheese dip recipe come to life. Plus, everything for the dip is assembled in just one skillet, so clean-up is a breeze too.

Candidly, this is one of my favorite dips to make when I'm having friends over, and it's the perfect appetizer for things like the Super Bowl. It's just different enough that no one has probably had it before, but all the flavors are wonderfully nostalgic, so they're sure to please everyone's taste buds.

By the way, since this homemade chili cheese dip recipe comes together in just 15 minutes, you'll have plenty of time to whip up even more delicious sides to serve alongside your dip. I love serving this chili cheese dip with these air fryer tortilla chips, this guacamole recipe, and this cheese ball recipe for the ultimate party snack spread. 

Ingredients

As I mentioned before, the ingredient list for this chili cheese dip is so simple. Honestly, you probably have most - if not all - of the ingredients you'll need at home already.

Anyway, here are all of the ingredients you'll need to make this chili cheese dip:

• 1 can chili (or 1 ½ cups homemade chili)
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup salsa
• *Optional: nachos to serve

See, super simple stuff, right?

By the way, if you're in need of an epic homemade chili recipe, then I've got you covered with this easy one pot Texas chili recipe. It's, honest to god, my dad's favorite chili recipe ever. 

Ingredient Substitutions And Modifications

While I recommend making this chili cheese dip with the ingredients listed above, there's definitely room to switch up the recipe if you want.

So, with that said, here are some of my favorite suggestions.

Switch Out Cream Cheese For Velveeta Cheese Or Other Cheeses

This recipe calls for cream cheese and cheddar cheese, but you can feel free to experiment with other kinds of cheeses for different flavors! I love using things like Velveeta cheese for a flavor similar to the Rotel dip I mentioned earlier, pepper jack cheese for a little kick, sour cream instead of cream cheese for a different flavor, and lastly, some extra sharp cheddar cheese for a bolder flavor.

Use Hormel Chili

As I mentioned above, you can use either canned chili or make homemade chili for this dip recipe. While you can't go wrong with either, I have to admit I love making this a Hormel chili cheese dip. Using a can of Hormel chili is just so convenient, and it tastes great too.

Spice It Up

If you want to add more of a kick to your chili cheese dip, you can simply add a few dashes of hot sauce, some chili powder, slices of jalapenos, or even a few chopped-up green chiles to it. If you go the hot sauce route, I can't recommend using a couple of tablespoons of Frank's enough. It's the hot sauce I like to take the heat up of this chili cheese dip, and it slaps every time!

How To Make Chili Cheese Dip

Now it's time for the fun part - making this chili cheese dip!

Again, this chili cheese dip recipe could not be easier to make. I mean, it's hard to beat a recipe that comes together in just 10 minutes!

Anyway, let's stop wasting time and get into this dip!

Step 1: Combine The Ingredients

First things first, take out a pot or large skillet and put it over medium heat. Then, you can add your chili to the pot and let it simmer until it's fully warmed through. Also, remember to stir occasionally so that the chili can heat up evenly and so it doesn't burn.

Now, once the chili is warm, you can add in the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and salsa. Then, after you've added those ingredients to the chili, you'll cook those together, stirring them frequently, until the cheese melts and it combines with the cream cheese and salsa. 

Step 2: Warm It Up

While your chili cheese dip is warming up, you can give it a taste and adjust any seasonings if necessary. This will really depend on the type of chili you're using, as some have more flavor than others.

You'll also want to make sure it's the right consistency. Some chili brands can be more watery than others. If your dip is too thin, then you can add a little extra shredded cheese and cream cheese to thicken it up.

Step 3: Serve The Dip

Once you've tasted your chili cheese dip - and are happy with the consistency - you can serve it warm with some tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

How To Store Chili Cheese Dip

This recipe for chili cheese dip makes about 6-8 servings. Luckily, if you have more than 6-8 people coming over, it's easy to make a double or triple batch of this recipe with little to no added prep time!

Then, if you do end up with leftovers, consider yourself lucky because this chili cheese dip tastes incredible the next day. To store those leftovers, all you have to do is transfer the dip to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. Stored this way, your chili cheese dip should last for 3-4 days.

How To Reheat Chili Cheese Dip

When you're ready to enjoy this easy chili cheese dip again, you'll definitely want to reheat it first. So, to reheat the dip, just put it in a pot - or crock pot - and set the temp to low heat. Cook everything until the cheese melts and it's warmed through.

Alternatively, to heat the dip up even quicker, you can use the microwave. Just microwave the dip in 20-second intervals, stopping to stir it between each one, until the cheese melts and the dip is fully warmed.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make chili cheese dip!

I know I'm a bit biased, but I really think this is one of the best chili cheese dip recipes out there. I don't know if it's the rich texture, the perfect balance of flavor, or the fact that it comes together in just minutes, but something about this dip is just too good to resist.

Honestly, it's such a good appetizer to make when you're short on time, and it always impresses. Seriously, everyone who's tried this cheesy dip is just obsessed with it!

Anyway, I hope you like this dip recipe as much as I/we do.

As always, if you give this recipe a try, be sure to leave a comment below and let us know how it went!

More Appetizer Recipes

If you're in need of even more easy and delicious appetizer recipes - just like this chili cheese dip - then we have a ton on the blog for you to try next!

Here are some of our most popular ones:

• Crack dip
• Armadillo eggs
• Rotel dip
• Crab rangoon
• Cream cheese dip

Oh, and be sure to check us out on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram! We post new recipes on them every day.

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