The Best Cold Dips For A Party
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Cold dips are the life of any party, mixing up flavors and textures that get everyone talking. They’re a cool break from the party heat and go great with all kinds of snacks.
In this list, you’ll find some amazing cold dip recipes that’ll make your party food stand out. You’ve got everything from smooth avocado dip and hearty hummus to zesty mango salsa, offering something for every taste.
A highlight is the Classic Onion Dip—a real crowd-pleaser. It’s a mix of caramelized onions and creamy ingredients that’s just right with chips or veggies. Plus, there are vegan and keto options too, so no one misses out on the fun at your next get-together.
Looking for more party food recipes? Try these cold appetizers, summer appetizer recipes, or finger foods for a party next.
Tips On How To Make Amazing Cold Dips For Parties
- Utilize Seasonal Produce: Incorporate fresh, seasonal ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs to create vibrant, flavorful cold dips that capture the essence of summer.
- Prepare Ahead of Time: Cold dips are perfect for making in advance, as the flavors often improve when the ingredients have time to meld together. This allows you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the party.
- Experiment with Textures and Flavors: Aim for a balance of creamy, tangy, and crunchy elements in your cold dips. Mix and match ingredients like cheese, herbs, spices, and crunchy toppings to create depth and complexity.
- Cater to Dietary Needs: Offer a variety of cold dip options, including vegan, keto-friendly, or gluten-free recipes, to accommodate the diverse dietary preferences of your guests.
- Serve with a Variety of Dippers: Provide a range of dipping options, such as crackers, chips, fresh vegetables, and bread, to allow your guests to customize their dipping experience and explore different flavor combinations.
Everyone will love this Small Batch Shallot Dip. Golden-brown shallots are mixed together with rich sour cream and mayo to create a sweet and savory dip that’s perfect for small celebrations.
This perfectly balanced sweet and savory dip goes well with a platter of veggies, crackers, or kettle-cooked chips.
Get the full recipe from: Cup Of Zest
This Creamy Green Olive Dip is one of the best ways to use up that jar of olives. Made with a cream cheese base, pimento-stuffed olives, and a handful of aromatics and herbs, this briny party snack is the perfect partner to a bag of chips!
This olive dip involves very little prep before all of the ingredients are mixed together in one bowl and left to chill in the fridge for an hour (or for a few days to save time) before serving.
Get the full recipe from: Cup Of Zest
This is an authentic hummus recipe, It’s quick and incredibly easy to make in a blender or food processor. You’ll find this is one of the best hummus recipes for its authentic flavor and texture.
Hummus is a fridge staple, can be made weekly and used as a snack with pita bread and chips or as an appetizer for dinner parties.
Get the full recipe from: Tasty Oven
This Vegan White Bean Dip is a tasty easy game day appetizer and a light alternative to heavy, fried snacks! This vegan white bean dip came together so easily with lemon zest, fresh garlic, robust olive oil, and crushed pistachios.
This vegan white bean dip recipe is also perfect for parties because it’s friendly for a range of dietary needs. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and requires no added sugar.
Get the full recipe from: Chenee Today
Photo Credit: thesoccermomblog
This easy-to-make dip is loaded with all the flavors of a loaded baked potato, including bacon, sour cream, cheese and chives. It’s perfect for a game day snack or party appetizer.
Another great thing about this recipe is that it only takes a few minutes of prep time. You literally just mix everything together and start dipping. It’s great for feeding a group, hearty and filling, you can serve it with any of your favorite dippers.
Get the full recipe from: The Soccer Mom Blog
You can easily make this fast and crave-worthy appetizer or snack at home with Tex-Mex inspired ingredients like black eyed peas, tomatoes, corn, avocado, and a seasoned lime-cumin dressing! Serve it as a dip with tortilla chips at your next backyard barbecue, picnic, game day party, or holiday gathering
Get the full recipe from: Averie Cooks
These individual seven layer dip cups are the perfect mini appetizer for your next party, no double dipping necessary. This creamy seven layer bean dip will be a hit with your family and friends for baby showers, potlucks, tailgating parties and more!
This appetizer gets people talking, everyone usually wants to grab a cup! It’s perfect for parties, baby showers, game day tailgating, birthday parties, Christmas parties and more!
Get the full recipe from: On My Kids Plate
Make this Caramel Apple Dip with crisp green apples, salted caramel sauce, and crushed Health bars. A beloved recipe for potlucks, holiday parties, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and all through the Autumn apple season.
Both kids and adults love this easy apple dip, it’s a real crowd pleaser. It has the addictive flavor of caramel apples.
Get the full recipe from: Delicious Table
Onion Dip or California or Sour Cream Dip is the easiest recipe ever, with only 2 ingredients! Made in minutes, serve with a large bowl of your favorite potato chips and assorted fresh-cut veggies.
The flavors of the herbs and spices in sour cream and onion dip come through best when served cold. The coolness also complements the richness of the sour cream.
Get the full recipe from: Delicious Table
This quick and creamy Cheesecake Dip is a delicious treat perfect for any occasion. Enjoy it at parties, movie nights, or whenever you crave something sweet and satisfying!
Its delightful taste comes from just four simple ingredients, making it an easy-to-make dessert that goes well with a variety of dippers. This dip is perfect for feeding a crowd at parties or gatherings, making everyone happy.
Get the full recipe from: Cheerful Cook
This Curry Dip uses just a handful of simple spices (all of which you’ll most likely have on hand). Made with a simple creamy base, it is perfect for dipping your favorite veggies, crackers, and chips.
This recipe is a great, easy-to-prep-ahead creamy dip for movie night or game day. If you’re looking for a throw-everything-in-a-bowl recipe that’s ready in about 5 minutes. This dip is for you.
Get the full recipe from: Cheerful Cook
A 5-ingredient, easy Philadelphia cream cheese dip recipe with lots of garlic and that comes together in 5 minutes. This recipe never fails to please at family gatherings or parties!
It is super quick to make and the recipe only takes 5 minutes! Making it the perfect appetizer to make for last minute guests
It’s a good dip for your next party! It’s super garlicky and great for Game Day! There’s no need to turn on the stove top, making it a great recipe for hot summer days.
Get the full recipe from: Greedy Girl Gourmet
A super easy, 5-min cream cheese olive dip recipe that has everyone asking for seconds! Made with 3 simple ingredients, this easy appetizer can be made ahead of time so you don’t have to stress on the day of your dinner party or picnic.
You can easily vary it by adding pantry staples, such as garlic and onion powder. It’s cheaper than buying a pre-made dip!
Get the full recipe from: Greedy Girl Gourmet
Make eating fruit a lot more fun with this healthy chocolate fruit dip! Only 4 simple real food ingredients needed. This fluffy chocolate spread pairs perfectly with fruit as an after school snack. (It also makes a crowd-pleasing party dip).
Along with energy balls this is just one of those snacks to always have in the fridge! It’s tasty for kids but also makes the perfect late night snack for mom & dad.
Get the full recipe from: In The Kids Kitchen
Whether you want to dip veggie sticks, melba toast, chips, crackers, or something else, this avocado herb green goddess dip is really good. Pair it with a vegetable board or charcuterie platter and enjoy the fresh flavors in every mouthful.
This creamy avocado dip is one of the best-tasting homemade dip recipes you can make. Greek yogurt, avocado and cream cheese are the base of the veggie dip.
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
This martini dip is creamy, tasty and pairs beautifully with any kind of dippers from pita chips to crackers. Contrary to the name, it’s alcohol free, and it gets its moniker from the inclusion of stuffed olives, like you’d find in the classic cocktail.
This martini-inspired dip is sure to please your palate if you enjoy creamy dip recipes and the taste of olives. The recipe is really easy to make and it’s great for any occasion.
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
This classic homemade sour cream dip with fresh herbs is easy and delicious. Perfect for chips, wedges, potatoes, nachos and just about everything else!
The sour cream dip is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s both delicious and easy to make. With its versatility in flavors and textures, it’s a great option for any gathering.
Get the full recipe from: Aussie Home Cook
Dill Pickle Dip is an easy homemade creamy cold dip with a tangy pickle flavor. It is the perfect game day appetizer served with chips, veggies or crackers. It’s like a flavor explosion in your mouth and will surely please all pickle lovers
This crowd-pleasing and delicious appetizer combines a creamy base with the crunch of diced dill pickles. It is easy to put together, can feed a crowd, and can easily be made vegetarian by leaving out the ham or replacing it with a meat-free alternative.
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Smoked Gouda Dip is a flavorful recipe that uses just three simple ingredients. It’s the perfect dip for any gathering, no matter the time of year!
Get the full recipe from: Coffee With Us 3
French onion dip is known for its ease of preparation. The classic version simply involves mixing sour cream with a packet of dehydrated onion soup mix. For a more gourmet touch, caramelized onions can be used.
This creamy dip is the perfect accompaniment to veggies, chips, or crackers. For best results, chill for 1 hour before serving.
Get the full recipe from: What A Girl Eats
This is a classic British starter, that’s not much more than butter and a bit of cream. Although it’s generally served with water biscuits or cream crackers, you can pipe it into cucumber cups, or serve it American Style on top of thick-cut potato chips.
It is incredibly easy to make. The smoked trout can be purchased in most major markets. Smoked mackerel or any smoked fish would be delicious as well.
Get the full recipe from: What A Girl Eats
Try this homemade dip recipe that’s made with sour cream, and mayonnaise, with a burst of flavor from seasoned salt, dried minced onion, parsley flakes, and dill weed.
This creamy dip is incredibly easy to whip up, requiring just a few simple ingredients. It pairs perfectly with crisp, fresh veggies or your favorite chips! This convenient setup ensures that your guests can effortlessly grab and savor every bite without any hassle.
Get the full recipe from: Walking On Sunshine Recipes
This favorite recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Dip is ALWAYS a hit, and perfect for special events like the big game or holidays! It features all of your favorite baked potato toppings – packed into an easy and delicious dip.
This easy dip recipe is packed with all of the flavors of a loaded baked potato (like bacon, cheese, sour cream, and green onion) – only you won’t even have to turn the oven on.
It’s a cheesy dip that requires no oven time, no melting, and frankly – no work!
Get the full recipe from: Dash For Dinner
This homemade ranch dip is so much better than store bought, and so simple to make! This easy ranch dip is made with pantry ingredients, WITHOUT using a packet! Sour cream, mayonnaise, and a few choice seasonings make for the perfect homemade dipping sauce.
It is the most popular salad dressing in America, because it is creamy, mild, perfectly seasoned with parsley, garlic, and onion.
Get the full recipe from: Dash For Dinner
Brownie batter dip is an easy, 5-ingredient dessert dip. Cream cheese, brownie mix, and cool whip come together to make this dip extra rich and creamy.
This quick, no bake recipe is perfect for anyone who can’t resist licking brownie batter off the spatula! Pair the dip with fresh fruit, cookies, or pretzels for an easy dessert or sweet snack.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Loaded Sour Cream Dip is an easy appetizer dip recipe that takes sour cream and adds in plenty of flavor for a delicious chip dip!
It’s made from a few simple ingredients, and it tastes great with chips. It tastes better the longer it rests. So, you can make it the day before the game, and then just grab it when you’re ready.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Skinny Spinach Jalapeno Dip is a Greek yogurt dip with fantastic flavor, perfect for healthy snacking. It is a healthier version of the traditional spinach dip.
This Greek yogurt dip has jalapeno and seasonings for a fantastic flavor combination, perfect for healthy snacking. Packed with spinach, Skinny Spinach Jalapeno Dip offers a good dose of vitamins and antioxidants.
Get the full recipe from: Erica’s Recipes
A tasty dip is never a bad idea! Our Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Dip Recipe will be the hit of your party table. This Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Dip Recipe is loaded with all the good stuff; smoked salmon, capers, and fresh dill, all in a creamy tangy cream cheese base.
It hits all the notes, smoky, creamy, savory, and the fresh herbs are the perfect touch- it’s just one delicious dip.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
With simple steps and minimal ingredients, this irresistible Pineapple dip is perfect for any occasion. Sweet, creamy, and fruity! It can be made any time of the year but is especially welcomed at any summer get-together.
You can use it as a dessert or appetizer! This recipe always stands out with a colorful presentation and a wide variety of dippers you can use.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
This new recipe for whipped feta dip is easily going to become a staple snack food around here. With its salty, tangy flavor and light, airy texture, you can dip just about anything in it!
To enjoy this whipped feta dip, you basically blend fresh, brine-soaked feta with plain Greek yogurt and give it some flavor with garlic. It’s so simple and whips up ready to go in less than 10 minutes. It is a cold dip for any social gathering, everyone will love it.
Get the full recipe from: Food N Service
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of serving cold dips at a party?
Refreshing, easy preparation, dietary options are considered and there are varieties of flavors.
What are some easy cold dip options?
Classic options like hummus and guacamole are crowd-pleasing and require minimal prep. Look for dips where ingredients can be simply mixed and chilled.
How can I keep my cold dip fresh throughout the party?
Prepare your dip close to serving time or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to prevent browning or spoilage.
What are some good dippers for cold dips?
Offer a variety! Crudités (cut-up raw vegetables) like carrots, celery, and bell peppers are healthy choices. For a heartier option, include pita bread, whole-wheat crackers, or even sliced baguette.
Can I make cold dips ahead of time?
Yes! Many cold dips can be prepared in advance and chilled before serving. This frees up your time during the party. Look for recipes that allow assembly the day before.
How can I add a unique twist to a classic cold dip?
Experiment with different ingredients! Add roasted vegetables like red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor. Explore fresh herbs like cilantro or mint for a pop of freshness.
Are there any cold dips that are naturally creamy?
Yes! Greek yogurt, sour cream, or even silken tofu can be used as a base for creamy cold dips without overpowering other flavors.
In conclusion, cold dips are a fantastic choice for any party, offering a refreshing and flavorful way to kick things off. They’re incredibly versatile, allowing you to cater to various dietary needs and flavor preferences. From classic favorites to exciting new creations, the world of cold dips is brimming with possibilities.
So, the next time you’re planning a party, don’t underestimate the power of a chilled dip. With a little creativity and these helpful tips, you can create a vibrant and delicious spread that will keep your guests cool, satisfied, and coming back for more! Let the cold dips be the stars of your next gathering and enjoy the ease and enjoyment they bring to your party planning.