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Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip

Published: Feb 7, 2022 by Jan Nunes

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Layered cheese and chili dip in a glass pie dish with text overlay.
Layered cheese and chili dip in a glass pie dish with text overlay.
Gooey dip in a glass pie pan with a text overlay.
Gooey dip in a glass pie pan with a text overlay.

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip makes entertaining easy with layers of cream cheese, chili, and cheese that bakes to gooey perfection!

The dip is hot from the oven and garnished with sliced green onions and cherry tomatoes.

The best party foods are easy to make and take almost no time to assemble, which is why this chili with cheese dip appetizer is one of the best you can make when entertaining.

Simply spread the three must-have ingredients in a pie pan and bake. Then serve immediately. You will need some hearty dippers for this dip, like Fritos corn chips, pita chips, or a hearty tortilla chip.

I like to add a sprinkling of sliced green onions and sometimes sliced cherry tomatoes to make it pretty. In addition to being a nice garnish, the green onions bring another layer of savory taste to this chili dip with cream cheese.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • My Top Tips
  • Substitutions & Variations
  • Make Ahead
  • Storage
  • More Cheesy Dishes
  • 📖 Recipe

Ingredients

The ingredients from top to bottom: cream cheese, chili, shredded cheese, green onions, cherry tomatoes.
  • Cream Cheese - Cream cheese makes gives this dip more body to make it more scoopable. The smooth creamy flavor of the cream cheese also tames the spice of the chili.
  • Chili - Any canned chili will do. Chili with beans or without beans, it's all good. You can't go wrong if you pick your favorite brand or use your favorite recipe.
  • Shredded Cheese - I prefer sharp cheddar, but colby-jack, and mozzarella are good too.
  • Green Onions - Optional garnish. I slice the green portion of green onions on a steep diagonal to make a nice garnish.
  • Cherry Tomatoes - Optional garnish. Thinly sliced cherry tomatoes are pretty garnish and delicious too.

Please see the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Cream cheese spread in the bottom of a glass pie plate.

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Spread a layer of cream cheese across the bottom of a 9 ½” pie plate.

No bean chili is being spooned on top of the layer of cream cheese.

Spread chili over the cream cheese until it completely covers the cream cheese.

Shredded cheese is being sprinkled over the top of the layer of chili.

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the chili.

Fresh from the oven the dip is hot and the cheese is melted.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbling and the cheese is melted and slightly brown.

The dip is hot from the oven and garnished with sliced green onions and cherry tomatoes.

If you want it to look party-pretty sprinkle some sliced green onions and cherry tomatoes over the melted cheese.

Be sure to serve the dip with hearty tortilla chips, Fritos corn chips, or toasted pita bread. Thin chips will break and you won't get a nice scoop of the warm gooey dip.

My Top Tips

Warm the Cream Cheese - The cream cheese will spread easier if it is not cold from the refrigerator. Simply set the cream cheese out to warm at room temperature while you do other things. You can also warm cream cheese in the microwave for a few seconds at a time at a low defrost setting.

Shred the Cheese Yourself - Use a block of cheese and shred the cheese yourself for the best melting cheese. Packaged shredded cheese is coated with an agent to keep the cheese from sticking and clumping and this agent also changes the look and texture of melted cheese.

Substitutions & Variations

ADD ROASTED GREEN CHILES - For piquant and mildly pungent notes, add a can of drained chopped and roasted mild green chiles either to the cream cheese or layer them on top of the cream cheese before the chili.

ADD HOT SAUCE - Add some of your favorite hot sauce to the chili layer to change up the heat of the chili.

SUBSTITUTE A FLAVORED CREAM CHEESE - Chive and onion cream cheese is absolutely delicious in this chili cheese dip. Substitute half or all of the plain cream cheese for flavored cream cheese.

Side view of layered dip ready for the oven.

Make Ahead

You can make this dip up to the point of baking it and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it. For the best results let the dip come to room temperature before baking it.

Storage

Refrigerate any leftover dip in a covered container. This dip can be reheated in a microwave for a quick snack.

Gooey dip in a glass pie pan.

More Cheesy Dishes

  • Taco Stuffed Peppers
  • Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas
  • Green Chile Mac and Cheese

📖 Recipe

Layered dip is hot from the oven and garnished with sliced green onions and cherry tomatoes.

Chili Cheese Dip

5 from 1 vote
Encharted Cook | Jan Nunes
Classic Chili Cheese Dip makes entertaining easy with layers of cream cheese, chili, and shredded cheese that bakes to gooey perfection!
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings
Calories 138 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 8 Ounces Cream Cheese
  • 15 Ounces Chili Without Beans
  • 8 Ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
  • ¼ Cup Green Onions, Sliced
  • 8 Each Cherry Tomatoes, Sliced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
    Spread a layer of cream cheese across the bottom of a 9 ½” pie plate.
    8 Ounces Cream Cheese
  • Spread chili over the cream cheese until it completely covers the cream cheese.
    15 Ounces Chili Without Beans
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the chili.
    8 Ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbling and the cheese is melted and slightly brown.
  • Top with sliced green onions and cherry tomatoes. Serve with hearty tortilla chips, corn chips, or toasted pita bread.
    ¼ Cup Green Onions, 8 Each Cherry Tomatoes

Notes

My Top Tips
Warm the Cream Cheese - The cream cheese will spread easier if it is not cold from the refrigerator. Simply set the cream cheese out to warm at room temperature while you do other things. You can also warm cream cheese in the microwave for a few seconds at a time at a low defrost setting.
Shred the Cheese Yourself - Use a block of cheese and shred the cheese yourself for the best melting cheese. Packaged shredded cheese is coated with an agent to keep the cheese from sticking and clumping and this agent also changes the look and texture of melted cheese.
Substitutions & Variations
ADD ROASTED GREEN CHILES - For piquant and mildly pungent notes, add a can of drained chopped and roasted mild green chiles either to the cream cheese or layer them on top of the cream cheese before the chili.
ADD HOT SAUCE - Add some of your favorite hot sauce to the chili layer to change up the heat of the chili.
SUBSTITUTE A FLAVORED CREAM CHEESE - Chive and onion cream cheese is absolutely delicious in this chili cheese dip. Substitute half or all of the plain cream cheese for flavored cream cheese.
Make-Ahead
You can make this dip up to the point of baking it and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it. For the best results let the dip come to room temperature before baking it.
Storage
Refrigerate any leftover dip in a covered container. This dip can be reheated in a microwave for a quick snack.

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.

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I'm Jan and I love to cook for friends and family. Over the years I have learned that many recipes are related and if you learn to make one delicious dish and you can make many more. So come join me as I chart recipes and ingredients and share my favorite dishes.

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