This baked Cream Cheese Salsa Dip is the ultimate party appetizer! With just 4 ingredients and a few garnishes, you’ll be able to put this rich and savory dip together and pair it with anything and everything. Whether it’s a potluck, a house party, or a BBQ, this dip is sure to be a total crowd-pleaser.
If you love entertaining, this addictive dip will become your go-to. It's a dip recipe given to me by Uncle Henry and it's the perfect appetizer for parties.
I always end up making this creamy salsa dip, some buttermilk ranch dip, and my all-time favorite Olive Garden spinach artichoke dip when I’m craving something savory and creamy. And if you’re one of those who loves sweet dips, you might want to try out this creamy Oreo dip.
Why You’ll Love This Cream Cheese Salsa Dip Recipe
- Quick and easy: The dip is super effortless and easy to make. You’ll actually need just 4-5 ingredients, including the topping.
- Full of flavor: Cheesy, savory, salty, and tangy flavors come together to make this finger-licking delicious cream cheese and salsa dip.
- Party favorite: The salty, creamy, and savory flavors come together to create an addictive dip that’ll be hard to resist. This one’s sure to be popular at parties.
- Meal prep friendly: You can also prep the dip ahead of time - up to 2 days in advance -- and then bake it just when you plan to serve it.
Ingredients
- Cream cheese: The hero ingredient for this recipe, so make sure you choose the best quality cream cheese you can get your hands on. It really makes a difference in how the flavors turn out.
- Salsa: Use a can of your favorite salsa but I prefer a chunky salsa. This is what will bring lots of flavor to this salsa cheese dip. Use a mild salsa or hot salsa depending on your preference.
- Chili: To lend the dip a bit more ‘body,’ I added some chili too.
- Cheese: To top the dip, you’ll also need some shredded cheese. I just used some classic cheddar cheese here.
- Toppings: I used chopped green onions and some cherry tomatoes as a topping here. You can use pretty much what you like, or have at hand.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Healthier twist: To make this Mexican dip with cream cheese healthier, you can swap half of the cream cheese for some blended cottage cheese or Greek yogurt. Simply whisk them both together until you get a smooth paste and you’re done!
- Veggie packed: You can also have layers of veggies in addition to the cream cheese and salsa if you want to. Grilled corn kernels, chopped onions, tomatoes, black beans, and bell pepper slices are all great options. Skip the chili if you want to keep it vegetarian.
- Smooth it out: If you’re not a fan of layered dips or just want to try something different, you can blitz the salsa and cream cheese together, and layer it with the chili.
- Spice it up: To bump up the spice level and flavor of the dip, you can also chop up some jalapenos or your favorite spicy chilies and mix them into the salsa. Or better yet- just use spicy salsa.
- Green salsa: Swap out the traditional red salsa for your favorite green salsa.
How to Make Creamy Salsa Dip
Get all the ingredients for this easy dip recipe ready and preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Step 1: Layer cream cheese. Start by spreading the softened cream cheese evenly into the 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
Step 2: Combine salsa and chili. In a bowl, mix the salsa and chili together.
Step 3: Pour into pan. Pour this mixture over the cream cheese.
Step 4: Top, bake and enjoy. Sprinkled shredded cheese over the top of the salsa mix and bake for about 15 minutes. Add toppings and serve.
⭐️ Hint: If the salsa feels too watery, drain off the excess water before you combine it with the chili.
If you love Mexican dip recipes like this one you may also enjoy this Cheese Bacon Dip, Hot Corn Dip or our Salsa con Queso.
Storage
- Store Leftovers: If you have any leftovers, you can refrigerate them for up to 3 days. Just make sure you cover the dish with cling wrap before you pop it in or transfer the dip to an airtight container. This will help keep the dip from drying out.
- Reheating: I would recommend reheating the dip in the microwave. If you want to, you can also broil the dip and get the cheese golden brown and nice.
- Freezing: I wouldn’t recommend freezing this dip- the salsa doesn’t hold up too well when frozen.
- Make in Advance: You can also prep the salsa cream cheese dip in advance if you want to. Simply assemble everything together and refrigerate it. Then, when you want to serve it, just pop it in the oven and you’re done.
Serving Suggestions
My favorite way to enjoy almost all cream cheese dips and cream cheese appetizers is to pair them with some veggie sticks, potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, pita chips, or crackers.
It works great for game day parties, Taco Tuesday appetizers, or as an appetizer for Cinco de Mayo.
When I’m in the mood to cook, I also sometimes like to whip up a nice batch of my Air Fryer bagel chips to go with this layered taco dip.
For parties, serve it up with other crowd-pleasers such as some Crockpot Hot Wings, Potato Bites, and Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs.
Recipe Tips
- Using Homemade Salsa. You can use pretty much any kind of salsa you prefer though thicker salsas work best. Homemade salsas are good too, just make sure you use freshly made salsa and drain off any excess liquid.
- Serve Warm. This dip is best served warm while it's a nice and gooey dip though if you want it works cold too.
- Repurpose Leftovers. Not sure what to do with the leftovers? Use them as a quesadilla filling or heat it up and spoon it over some tortilla chips!
Jazz it up! Feel free to sprinkle some sliced black olives or green onions or top with a dollop of guacamole or sour cream.
Recipe FAQs
You can use pretty much any kind of salsa you prefer. Homemade salsas are good too, just make sure you use freshly made salsa, as it can start to get watery if you make it ahead of time.
Sure! Instead of layering it in a casserole dish, assemble it in a crockpot and heat it on low for 1-2 hours or until heated through and bubbly.
You can use pretty much any shredded cheese of your choice. I would recommend using Mexican blend cheese or Monterey Jack cheese, but you can also experiment with a mix of two or more of your favorite kinds.
Our Favorite Dip Video
More Great Warm Dip Recipes
Do you like warm and creamy dips? Here are some easy appetizer dip recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 brick cream cheese softened
- 1 jar (15.5 oz) salsa
- 1 can (38 oz) chili
- 2 cups cheese, shredded
Options for Garnish
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- 6 tomatoes, cherry sliced in half
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Set aside your 9x13 inch baking pan or the equivalent.
- Using a spatula spread your cream cheese all over the bottom of your pan, as evenly as possible.
- In a medium sized bowl combine can of chili and can of salsa. Mix well and pour over top of the cream cheese.
- Cover with a shredded cheese blend. We usually use a tex-mex blend but any shredded cheese will work. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the oven to broil, if desired, and brown the cheese.
- Serve warm with tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Using Homemade Salsa. You can use pretty much any kind of salsa you prefer though thicker salsas work best. Homemade salsas are good too, just make sure you use freshly made salsa and drain off any excess liquid.
- Serve Warm. This dip is best served warm while it's a nice and gooey dip though if you want it works cold too.
- Repurpose Leftovers. Not sure what to do with the leftovers? Use them as a quesadilla filling or heat it up and spoon it over some tortilla chips!
This post was originally posted in August 2016. It has been updated with new images and content.
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