3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip

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Cheesy, savory, and full of chili deliciousness, this 3 ingredient chili cheese dip is sure to become your next party appetizer essential!

Why? Because this tasty dip is incredibly easy to make, and super versatile too. Pair it with nachos and tortilla chips and you’ve got yourself a total crowd-pleaser.

Best of all, you can bring a lot of variation to the recipe too! But, more on that later.

The chili cheese dip on a blue napkin with salsa in a dish on the upper left, and on the upper right is a bowl with tortilla chips.

Ingredients For the 3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip Recipe

Cream cheese: Cream cheese forms the base of this easy chili dip and gives the dip that delicious creaminess.

Cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese brings a nice sharpness along with a slightly rich flavor that is an absolute ingredient with this dip.

Chili: And of course, a can of your favorite chili. You could also use leftover homemade chili like my 3 Ingredient Chili recipe that’s just scrumptious!

The ingredients for this appetizer dip. Shredded cheddar, a block of cream cheese and some left over chili.

How to Make Chili Cheese Dip With 3 Ingredients

Spread softened cream cheese on the bottom of a pan.
Pour the chili on the top and spread well.
Top with the shredded cheddar cheese and bake until bubbly.
Serve warm with your favorite chips.

A spoon spreading out the cream cheese in the glass pie dish.

The chili going on top of the cream cheese.

Sprinkling cheese on top of the chili in the pie plate.

The unbaked dip is on a baking tray, ready to go in the oven.

***** Be sure to check the fully printable recipe card below to get the exact ingredient amounts and directions to make this recipe perfect every time.

Tips & Variations for this Easy Chili Cheese Dip Recipe

You can try using different kinds of cheese- Try using shredded pepperjack or Monterey cheese. If you want something more simple, use shredded cheddar or even just mozzarella will do as well.
Don’t have cream cheese? Boursin or Laughing Cow cheese can be a great alternative.
You can also try using any kind of chili of your choice. For a vegetarian version, use chili without the ground beef.
To bulk out the dip and add some extra spicy flavor, try adding a can of spicy rotel either on top of the chili or even combined with the cream cheese. If you’re adding the Rotel, remember to drain it before adding it to the dip.
Another great idea is to top the cheese dip with a generous drizzle of sour cream crema or hot sauce, or some chopped jalapenos for a bit of texture and a kick of heat.

***** Be sure to check the recipe card below for extra tips and variations to make this dip recipe perfect every time.

A top down photo of the chili cheese dip in a glass pie plate.

How to Serve the 3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip

This ultra cheesy and savory chili dip appetizer can be teamed up with your nachos, crackers, tortilla chips, and even just some crusty bread- I love pairing it with no knead Dutch oven bread and even with cheddar and dill bread.

To make it healthier, you can pair the dip with some veggie sticks too- it really is so versatile!

Storage Ideas & Suggestions

This creamy and savory chili dip is usually gone in one sitting, but if you do have some leftovers that you want to store for later, you can start by covering the pan with some cling wrap and then refrigerating it for up to 2 days.

I would recommend reheating this in the microwave or the air fryer. Sure, the texture of the cheese might change a bit, but the flavors are still going to be bang-on.

Dipping a tortilla into the baked chili cheese dip.

Questions You Might Have

Can I double this recipe?

I don’t think I’d double this recipe to put into one dish. I think making two separate dishes of the same dip would work out much better.

I can’t find a Mexican blend cheese, what else can I use?

Honestly, you can use any meltable cheese you prefer. But if you can’t find a blend, then try making your own blend. You could use pepper jack, Monterey jack, or any meltable cheese that contains some hot peppers. Using a mozzarella and cheddar mix would be delicious, or, even shredding some plain cheese and adding diced jalapenos would be fantastic!

Can I freeze this dip?

I honestly don’t think this dip would freeze and thaw nicely, especially if it were layered. I think the moisture content in the different ingredients would cause some separation and because the ingredients are layered, you couldn’t really stir in the excess water when it thaws.
If you decide to try freezing it, I would freeze it unbaked and let it thaw completely to room temperature before trying to put it in the oven.

Did You Make This Chili Cheese Dip Recipe?

I’d love to hear from you if you tried my chili dip appetizer! Please comment below and let me know if you made changes or cooked it as is!
Thanks for stopping by The Salty Pot today and I hope you have a fantastic week.

~Joanne

Yield: 6 servings

3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip Recipe

I love this 3-ingredient chili cheese dip because it's a perfect blend of creamy cheese, hearty chili, and a touch of spice for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Plus it's crazy easy to make so even a new cook can make it.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

8 oz Cream Cheese (see notes)
15 oz (1 can) Chili
2 cups Mexican Cheddar Cheese blend

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using a spoon, spread the block of cream cheese over the surface of a baking dish. (I used a glass pie plate).
Spread the chili over the cheese and even out with the back of the spoon.
Sprinkle the cheese over the top and bake in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
Remove and let sit for a few minutes. This cheese will be very hot!

Notes

1. The cream cheese should be at room temperature for easier spreading into the serving dish. If it's not room temperature, remove the foil wrapping and warm it in the microwave on the 'soften' setting.
2. Use your favorite canned chili or this is a perfect time to use any leftover chili you have on hand.
3. The cheddar cheese can be mixed with a pepper jack or any other nice melting cheese that you like the flavor of.
4. If you like a broiled caramelized cheese on top of the dip, broil the dip in the last minute of cooking in the oven.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 297Total Fat 27gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 79mgSodium 385mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 0gSugar 2gProtein 12g

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.