25 Summer Dips That Will Keep Your Party Going

Dips are absolutely a complete food group for the Delish team. From queso to baked spinach-artichoke dip, these amazing dip recipes are easy to whip up, amazing on carrots, toasted baguette, and pita bread, and can really please a crowd.

When you really think about it, dips really encapsulate a meal's worth of flavors. They can be cheesy and indulgent, like skillet beer cheese and jalapeño popper dip. Or topped with plenty of fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices, like our muhammara, hummus, and tzatziki. And of course, savory and hearty like our cheesy mini meatball skillet dip, hot crab dip, and buffalo chicken dip.

Looking for some lighter, cooler dips? It doesn't get any better than our creamy avocado dip, guacamole, homemade salsa, and sour cream and onion dip. We also love our sikil p'ak (pumpkin seed salsa) for a fun, exciting spin on your regular ol' chips and salsa routine, especially served with plantain chips.

So whether you're making a party spread or just want an appetizer that turns into a meal (or to top a sandwich, chicken, or roasted vegetables), we've got all the dips to get your summer party going (and keep it going).

And if you have leftovers? Lucky you. We love taking any and all leftover dips to add to all of our favorite main dishes. Use that cheesy bacon spinach dip for making spinach artichoke chicken breasts. Buffalo chicken dip goes amazing in a melt, on a buffalo chicken pizza, and stuffed in buffalo stuffed mushrooms. And it goes without saying that any of our salsa recipes are killer on your next breakfast tacos and burritos.

For the best queso we've ever had, we used a mix of shredded American cheese and Pepper Jack. The American cheese keeps it melty and creates the perfect dip consistency while the Pepper Jack adds some sharpness with a bit of extra heat. And always shred your own cheese! Pre-packaged cheese does not melt as well as a block of cheese so please do yourself and shred your own for this queso.

Get the Best Queso Dip recipe.

Regardless of whatever your mind conjures when you hear the words "bean dip", we guarantee this cheesy black bean dip is not that. This dip is anything but boring and will resemble nothing like the pasty, brown mush you might be expecting. Black beans are blended with lots of garlic, jalapeño, and cheese, and then topped with even more cheese before baking (cue the perfect cheese pull). Pile on the delicious topping after baking for not only a truly delectable dip, but a truly stunning app. This will surely be the first thing to go at any party.

Get the Black Bean Dip recipe.

A simple sauce that goes well on chicken shawarma, served with more cucumbers and pita, and everything else you want it on. It's the condiment we always keep in our fridge - just in case.

Get the Best-Ever Tzatziki recipe.

Queso fundido is a true party trick. It’s quite possibly the lowest effort, highest reward party dip. Go for Mexican chorizo here instead of the Spanish, which is usually dried.

Get the Queso Fundido recipe.

We like our eggplant-based baba ghanoush GARLICKY. If you don't, skip grating the raw clove in at the end. Without it, you'll have a more subtle (slightly sweet) garlic flavor that will make everyone very, very happy. Accompanied by crudités and pita chips, you really can't go wrong.

Get the Baba Ghanoush recipe.

We love serving this dip with chips, crackers, toasted baguette, and raw vegetables —celery and carrots especially. But honestly, we’ve also definitely just eaten it straight, with a spoon. No judgment.

Get the Best-Ever Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

When it comes to party dips, our allegiance lies with anything thats super-cheesy, creamy and smoky. This recipe for jalapeño popper dip, nails all three. It gets a kick from the jalapeño, but not so much that you'll be running for a glass of milk; even people who can't totally handle the heat will love this. To tame the heat, remove the seeds from the jalapeños, or try pickled jalapeños, or these pickled peppers.

Get the Jalapeño Popper Dip recipe.

Letting the onions caramelize properly is key to the flavor of this dip. Going low and slow allows them to develop color while breaking down and becoming sweet and jammy. Stir them into this easy dip with some chives and you have a simple appetizer that's crazy addicting. It will stay good in the fridge for a few days, so it's great to make ahead of time.

Get the Sour Cream & Onion Dip recipe.

Everyone has opinions about Mexico's most famous avocado-based dip: guacamole. Some, like us, keep it simple. We prefer to let the flavor of our avos shine. Others like to go crazy on the mix-ins: spices, tomatoes, garlic, etc. If that's your thing, this guacamole is the perfect jumping-off point. Add whatever you like! Just don't forget the corn chips. 😁

Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.

In our minds, spinach-artichoke is the dip to end all dips—and we come back to this recipe over and over (and over) again when we need our creamy, cheesy fix. The ratios are everything and we really nailed it here. There's nothing worse than biting into a spinach-artichoke dip and having too much spinach, not even enough artichoke, and a less than creamy texture. We do a combo of cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream for the ultimate trifecta of dip perfection.

Get the Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe.

Is it really a party without the 7 layer dip?! This recipe has the perfect proportions of each layer, so you get the total combo in every scoop. Check out our guacamole recipe if you wanna make yours from scratch. We think it makes a good dip even better. 🙌

Get the Best-Ever 7-Layer Dip recipe.

Loaded with cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta, this dip was inspired by Greek salad. (Though it's missing the olives, onion, and oregano.) For a smoother, fluffy consistency, we added yogurt and cream cheese. Full disclaimer: This recipe makes a lot of dip and can easily be halved. But we've never had a problem demolishing it with some fluffy pita bread.

Get the Greek Feta Dip recipe.

Okay we'll say it. Hot crab dip belongs on the dip Mount Rushmore. It is packed with melty cheese and tender, sweet crab meat that serves as the perfect opener to any game day or meal. This creamy, cheesy crab dip that will be gone in a matter of seconds. It's the perfect last minute dip to throw together with minimal effort and is best served straight out of the oven. Serve with plenty of toasted bread or buttery crackers! Or you can do what we do and shamelessly go at it with a spoon.

Get the Hot Crab Dip recipe.

A good, simple salsa is easy to make at home. To make ours the most flavorful salsa ever, we use both cherry tomatoes and fresh off-the-vine tomatoes. We also roast some of the ingredients to intensify their flavors and make this salsa POP!

Get the Homemade Salsa recipe.

Muhammara is a Middle eastern dip made of roasted red peppers, walnuts, and usually some fresh bread crumbs, which provide a pleasant texture. Pomegranate molasses adds sweetness and a little tang, giving the muhammara its trademark flavor. And since the dip originated in Aleppo, the use of Aleppo pepper is traditional, and worth looking for. This vegan dip is great with pretty much anything; serve it with fresh veggies like carrots, celery, or peppers, or with your favorite pita bread or chips!

Get the Classic Muhammara recipe.

Hummus is a Middle Eastern dish made of chickpeas and tahini. We love adding plenty of garlic or roasted red peppers and other spices (like everything bagel seasoning) for added flavor. Carrots and cucumber spears make a crisp, refreshing snack, especially when you pair them with a dip that can withstand the heat, like hummus.

Get the Creamy Garlic Hummus recipe.

One of our top hall of famers, this dip will get any campfire party started. The pinch of cayenne really adds that special something to this melty, creamy beer cheese. This is best served with toasted baguette, good company, and a cold beer.

Get the Skillet Beer Cheese recipe.

Okay, fine. We love the ease of having chips and salsa on hand when we're camping and grilling out. But why not try something slightly new? If salsa verde and hummus had a child, it would remind us of this dip. Our version of Sikil p’ak, which in Mayan means “pumpkin seed” and “tomato” respectively, is inspired by the Yucatecan version that uses ground unhulled pumpkin seeds and red tomatoes. Our riff calls for hulled pepitas and charred tomatillos, and its subtle smokiness keeps us coming back for more.

Get the Sikil P’ak (Pumpkin Seed Salsa) recipe.

Part cheese dip, part meatballs, this skillet dip is not only delicious but a fun activity for the whole family.
To cut through the rich dairy, a little dose of pickled red onions is an essential mix-in. The little fresh crunch and splash of vinegar really brightens the dip and gives it a burger dip vibe. Not a fan of onions? Exchange ‘em for some dill pickles or even pickled carrots. Top the whole skillet with a generous sprinkling of thinly sliced scallions and you’ve got one colorful party on a chip.

Get the Cheesy Mini Meatball Skillet Dip recipe.

To make this dip creamy, we simply stirred in half a cup of plain Greek yogurt, which also has nutritional clout thanks to protein and probiotics. This dip can go in SO many different directions depending on what flavors you like. If you want it spicy, you can stir in crushed red pepper flakes, a minced jalapeño, or a pinch of cayenne. If you want it smoky, stir in some chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, paprika, or chipotle powder.

Get the Creamy Avocado Dip recipe.

With a veggie dip this good you'll want to be in charge of all future veggie platters. It's so easy to make and comes together in minutes. Serve it with all of your favorite veggies and cubes of really good bread. No one will be disappointed. Trust us. If you're looking to complete the spread try our fruit dip as well!

Get the Veggie Dip recipe.

The hardest decision on game day is which dip to make. This dip gets rid of that. Combining our four favorite dips of buffalo chicken, spinach artichoke, jalapeño popper, and pizza dip this dip has something for everyone. Your game day spread just got infinitely better.

Get the 4-Way Dip recipe.

We love baked spinach dip more than we like to admit. (TBH, we've never met a dip we didn't like.) If it were up to us, we'd have dip for dinner, and many of us had. And this dip is a great candidate for dip dinner. The smoky bacon bits make baked spinach dip feel a little fancier. But you can totally skip it. This dip has a lot going on with three different cheeses.

Get the Cheesy Bacon Spinach Dip recipe.

Fruit never gets the attention it deserves at parties. This super simple dip will change all of that. It's so easy to whip together, can be made ahead of time, and is easy to transport. Honestly, it's perfect.

Get the Marshmallow Fruit Dip recipe.

This vegan version is so good it's hard to decipher from regular queso dip. Made with cashews in place of cheese, it's awesome with far more than chips. Drizzle the “cheesy” sauce inside a burrito or over nachos or tacos next!

Get the Chipotle Vegan Queso recipe.