Recipes and Cooking Party Recipes Appetizers 16 Make-Ahead Dips No One Will Be Able to Resist Dunking Into By Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Instagram Website Karla Walsh is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer, editor, level one sommelier, and former fitness instructor and personal trainer who balances her love of food and drink with her passion for fitness. (Or tries to, at least!) Her writing has been published in AllRecipes, Runner's World, Shape and Fitness Magazines, as well as on EatingWell.com, Shape.com, BHG.com, ReadersDigest.com, TheHealthy.com, Prevention.com, WomensHealthMag.com, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Andy Lyons Never stress about what to bring to a party again! These irresistible and easy make-ahead dip recipes will be the star of any snack table. Best of all, these easy make-ahead cold dips and warm, slow-cooker all-stars can be made ahead of time and refrigerated or kept warm for at least 4 hours before serving. We Found the Best Amazon Deals to Shop This Black Friday 01 of 16 Gluten-Free Tex-Mex Cheese Dip View Recipe Jason Donnelly Melt down this foundation for this Tex Mex make-ahead dip—featuring a dream team of decadence cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream—on the stovetop. Stir in shredded Monterey Jack cheese, black beans, frozen corn, plus taco seasoning and diced green chiles for just enough zest. Then transfer the queso-like creation to a small slow cooker to keep warm all party long (well, for 2 hours; it'll disappear before that!). We Did the Math for You: Here's How Many Party Appetizers Per Person You'll Need 02 of 16 Easy Pimiento Cheese Dip View Recipe Blaine Moats Get the saltine crackers ready! They're the quintessential partner for this oh-so-Southern make-ahead dip. Featuring shredded cheddar, mayo, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, and pimientos (naturally), this dip/spread just gets better as it sets. Let it hang in the fridge for 4 to 24 hours before spiking it with a little extra hot sauce and dishing up a generous spoonful. 03 of 16 Hummus 4 Ways View Recipe Jason Donnelly Master the classic, garlic-infused make-ahead cold dip on its own. But that's only the beginning of this versatile bean dip! We suggest setting up a rainbow-colored buffet of a variety of hummus flavors, and will coach you through how to create roasted beet, lime-avocado, roasted squash, and roasted red pepper variations, too. Whiz up any of the above and refrigerate for up to 5 days. 12 Vegan Dip Recipes That Prove That Dips Don't Need Sour Cream or Cheese to Be Delicious 04 of 16 Pumpkin-Tahini Dip View Recipe Jacob Fox Sure, you might be more familiar with sweet uses for canned pumpkin, such as pie, quick breads, muffins, and cakes. But this easy, healthy-ish make-ahead dip takes a full can of pumpkin purée into scrumptious savory territory, thanks to garlic, onion, rosemary, and tahini. A dollop of plain Greek yogurt makes it ultra-creamy and satisfying, while lemon juice perks things up. Mix up the hummus-like dip 2 to 24 hours early, then refrigerate until it's snack o'clock. 05 of 16 Caramelized Onion Dip View Recipe Andy Lyons Don't be intimidated by making caramelized onions. We'll walk you through how to create this versatile flavor-booster in just 20 minutes to infuse so much sweet, jammy goodness into every ounce of this easy make-ahead cold dip. Much tastier than store-bought, this sour cream and onion dip is best served with fresh vegetable chips. Sauté and stir the easy appetizer together up to 24 hours in advance. 06 of 16 Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip View Recipe Carson Downing No one will ever guess you lightened up this sour cream and mayo mix with Greek yogurt. Garlic and onion amp up the flavor, while crispy bacon on top adds a salty, savory, and decadent element that will fake out any guests who don't crave "healthy food." Mix up the make-ahead cold dip recipe as early as 24 hours ahead, then chill until party time...if you can wait that long! 07 of 16 Cheesy Skillet Artichoke Dip View Recipe Andy Lyons We suggest building a big batch of this easy make-ahead spinach-artichoke dip. Based on our experience sharing this cast-iron skillet recipe, it's sure to disappear fast! That's because the dish combines everything you love about fresh-from-the-oven, buttery dinner rolls with cheesy veggie-boosted dip. To prep ahead, assemble it early and store in the fridge for up to 4 hours before baking. 08 of 16 Roasted Green Onion Dip View Recipe Melanie Acevedo With a hat tip to French onion soup, and a fit-for-spring makeover, this make-ahead cold dip is destined to become an instant classic in your repertoire. Not only can it be made up to 3 days early and put on ice until you're ready to dig in (or polish off after snagging bites throughout the week), the entire recipe also calls for fewer than five ingredients. Four, in fact, if you count oil and salt as freebies. 09 of 16 Hot Greens Dip View Recipe Blaine Moats Go green with this party-starting make-ahead spinach-artichoke dip. That dynamic duo of veggies means this is a sneaky way to inspire picky eaters to get an extra dose of antioxidants. To prep in advance, assemble up to 4 hours early, then refrigerate until you're ready to bake and scoop. Reheat before serving if desired. These Easy, Healthy Appetizers Have Fewer Than 250 Calories (But Sure Don't Taste Like It!) 10 of 16 Salami Chips with Grainy Mustard Dip View Recipe James Carriere Please low-carb and keto dieters—and fans of tasty noshes—with this dunkable duo. Crisp up your own salami chips and pair them with the easy four-ingredient make-ahead dip. Both the chips and the mustard sauce can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. 11 of 16 Roasted Corn and Crab Dip View Recipe Jason Donnelly The perfect mix of elevated and common, this hot and creamy dip is full of luscious crab meat (cook your own or get a head start with canned) and uber-affordable mayo, sour cream, and Monterey Jack cheese. Red bell peppers, corn, and green onions perk things up, so even all of those rich-tasting elements taste well-balanced and not too heavy. Store the easy make-ahead dip in the fridge for up to 24 hours, then bake for 20 minutes before serving. 12 of 16 Smoky Pineapple Guacamole View Recipe Andy Lyons Take your taste buds on a trip to the tropics via grilled pineapple guacamole. So what makes this fit the "smoky" moniker? A spoonful of diced canned chipotle in adobo in the mix. Refrigerate for up to 8 hours, then offer the easy make-ahead dip with tortilla chips or sliced bell peppers. How to Make Guacamole at Home That Tastes as Incredible as the Restaurant Appetizer You Love 13 of 16 Spinach-Dill Dip View Recipe Blaine Moats Ditch the artichokes (just for tonight!) and spiff up your usual make-ahead spinach-artichoke dip with a handful of chopped fresh dill and green onions instead. This cold dip recipe for a crowd makes a cool counterpoint to warm and cheesy appetizers on the menu, especially if you pair this with crudités, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot sticks. Stir it together the day before, then chill overnight for a fast-fix snack. 14 of 16 White Bean Spread View Recipe Jason Donnelly For one of the easiest appetizers ever, combine the six ingredients for this dip in your slow cooker. After just 15 minutes of prep, set it and forget it, and the make-ahead dip will be ready to savor in just a few hours. To store it for later, chill in an airtight container for up to 24 hours, bring to room temp come snack time, then devour it with veggies, chips, or pita wedges. 15 of 16 Classic Salsa Verde View Recipe Blaine Moats There's no time-consuming cooking involved in this speedy make-ahead dip. To create the zesty mix, simply chop the tomatillos and combine with fresh cilantro, red onion, and jalapeño peppers. Store the chilled Mexican-style dip recipe for a crowd in the fridge for up to 3 days before serving with chips, then use leftovers, if you're lucky enough to have them, as a garnish for tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, and beyond. 16 of 16 Bonanza Bean Dip View Recipe Colleen Duffley You can please nearly everyone with this easy make-ahead dip. That's because half the bottom layer of the dish has refried beans, while the other half has lime guacamole (just in case there are any avocado-averse or bean-hating eaters). Chill for up to 24 hours, crown the crowd-sized "parfait" with toppers like tomatoes, olives, and onions, and dive in. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit