Easy Whipped Feta Dip
This whipped feta recipe is the kind of thing you make once and then wonder how you ever lived without. It’s salty, creamy, a little garlicky, and always a crowd-pleaser. It’s so delicious that I’ve been making it for 10+ years, and I’m still always excited to make it! (But mostly to eat it.) It’s bold and delicious with flavor boosters from garlic, lemon, and red pepper flakes. Serve with plenty of crackers, veggies, and kalamata olives on the side.
This one is tried-and-true! 🍋🫒
I’ve been making this dip for more than 10+ years! It’s stood the test of time, food fads, and changing tastes. It’s always a welcome snack or appetizer.
This dip is perfect for entertaining as it can be prepped ahead and feels elevated, even though it’s easy! I love to put it out with some fruit and nut crackers, because the sweet pairs so well with the savory.
😋 Seriously delicious: Salty, tangy, creamy, and bright, everyone loves this dip.
🛒 Made with simple ingredients: You need just a few basic ingredients to pull this off: cream cheese, feta cheese, lemon, olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
🧄 Big flavor payoff: Garlic, lemon, red pepper, and feta = bold and bright flavor.
🧑🍳 Effortlessly elegant: Feels fancy, but takes minutes, shhhh we don’t need anyone to know!
🌿 Customizable: Top with fresh herbs, olives, fig jam, or honey.
🥖 Versatile: Serve as a dip, sandwich, wrap, or lamb taco spread.
🎉 Perfect for holidays & parties: This spread is perfect for parties, potlucks, or holiday gatherings. It’s festive, fun, and always a hit!
You’ll also want to try my brie and fig jam, cranberry jalapeno dip, smoked salmon dip, and Mediterranean charcuterie board.
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. –Kelsey
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples for this whipped feta spread: olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, cream cheese, feta cheese, lemon, and chives.
- 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.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: Use a block of feta, not only will the texture be better but the flavor is also so much better.
- Chill it: While you can serve it right away, letting it sit in the fridge for 30–60 minutes helps the flavors meld and the texture firm up.
- Variations: If you wanted to switch up the flavors, you could swap the garlic oil for something else like hot honey, or fig jam for a sweet and savory combo.
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
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This whipped feta dip is bursting with flavor and so easy to make! Bright and delicious, easy to make, and always a crowd-pleaser.
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
- Storage: Store leftover feta dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Ingredient notes: 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.
- Prep ahead: This dip is easy to prep a day or two in advance. I would recommend making the feta cream cheese mixture and cooking the oil mixture right before plating.
- Special tools: All you need is a microplane zester and food processor.
- Serve with: Crackers, air fryer pita chips, and veggies.
Serving Suggestions
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,
- Platter – Put in on a Mediterranean charcuterie board, mezze platter, 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
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.
More Mediterranean Recipes
If you like this whipped feta dip recipe, you might also like some of these other easy Mediterranean recipes:
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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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!