Delicious Cheese Dips (3 Varieties | Cold or Hot)
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Have you ever made a cheese dip or spread that people rave about? With fresh grated cheese and 5 simple ingredients you will have not one, not two, but 3 varieties of delicious cheese dips that your friends and family will love! A simple dip that makes a big impact to a crudités platter, cracker or charcuterie board.
You can serve these delectable and hearty dips, hot or cold! Heat them up in an oven or microwave safe bowl and serve with pita chips, carrot chips, tortilla chips and crackers for hot, stringy, super tasty appetizers!
3 sensational, show-stopping, cracker hoarding dips you can make for your next pool party, backyard barbecue, holiday feast or evening soirée!
At our local grocery store we have a Murray’s™ gourmet cheese section with a couple of creamy cheese dips that are out of this world!
I mean, the kind you buy the first time out of curiosity and then mysteriously find yourself with a container in your grocery basket every time you hit the store.
The kind that you can grab some crisp crackers or some carrot sticks and dig in, where you think twice about sharing with your friends and loved ones. Yeah, that’s the stuff!
Over the holidays I was tinkering around with a Million Dollar Cheese dip recipe, the ones that are all over Pinterest and I think I might have stumbled upon what I think are the perfect copycat recipes for these decadent gourmet deli dips.
So friends who love Chads Smoked Gouda dip, Jarlsberg Jalapeño dip and regular Jarlsberg cheese dip from the Kroger™ chain; grab some fresh veggies and crackers and whip up these delectable dips in minutes. Oh and it makes plenty, so you won’t mind sharing with those around you!
The ingredients and steps for each recipe are very similar, but deliver delightfully different flavors.
First a few prep details so you are ready to whip together your awesome cheese dips in minutes!
How to Toast Fresh Garlic
In a heavy duty skillet (I love my small Lodge Cast Iron skillet), over medium-high heat, pour about 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, toss in your finely chopped garlic (start with 2 cloves) and stir until golden, stir the entire time and don’t walk away, just takes a couple of minutes and it will burn fast!
For tips, substitutions and other ideas for toasted garlic, see recipe below.
BASIC CHEESE DIP MAKING INSTRUCTIONS
In a small mixing bowl, mix together your softened cream cheese (if using) and mayo. You may want to whisk or stir the cream cheese up prior to putting the mayo in, but either way you can get it pretty smooth whisking it well.
Toss in your shredded cheese(s), minced red onions or green onions, your salt, toasted garlic and bacon bits.
TIME SAVER | I love these Epic Bacon Bits, they are all natural, no nitrates or nitrites, gluten free; they hold up great and actually look like real, thick bacon! I toss the bag in my freezer so they last longer and use them for bacon emergencies. You have bacon emergencies don’t you? Tell me I’m not alone!!
Stir it all about, mixing until ingredients are combined. Now, it tastes fine right away, but I like the flavors to hang out, mingle, get to know one another; place them in a covered container and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more.
HOSTESS TIP | Can be made a couple of days ahead of time; this will firm it up, but it becomes more spreadable as it sits out.
Aren’t they gorgeous, well I think they are beautiful because I’m pretty sure, at least in my food world that cheese takes the cake…so to speak.
Smoked Gouda Cheese Dip
Ingredients for Smoked Gouda Cheese Dip
- Smoked Gouda cheese packs a flavorful punch of smokey, salty flavors in this dip.
- Mixed with cream cheese (optional)
- Creamy real mayonnaise
- Toasted garlic
- Minced red onions
- Real bacon bits — drooling yet?
Jarlsberg Cheese Dip with JALAPEñO
Ingredients for this amazing, slightly spicy dip! Oops, my jalapeno is missing from the photo! Trust me it’s in there.
INGREDIENTS FOR JARLSBERG CHEESE DIP
Nutty and flavorful Jarlsberg cheese is the star in this dip, along with cream cheese (optional), mayo, garlic, red onions, bacon bits, minced fresh jalapeño and a little salt. If you don’t like heat, omit the jalapeño!
GARLIC GRUYÈRE CHEESE DIP
Ingredients for Garlic Gruyère Cheese Dip
- Slightly salty, sweet, nutty, and creamy, Gruyère shines in this dip,
- Mixed with optional cream cheese
- White sharp cheddar
- Mayo
- Toasted garlic
- Green onions
- Bacon bits and a little salt
- It’s like fondue in dip form! This one is especially yummy baked (hot), but just as delicious cold.
Spoon a small amount into pretty serving bowls and if desired, place markers on them so your guests know what they are dipping in to.
Variations
- Want a softer, more spreadable dip? Omit the cream cheese! Reduces the overall caloric intake as well.
- Prefer a firmer dip, keep that cream cheese in there.
- If you plan on baking it, I recommend keeping the cream cheese in for a smoother, creamier hot dip.
- Also, feel free to adjust your shredded cheese up or down as different mayo’s and cream cheeses have different moisture contents.
How to use leftover cheese dips
- Spread a little onto your next sandwich
- Make a grilled cheese or quesadilla using the spread(s)
- Place a dollop on top of grilled, baked chicken or fish, melt and devour
- Place a scoop on top of a baked potato (nom!)
- Spread onto flour tortillas and roll into pinwheels, slice for a quick appetizer
- HEAT | Place in a shallow, oven safe dish and heat until bubbly in a 350º oven for 20-25 minutes, serve with tortilla or pita chips
Can you freeze delicious cheese dips?
You bet! I do not think they are quite as creamy and good for just dipping while cold, but if baking and using hot, or mixing into something, then yes, they are fabulous and a great way to avoid food waste!
Try these other cheesy recipes:
- Creamy White Queso Dip
- Broccoli Cheddar soup
- Ham, Mac & Cheese Soup
- Best Cheesesteak Sandwich
- Healthy Cheeseburger Soup {Gluten Free & Low Carb}
- Artichoke Cheese Wontons
- Easy Cheesy Cheese Enchiladas
- Hammy Sammies {Hawaiian Roll Ham and Swiss Sliders}
Sharing this week on Weekend Potluck, check it out!
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Equipment
Ingredients
Toasted Garlic
- 2 cloves garlic minced fine
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Smoked Gouda Dip
- 1-1 1/2 cups smoked Gouda cheese shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese softened (optional)
- 1/2 cup scant real mayonnaise
- 1/2-1 teaspoon toasted garlic
- 1 tablespoon red onion chopped fine
- 1/4 cup bacon bits homemade or store bought
- sea salt to taste start with 1/4 teaspoon, taste
Jarlsberg Jalapeno Dip
- 1-1 1/2 cups Jarlsberg cheese shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese softened (optional)
- 1/2 cup scant real mayonnaise
- 1/2-1 teaspoon toasted garlic
- 1 tablespoon red onion chopped fine
- 1/2 small fresh jalapeno seeds removed, chopped fine (increase or decrease amounts based on heat)
- 1/4 cup bacon bits homemade or store bought
- sea salt to taste start with 1/4 teaspoon, taste
- garnish with a couple slices of fresh jalapeno optional
Garlic Gruyere Dip
- 1-1 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup sharp white cheddar shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese softened (optional)
- 1/2 cup scant real mayonnaise
- 1/2-1 teaspoon toasted garlic
- 1 tablespoon green onions chopped
- 1/4 cup bacon bits homemade or store bought
- sea salt to taste start with 1/4 teaspoon, taste
Dipping Suggestions
- carrots sliced
- bell peppers red, orange, yellow, green, sliced
- jicama sliced
- cucumbers sliced
- celery sliced
- sugar snap peas
- variety of crackers
- tortilla chips great when dips are heated
Instructions
Toasting Garlic
- Chop desired amount of garlic, start with two cloves, more if you’d like to use in other recipes.
- In a heavy duty pan, over medium-high heat, pour about 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, toss in your finely chopped garlic and stir until golden, stir the entire time and don’t walk away, just takes a couple of minutes and it will burn fast!
- Using a slotted spoon scoop the garlic out onto a paper towel to drain, cool completely.
- Make up extra toasted garlic and keep it in a clean, recycled spice jar in your fridge for use on salads, pastas, garlic toast, etc.
All Dip Instructions
- Mix together softened cream cheese (if using), mayonnaise, whisking until smooth.
- Add in bacon bits, red or green onions (depending on dip), toasted garlic, salt (to taste) and shredded cheese(s) (plus chopped jalapeno for Jarlsberg Jalapeno dip). Mix well until combined.
- May be served immediately, but flavors are better if allowed to sit in fridge for 30 minutes or more. Serve with your favorite crackers, veggies, or chips. See notes about storing, freezing and heating.
Fresh Tips
- HEAT | Place in a shallow, oven safe dish and heat until bubbly in a 350º oven for 20-25 minutes, serve with tortilla chips
Nutrition
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
The Jarlsberg jalapeno dip tastes like gameday to me! I love all cheese dips, but this one is special to me, and it will be on repeat in my house for the foreseeable future as we stay home and make fun recipes to enjoy by ourselves!
All of these are so tasty I am not sure which one I like the best! But if the bowl is any indication the Jarlsburg jalapeno dip was finished first!
I can never choose either! So glad you loved them!
gimme all of the cheese!! I am working my way through all of these! The Smoked Gouda recipe was top notch!
Love hearing this!! Thank you so much for sharing!
gimme all of the cheese!! I am working my way through all of these! The Smoked Gouda recipe was top notch!