Easy Party Dips

At game day parties or casual potlucks, these creamy dips are sure to dazzle the crowd. Each of oue is delicious, travels beautifully, and whips up in minutes.

Creamy Blue Cheese and Onion Dip
Makes: 1 3/4 cups
Ingredients

* 1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
* 2 tablespoons dry onion soup mix
* 1/4 to 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (1 to 2 ounces)
* 1 tablespoon milk (optional)
* Vegetable dippers: carrot and celery sticks, cauliflower florets, green pepper strips

Directions

1. Stir together sour cream and soup mix in a mixing bowl. Stir in blue cheese. Chill till ready to serve. If mixture is too stiff after chilling, stir in milk. Serve with vegetable dippers. Makes 1-3/4 cups.

Hot Artichoke and Asiago Cheese Dip
Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 45 minutes
Ingredients

• Baked Pita Chips
• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces Asiago or Parmesan cheese, finely shredded (1 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained
• 1 cup bottled roasted red sweet peppers, drained
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 cup sliced green onion
• Bottled roasted red sweet pepper strips (optional)
• Fresh parsley leaves (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare and bake the Baked Pita Chips. Set aside.

2. In a food processor*, combine cream cheese, Asiago cheese, and garlic. Cover and process until mixture is combined. Add artichoke hearts, 1 cup roasted red peppers, mushrooms, and green onion. Cover and process with on/off turns until finely chopped. Transfer mixture to a 1-1/2-quart shallow baking dish or 9-inch glass pie plate, spreading mixture evenly in dish.

3. Cover and bake dip about 25 minutes or until heated through. (Or microwave, uncovered, on 70% power [medium-high] for 6 to 8 minutes or until heated through, stirring the dip and turning the dish halfway through cooking time.)

4. Serve the warm dip with Baked Pita Chips. If desired, garnish with roasted red pepper strips and parsley leaves. Makes 12 servings.

5. Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare and bake the Baked Pita Chips as directed; transfer chips to wire racks to cool. Place in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the chips, covered, at room temperature.

6. Mixer Directions: In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and Asiago cheese with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until combined. Finely chop garlic, artichoke hearts, 1 cup roasted red peppers, mushrooms, and green onion. Stir into cheese mixture. Transfer to baking dish and bake as directed.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories 126,
• Total Fat (g) 10,
• Saturated Fat (g) 7,
• Cholesterol (mg) 31,
• Sodium (mg) 271,
• Carbohydrate (g) 4,
• Fiber (g) 2,
• Protein (g) 5,
• Vitamin C (DV%) 59,
• Calcium (DV%) 11,
• Iron (DV%) 7,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

One-Step Artichoke Bean Dip with Roasted Red Peppers
This creamy dip of cannelloni beans and artichokes is ready to go in just 20 minutes. Garlic and cayenne pepper punch up the flavor. Fresh basil and roasted red pepper make a quick (and beautiful) topper.
Prep: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 19-oz. can cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
• 1 14-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, quartered
• 1/4 tsp. coarse sea salt or kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup roasted red sweet pepper strips
• 1 Tbsp. snipped fresh basil
• Coarse sea salt or kosher salt
• Assorted crackers, toasted baguette slices, or toasted pita chips

Directions

1. In a food processor combine beans, artichokes, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper. Cover and process until almost smooth, scraping sides of bowl as necessary. Transfer to serving bowl. Cover; let stand at room temperature until ready to serve (up to 2 hours). Or cover and chill up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature about 1 hour before serving. To serve, sprinkle lightly with additional salt. Top with roasted red sweet pepper strips and basil. Serve with crackers, baguette slices, or pita chips. Makes 12 to 14 (3-tablespoon servings).

Nutrition Facts

• Calories 76,
• Total Fat (g) 5,
• Saturated Fat (g) 1,
• Monounsaturated Fat (g) 3,
• Polyunsaturated Fat (g) 0,
• Cholesterol (mg) 0,
• Sodium (mg) 207,
• Carbohydrate (g) 8,
• Total Sugar (g) 0,
• Fiber (g) 3,
• Protein (g) 3,
• Vitamin C (DV%) 18,
• Calcium (DV%) 2,
• Iron (DV%) 7,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

I know this next one has been around for awhile, but sometimes you just want something you can depend on. This is one of my go-to recipes. It serves a large group and they always love it.
Savory
Mexican Seven-Layer Dip
Prep: 15 minutes
Chill: 4 to 24 hours

Ingredients

• 1 9-ounce can bean dip
• 1/4 cup picante or taco sauce
• 1 8-ounce container refrigerated guacamole
• 1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese (4 ounces)
• 1/4 cup sliced green onion (2)
• 2 tablespoons sliced pitted ripe olives
• 2/3 cup chopped, seeded tomato (1 medium)
• 8 cups tortilla chips or crackers

Directions

1. Combine bean dip and picante sauce; spread into a rectangle about 9-by 5-inches on a serving platter making a layer about 1/4 inch thick. Next carefully layer avocado dip and sour cream. Top with cheese, green onion, and olives. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

2. Before serving, sprinkle with chopped tomato. Serve with tortilla chips.

3. Makes 16 appetizer servings (1/4 cup dip and 1/2 cup chips)

Nutrition Facts

• Calories 174,
• Total Fat (g) 11,
• Saturated Fat (g) 4,
• Cholesterol (mg) 14,
• Sodium (mg) 265,
• Carbohydrate (g) 14,
• Fiber (g) 2,
• Protein (g) 5,
• Vitamin C (DV%) 4,
• Calcium (DV%) 10,
• Iron (DV%) 5,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

For more party dips: BHG