This easy sausage dip uses just 3 ingredients, no Velveeta in sight! Make it on the stovetop, in a crockpot, or in the oven. It may not be pretty, but it’s always the first to disappear at parties.
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If you are looking for more great appetizers; try this other 3-ingredient Chili Cheese Dip, these Philly Cheesesteak Sliders, Best Crudite Dip recipe and these 3 ingredient meatballs.
Why haven’t I posted this recipe LONG before now? I have been making this sausage cream cheese dip for decades!
The recipe from a dear friend, who would bring it to parties and it would be gone in a flash, mostly from the guys shoveling it in faster than they could chew.
We have always called this “MAN DIP”, because it’s a manly kind of dip — sausage (grunt-grunt), hot tomatoes (grunt), cheese (grunt-grunt-grunt!). I hear Tim the Toolman here! 🙂
Have no fear though, girls dig this dip as much as the guys!
Why You’ll Love This Sausage Dip Recipe
- 3 ingredients
- 3 quick steps
- Adjust the heat to your liking
- Versatile — make on stovetop, oven or crockpot
- Ready in as little as 15 minutes
- EVERYONE loves this dip, it might be slightly addictive
Sausage Dip Ingredients
- Breakfast Sausage: Mild sausage or Hot pork sausage; any bulk breakfast sausage would work, I use Jimmy Dean All Natural, also try Italian sausage for a twist.
- Cream Cheese:You can use full fat or lighten it up using Neufchatel cheese
- Rotel Original: but try the other “heats” or tomato brands as well!
- Dippers: We love Fritos Corn chips, but use sturdy tortilla chips, pretzels, crostini or your favorite dipper.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Sausage Dip
It’s truly easy as 1-2-3!
- Brown and crumble the sausage in a skillet. Drain excess grease. I love my Lodge cast iron skillets; they go from stovetop to oven with ease. And this meat chopper makes browning beef and turkey so much easier.
- Drain excess fat, add the softened cream cheese and stir.
- Add Rotel, sometimes I drain, sometimes I completely forget. I don’t think it’s bad to have the extra moisture, as this dip can dry out over time. If you are using the crockpot, then do not drain the tomatoes. Stir to combine.
3 ways to cook Sausage Cream cheese dip
Stovetop
- Over medium-low heat, after mixing all ingredients in, bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally for about 10-15 minutes until hot and well combined.
- Serve in the cast iron pan (be sure to tie a napkin around the handle for safety or use a silicone handle cover.)
Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175° C). Place the mixed sausage cream cheese dip in an oven-safe dish or pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Crockpot
- A smaller crock pot would be better for this dip, like this 3 quart Crockpot.
- You can assemble entirely on teh stovetop and transfer to crockpot to keep warm or
- Brown sausage, add to slow cooker, add tomatoes, cream cheese and cover.
- Cover and set to low or high depending on the amount of time you have before eating. Once ready and serving, simply pop over to the warm function!
Serving Suggestions for Sausage Rotel Dip
- Keep it warm! This sausage cream cheese Rotel dip is definitely best warm! If it hardens on you, simply reheat on the stovetop, or microwave until scoopable once again. If it gets too dry, add a little splash of water and stir.
- What to Serve it With: I have always served this dip with Frito Scoops, because they are sturdy and gather a nice hunk of dip to scoop into yo’ mouth! But a sturdy tortilla chip or old fashioned pretzels would work great too.
- Keeping it Gluten Free or Low Carb? Use carrot chips, wedges of sliced bell peppers, celery, cucumbers you name it; heck scoop some onto a plate and give me a spoon!
How to Store Rotel Sausage Dip
I rarely have any of this dip leftover, but if you do, store it in an airtight container up to 4 days in the refrigerator or freeze leftovers up to 3-4 months.
When ready to eat, thaw in refrigerator overnight, then return to a skillet or pan and reheat over medium-low heat for the best texture.
Sausage Cream Cheese Dip Variations and Substitutions
- This dip is super forgiving and easy to adapt based on what you like or what’s in your pantry:
- Bring the heat: Use hot Rotel or any spicy tomato and green chili combo.
- No Rotel? Just use diced tomatoes and a small can of green chiles (mild or hot).
- Feeding a crowd? Toss in an extra can of tomatoes to stretch it out.
- Switch the sausage: Try hot, Italian, or even swap in ground beef or turkey.
- Want it hotter? A few dashes of cayenne does the trick.
- Mix-ins: Add shredded cheese, black beans, corn, spinach, or sautéed peppers.
- Go Tex-Mex: Stir in taco seasoning or a spoonful of your favorite salsa.
- Creamier dip: A splash of cream, sour cream, or Greek yogurt adds richness.
- Keeping it low-carb? Serve with pork rinds, celery, or bell pepper strips.
- Want to dress it up? Garnish with green onions, tomatoes, cilantro, parsley, or a few sliced olives.
Thanks for hanging out with me today, I pray you invite people over and make this AH-mazing man dip!
More of our favorite dip recipes
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Recipe Card
3 ingredient sausage cream cheese dip is wildly delicious and with just 3 steps, crazy easy! A fast and hearty appetizer great for game day parties!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound breakfast sausage hot or other bulk breakfast sausage
- 2 packages cream cheese room temperature; may substitute Neufchatel, or cut into small chunks, 2 – 8 oz. packages
- 10 ounce Rotel Original, Mild, Fire Roasted or Hot
Scooping Suggestions
- Fritos Scoops sturdy tortilla chips, carrot chips (see notes for more)
- Tostitos Scoops
Instructions
- Brown sausage in a large skillet, drain if excess fat.1 pound breakfast sausage
- Add the softened cream cheese and stir into sausage until melted and combined.2 packages cream cheese
- Add Rotel, sometimes I drain, sometimes I completely forget. I don’t think it’s bad to have the extra moisture, as this dip can dry out over time. If you are using the crockpot, then do not drain the tomatoes. Stir to combine. Cook as directed; stovetop, oven or crockpot.10 ounce Rotel
- Stovetop Directions: Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until bubbly, about 15 minutes. Be sure to protect the hot handle if serving directly from a cast iron skillet.
- Oven Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F (175° C) and place sausage dip in oven safe dish or skillet, bake until bubbly 20-30 minutes. Be sure to protect the hot handle if serving directly from a cast iron skillet.
- Crockpot Instructions: Place browned sausage into crockpot, add softened cream cheese and Rotel (undrained), cover and place on LOW for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to mix ingredients. Turn to warm and serve.
- Crockpot D
- Serve with Fritos Scoops, Tostitos Scoops, Celery, Pretzels, Carrot chips, Bell Peppers, Crostini or your favorite scooper!Fritos Scoops, Tostitos Scoops
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.
Notes
Serving Suggestions:
Serve with Fritos Scoops, sturdy tortilla chips, large pretzels or go low carb, gluten free by using carrot chips, sliced red peppers, celery, cucumber chips and more.
Dip may be frozen, after being cooled completely, thaw overnight in fridge, then heat in pan on stovetop until bubbly for best texture.
Store leftovers in airtight container up to 4 days in fridge, up to 3-4 months in freezer.
Substitutions & Variations
- Spice it up: Use Rotel Hot or any spicy canned tomatoes with green chilies.
- No Rotel? Swap in a can of diced tomatoes plus a 4 oz can of green chilies.
- Add a second can of Rotel to stretch it out.
- Switch up the sausage: Try hot sausage for extra kick, or mix things up with Italian sausage, ground beef, or turkey.
- Extra spicy? Add a dash or two of cayenne if you’re feeling bold.
- Add-ins: Stir in shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack), black beans, corn, spinach, or sautéed peppers.
- Tex-Mex twist: Add taco seasoning or a spoonful of salsa for extra flavor.
- Creamier texture: Mix in a splash of cream, a little sour cream, or Greek yogurt.
- Topping option: Sprinkle cheese on top before baking for a golden, bubbly finish.
- Low-carb friendly: Serve with pork rinds, celery sticks, or bell pepper slices instead of chips.
- Garnish (optional): A few chopped tomatoes, green onions, parsley, cilantro, or black olives adds a pop of color and freshness.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 433mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 674IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg
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natalie
easy and creamy and so tasty – this was a big hit!
Thank you so much!
Amy Nash
So easy and so dang good! I made this for a little get-together this weekend and everybody raved about it and asked for the recipe!
Right, ugly as can be, but the taste –sublime!
Sheila Thigpen
When I’m looking for a tasty last minute appetizer, the simpler the better — you just can’t beat your cheesy dip for simplicity and great flavor!
Jennifer Stewart
This is the ultimate tailgating food!
Yes!!!
Min
BEST dip EVER!!! And sooo easy! We will be making this again and again! Yummy!