Easy Whipped Feta Dip Recipe
This whipped feta dip is a dip you’ll find yourself making again and again and again – it’s SO delicious and always a huge hit – I’ve been making it for more than 10 years! This creamy dip is made with flavor boosters like salty feta, savory garlic, and bright lemon and is so flavorful. Serve with plenty of crackers, veggies, and kalamata olives on the side.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
What You’ll Love About Whipped Feta Dip
- Amazing smooth and creamy texture
- Delicious and bright flavor
- Perfect appetizer to make ahead
- So many ways to eat it
- Made with just six simple ingredients
- Quick and easy to make
Ingredients
- Olive oil – Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor. You can also use two types of olive oil – one suitable for cooking and then a good, drizzling oil to finish it off.
- Garlic – Use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
- Red pepper flakes – This will add some mellow heat to the whipped feta, but you can also add more to make this a spicy feta dip!
- Cream cheese – This helps to balance out the feta and add some creaminess to the dip. You could also use plain Greek yogurt (full fat) or sour cream if desired, though it will result in a bit of a thinner dip. You could also try swapping out the cream cheese with whipped cottage cheese! (I haven’t tried this yet, but I think it would work.)
- Feta cheese – Use a block of feta cheese for best results. If you can find it in brine, that’s my first choice for the best flavor and it will keep it fresh a lot longer. Most grocery stores carry block feta, but if you can’t find it, crumbles will work.
- Lemon – Use a fresh lemon as we’re using both the zest and the juice! We want the
- Chives – Garnish the feta with chopped chives for delicious flavor and some color. You could also use thinly sliced green onions.
Tried-and-True Recipe
I’ve been making this dip for more than 10 years! It’s stood the test of time, food fads, and changing tastes to always remain a welcome snack or appetizer.
How to Make Whipped Feta
This is an overview, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
- Heat garlic. Heat oil in a small skillet over low heat and add minced garlic to the oil. This cooks quickly so be sure to watch it so the garlic doesn’t burn!
- Mix cheeses. In a food processor, pulse together cream cheese and feta cheese until smooth. Add oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and garlic oil and pulse again until combined.
- Plate dip. Spread whipped feta onto a plate or shallow bowl and top with garnishes as desired.
FAQs
I highly recommend using feta cheese that is in a block, preferably in a brine. I’ve found this has the MOST flavor and stays fresh, without drying out. It will also keep much longer in your fridge as the brine will keep it from going bad. Crumbles are ok if that is all you can find, but most stores have block feta.
Feta cheese has a bit of a grainy texture by nature and not quite as smooth as other cheeses so the dip may have a bit of texture.
Storage
Store leftover feta dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Can you freeze feta cheese dip?
I would not recommend freezing this recipe for feta dip as cheese can change texture during the freezing/thawing process and you want your dip smooth, not chunky!
What to Serve with Feta Dip
All this Mediterranean dip needs is some dippers! It’s also great as part of a Mediterranean spread.
- Dippers – Fruit and nut crackers, warm pita bread, air fryer pita chips, fresh veggies like sliced cucumbers, carrot sticks, sliced radishes, mini bell peppers,
- Put in on a Mediterranean charcuterie board or in a sandwich (try it layered with hummus, cucumber slices, pickled red onion, and fresh sprouts)
- Extra ingredients – You can also add a drizzle of hot honey, fresh herbs, sesame seeds, chopped cherry tomatoes, chopped sundried tomatoes, or roasted tomatoes to the creamy dip for extra flavor or texture
More Mediterranean Recipes
If you like this whipped feta dip recipe, you might also like some of these other easy Mediterranean recipes:
Lemon Whipped Feta Dip Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Description
EASY whipped lemon feta dip recipe is ready in just 10 min! Serve this feta cheese dip with pita chips and veggies. It’s delish!
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 8 oz. block of feta cheese
- 1/2 lemon: zested and juiced
- garnish: minced chives, red pepper flakes, olive oil
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over low heat in a small pan. Add minced garlic and heat until garlic starts to sizzle, about 2 minutes. (Careful not to burn the garlic!)
- Remove from heat and add red pepper flakes to oil.
- In a processor, pulse together cream cheese and feta cheese until smooth.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, juice and zest from lemon and garlic oil to processor and pulse again until combined.
- Spread onto a plate or bowl and top with garnishes if desired.
Notes
- Serve with crackers, air fryer pita chips, and veggies.
Feta is one of my favorite cheeses but I’ve never made it as a dip before! Totally trying this 🙂
You would definitely be a fan! You should try the roasted red pepper feta dip too!
I am in charge of bringing an appetizer to a dinner party on Friday and now I know exactly what I will make! I can’t imagine how great this would be smeared on a bagel too……
Oh my gosh, we had bagels at work this morning too!!! Good idea!
You definitely speak my language, Emily!
The cheese language?! 🙂
OMG, will try it this weekend!
Just for the record, I have in my fridge today: 9 hunks of cheese, one of which is parmesan, which you’re right, does not count! And three varieties of bleu cheese. xoxo Mom
YIkes, I just realized I don’t have any feta!!!!!!!!!
Better make a trip to Costco!
I think we need to get together and have this dip during your next visit to MPLS 🙂
That sounds perfect. I’m trying to pick out a weekend this summer for a trip, I’ll keep you posted!
YAY! Definitely keep me posted!
ohhhh yum! this sounds SO perfect for summertime!
totally pinned this, totally making. i am on a total small bites and dip with wine kick. i swear it’s been my dinner for two of the last three nights.
HAve you ever made grilled feta??? We are obsessed! It is so amazing! After reading your post, I think you’d love it! That being said, I am pinning this immediately because I think WE would LOVE it : ) Great recipe for summer BBQ’s for sure!
Jam in Australia and I am not sure of the ingredient red pepper flakes – are these chilli flakes
Yes! Chili pepper flakes! Enjoy. 🙂
This dip is SO yummy! I am actually going to make this now for the Fourth of July!
That’s awesome, Suzanne! Thanks for sharing and I hope you had a great 4th!
Addicted to this, I want it spread on everything!
HA! Love it!
YAY! And same. 🙂
Can you make this ahead of time and refrigerate until needed?
Absolutely! You will want to let it sit at room temperature 15-20 minutes to soften up before serving. And drizzle with oil right before serving as well.
Super easy and a major crowd please! I love the freshness the lemon flavor brings to this dip!
Thanks Annie! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
It tastes as good as it looks! And the lemon provides a bright & light flavor. I’ve made this several times, and will continue.
This was as quick and easy as promised. Absolutely loved it and it received rave reviews. I’m thinking it would be lovely on a roasted chicken sandwich or in a chicken gyro in lieu of tzatziki.
That sounds SO good, Deb!!! Great idea.
college kid here! could I use a blender instead of a food processor?
The mixture is pretty thick, but if you have a decent blender and can tamper it down with something to help it get moving, I would think that it would work! Let us know. 🙂
blender worked perfectly 🙂
Oh good! Thanks for letting us know! 🙂
Easy and delicious, has become a go-to dip recipe, thanks!
So glad to hear this, Alex! Thanks for sharing!
I have been making this recipe for years and friends and family rave about it every time! I like to make a little extra of the chili garlic oil and drizzle on top after plating.
Yay, this makes my day! And DEFINITELY trying the chili garlic oil on it next time. Genius!
Easy and delish! Just made some and served with freshly sliced baguette bread and homemade pickles for a vineyard outing with family. Used the juice of a whole lemon. So good!! Living life to the fullest in Virginia!
Oh I’m so glad, love the pickles served with it, YUM!
Absolutely AMAZING was a Huge hit.
Thinking of making it again today for work
Snacks.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it Rhonda!
Our friends made this for us when we were visiting them in Florida this fall, and we are now addicted! We don’t usually buy or love cream cheese, but mixing it in with the spices and feta here is absolutely YUMMMM!! Big 5 stars!!
Amazing! Thank you so much for making and rating it!
This is bitter and awful! Had to throw it away.
I’m so sorry, Patricia. Was the garlic burnt? That can sometimes taste really bitter. Feta doesn’t have a bitter flavor, but it is strong!