Cheesy Chili Chip Dip
This recipe delivers a quick and indulgent cheesy chili dip, perfect for gatherings. It blends canned chili, softened cream cheese, process cheese food, and salsa into a warm, smooth, and flavorful snack that's ready in minutes and pairs excellently with chips.
Equipment
- 1 Medium Saucepan
- 1 Sturdy spoon or spatula For mixing and scraping
- 1 Can Opener
- 1 Chef's knife For cubing cheese
- 1 Serving Bowl For presentation
Ingredients
Main
- 1 15 ounce can chili without beans
- 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces process cheese food cubed
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients and equipment, ensuring the cream cheese is softened to room temperature or gently warmed.
- Using a can opener, open the can of chili without beans.
- Carefully cube the process cheese food into approximately 1-inch pieces to facilitate even melting.
- Combine the softened cream cheese, cubed process cheese food, canned chili, and salsa in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Place the saucepan over low to medium heat on the stovetop.
- Stir the mixture continuously with a sturdy spoon or spatula, ensuring all ingredients are well incorporated as they begin to heat.
- Continue to heat and stir until both the cream cheese and process cheese food are completely melted and the dip is smooth, creamy, and uniformly warm.
- Once the dip reaches the desired consistency and temperature, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Transfer the hot Cheesy Chili Chip Dip into a serving bowl.
- Serve immediately with tortilla chips, corn chips, or your preferred dippers. Garnish with fresh cilantro or sliced jalapeños if desired.
Notes
To achieve a perfectly smooth dip, ensure your cream cheese is thoroughly softened; a brief microwave zap can help if it's straight from the fridge. When combining, use low to medium heat and stir constantly to prevent the cheese from scorching or clumping at the bottom of the pan. For an elevated flavor profile, consider using a good quality, slightly smoky chili. You can easily customize the heat level by adding a dash of your favorite hot sauce or incorporating diced jalapeños. A final garnish of fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, or a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese will enhance both presentation and flavor.