Have a big game coming up? This Hormel chili cheese dip is the perfect appetizer! You can make this chili cream cheese dip in just a few minutes of prep and a few minutes of heat. This hot chili cheese dip recipe is comprised of layers of cream cheese, Hormel chili (or your favorite homemade chili, chili con carne, or canned chili), and shredded cheese. It may not sound like much, but when this combo is heated together, it’s totally irresistible!
If you love this Hormel chili dip, you should try Chipotle corn salsa, buffalo chicken flatbread, buffalo chicken sliders, turkey sliders, curry chicken wings, or sweet and salty chex mix next. They’re all football food perfection!
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Table of Contents
What You’ll Love about Chili Cream Cheese Dip
There’s a lot to love about this layered chili cheese dip:
- Made with 3 ingredients
- Takes a couple minutes to make
- Easy to prep-ahead
- Utterly delicious dip!
- Perfect for game day appetizers
Hormel Chili Cheese Dip Ingredients
This chili and cream cheese dip comes together with just 3 ingredients!
- Cream cheese – Use your favorite brand of cream cheese.
- Can of chili – This is definitely a Hormel chili cream cheese dip, and it’s how I have always experienced it, but really you could use any kind of canned or even homemade chili.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – The recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you could also use Monterey jack, Mexican cheese blend, or even pepper jack cheese if you want to add some spice.
- Optional Garnish and Toppings – These garnishes are totally optional, but can add great flavor. Try scallions (sliced green onion), finely diced red onion, chopped cilantro, or diced avocados.
- Hot sauce – Another optional ingredient, but a nice way to add heat to your homemade chili cheese dip.
How to Make Chili Cheese Dip
When I say this hormel chili and cream cheese dip is ready-to-eat in 5 minutes, I mean start-to-finish! Let me show you how easy:
- Soften cream cheese. Place the block of cream cheese on a microwave safe plate, platter or glass pie dish you are going to use to make the dip. Let it warm up for 5-10 minutes to soften.
- Layer dip. Smooth cream cheese out on the plate with a spatula. Spoon a layer of chili over the top and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- Heat dip. Cook dip in the microwave until cheese melts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make this vegetarian?
Yes, this chili cheese dip recipe can easily be made vegetarian, just be sure to use a vegetarian chili. (You may even be able to trick the meat-eaters!)
Can you make this bean-free?
Yes, our Aunt always makes chili no beans cream cheese dip. I used a bean variety because we like beans, but it’s easy to make a bean-free version. Or make one of each and everyone is happy.
Is this gluten-free?
Yes, as long as the chili that you use is gluten-free, your chili cheese dip with cream cheese will be too.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover chili cheese dip in the refrigerator for 1 day.
To prep the 3-ingredient chili cheese dip, assemble the dip and cover with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 1-2 days.
How long does chili cheese dip last?
If you’ve already cooked the chili and cheese dip, it should be eaten within a day.
How to reheat
Reheat the dip in the microwave until heated through.
Can chili cheese dip be frozen?
Cream cheese doesn’t freeze and thaw well due to the water content, so freezing the dip is not recommended. And since you can assemble and cook it in 5 minutes, you can make it fresh any time.
What to Serve with Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
This easy chili dip is best with chips. Tortilla chips or potato chips are my favorites. 🙂
- Tortilla chips
- Potato chips
- Corn chips
- Air fryer pita chips
- Fritos scoops
- Crackers
- Mini peppers
- Cucumber slices
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
If you like this chili cheese dip with cream cheese, you might also like some of these other easy appetizer recipes:
- Chipotle Corn Salsa
- Whipped Lemon Feta Dip
- Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
- Mezze Platter
- Greek Yogurt Dill Dip
- Trader Joe’s Cheese Board
- Costco Cheese Board
Helpful Tools to Make Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
- Silicone Spatulas – Use this to easily spread out the layers of your cheesy chili dip.
Easy Hormel Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Microwave
Description
This Hormel chili cheese dip recipe is always a HUGE hit at parties! It takes just 5 minutes and is made with just 3 ingredients.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 15 oz. can Hormel chili
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- tortilla chips
Instructions
- Spread cream cheese onto a plate or pie dish.
- Top with chili and shredded cheese.
- Microwave for 2-4 minutes, until cheese is melted. (My microwave was 3 minutes)
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Equipment
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Notes
- Use any chili variety (vegetarian, bean-free, homemade chili, etc.)
Keywords: chili cheese dip, chili cream cheese dip, hormel chili cheese dip, chili cheese dip recipe
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Lora Smith
This is one of the dips I’m making for Super Bowl Sunday!
GO Bengals. ???My family loves it, I double & sometimes triple the Super Easy Recipe!
★★★★★
Emily
YAY! Yes, my aunt used to make 3-4 plates of it and then heat up as needed. 🙂
Sue Ward
Can you make it in a crockpot
Emily
Great question, Sue! I haven’t tried it, but I will add it to my testing list to try it out. I would imagine you could, on low for 1-2 hours? And then instead of serving it as separate layers, I would probably mix everything together. I think it would work better in a mini crockpot, unless you double or triple the batch. (Which is usually fine anyway!)
Tiffani
I have it on low in a mini crockpot now! Have done this many times. Once melted, just mix and dip!
Emily
Awesome, I need to try this!!! I bet it’s easier to eat when all the cheese is fully incorporated. Enjoy!
Debi
I’ve made this dip dozens of times and always have positive comments about it.
Whenever I’ve taken it to a party or get-together, someone asks me for the recipe.
Super simple to make!!
★★★★★
Skylar
This is our go-to recipe, it’s seriously delicious! I’m always asked for the recipe!
★★★★★
Emily
Thanks Skylar! It’s a crowd-pleaser for sure!
Lynda Donahue
This is a good recipe but for years I have added mild chilis over the beans then the shredded cheese. If you want it hotter add a small can of hotter cold
Emily
Yes, I love how you can make it as spicy or as mild as you want!
Sue O.
I’ve had this recipe for probably a million years, can’t even remember where I got it. I have always made the no beans variety. To the question, how long does chili cheese dip last? I would answer, about an hour or less, because it will all have been eaten by then. ? It’s terrific.
★★★★★
Emily
So accurate, Sue! HA! My aunt Debbie (who introduced me to this recipe!) always uses no beans, too. 🙂
Dottie
The first part of recipe says to microwave
Cream cheese 10 to 12 minutes.. is that correct ? Seems way to long.
Emily
It’s 2-4 minutes, but will vary a bit based on your microwave. Mine is 3!
Oh, but maybe you are talking about softening the cream cheese. This is just letting it sit out at room temperature to soften so it’s easier to spread.