Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
This layered Cream Cheese Salsa Dip is super simple to put together and is perfect for snacking or bringing to a party. A little bit savory, a little bit sweet and a whole lot of delicious!
Game day snacks would not be complete without a good dip. You need something that’s not too sweet but that still takes away from the saltiness of a good chip.
Any dip is a great choice, and some of my classic go-tos are Corn Fritos Dip, Mexicali Dip, and this 5 Minute Cottage Cheese Dip.
But now that I have tried Cream Cheese Salsa Dip, it’s possible that I have a brand new favorite!
To make this recipe, you start with a base of smooth cream cheese, leveled up with some cumin, onion powder and garlic powder, then layered with your favorite salsa. Shredded cheese tops off the dish.
The flavors are reminiscent of a 7 layer dip but the effort is less than half. In just a few minutes you can have the perfect snack dip ready to go!
Serve it hot or cold (instructions for both are below), add garnish or serve it simple. This delicious snack is a winner all around!
Why Make This Recipe?
- Fast Snacking: When you are in the mood for a snack that’s layered with flavor and texture, this dip hits the spot! It has creamy cream cheese, savory salsa and the crunch of your favorite chips.
- Versatile Dish: This dip is so easy to change to your liking! You can add a wide variety of garnishes, serve it hot or cold, or pair it with any chips you love. With so many ways to make it unique you’ll never get tired of it!
- Feed a Crowd: Dips are perfect party food, but this one is also easy enough to mix up just for yourself
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
- Cream Cheese: Make sure you let your cream cheese soften to room temperature. It will make it much easier to mix, spread and dip.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream gives the dip a great tang and makes it the perfect dipping texture
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin
- Salsa: Use any brand or heat level you prefer. You could also use homemade salsa!
- Shredded Cheese: You can use pre shredded or grate it yourself. If you want to serve the dish hot, I recommend grating your own. Bagged cheese is coated to prevent it from sticking together, but when it melts it doesn’t always melt beautifully together. If you want it to melt, grate your own. I love this dip with cheddar cheese but you can definitely mix it up if you want to try a different flavor. It would be delicious with some colby jack or pepper jack.
- Garnish: Green onions, jalapenos, onion, or none at all!
Tools
- Medium mixing bowl
- Electric mixer: This is optional but makes the mixing go by much faster!
- Pie pan or other shallow serving dish
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream with an electric hand mixer.
Step 2: Mix in the garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, salt, and pepper until well-combined.
Step 3: In a glass pie pan, layer the cream cheese mixture, then top with salsa and shredded cheddar. Enjoy now if desired.
Step 4 (optional): If desired, bake the dip at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly. Serve warm!
FAQs
Cream Cheese Salsa Dip is super versatile! Feel free to add anything you’d like. You can dress it up by adding a layer of refried beans or top it with shredded lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, green onion or more! This dip is designed to be deliciously simple, but you can load it up with anything you like!
It is possible to make this ahead of time, but you do risk the liquid separating from your salsa and making the whole dip a bit watery.
I would recommend either serving right away or waiting to assemble your layers until just before you serve. Mix up the cream cheese, sour cream and spices, and then wait to add the salsa and cheese as the top later. The most time consuming part of this dish is mixing the cream cheese anyways!
Any canned salsa will work fine. You can use a regular jarred salsa or mix it up with some green salsa, mango salsa or whatever you have on hand. You could even use homemade salsa for this recipe, but be careful that it’s not too moist or that moisture may cause separation.
You can serve this dip with tortilla chips or mix it up with any dippers you prefer. It’s great with pita chips, potato chips, crackers, pretzels, or fresh vegetables like peppers or carrots.
You can choose to serve this dip hot or cold. It’s great served cold on a warm day or you can heat it up before the big game for easier dipping. It’s great both ways!
You can store this dip in the refrigerator. Cover it with some plastic wrap to keep it from drying out or move it to an airtight container.
The longer it sits, the more the moisture may begin to separate so it’s best to enjoy it within a day or two.
Did you enjoy this recipe for Cream Cheese Salsa Dip? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
Equipment
- Electric Hand Mixer
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- 9" Glass Pie Pan or Other Shallow Bowl
Ingredients
- 12 oz cream cheese, softened, about 1½ packages
- ¾ cup sour cream, about 8 oz
- 1½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Green onions, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, use an electric hand mixer to combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Mix in the garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Spread this mixture into the bottom of a 9” glass pie pan.
- Pour the salsa over the top of the cream cheese mixture, then top with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Garnish with chopped green onions if desired. If you want your dip hot, you can bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes or until it starts to bubble around the edges.
- Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables for dipping.
Notes
- Cream Cheese: Make sure you let your cream cheese soften to room temperature. It will make it much easier to mix, spread and dip.
- Salsa: Use any brand or heat level you prefer. You could also use homemade salsa!
- Shredded Cheese: You can use pre shredded or grate it yourself. If you want to serve the dish hot, I recommend grating your own. Bagged cheese is coated to prevent it from sticking together, but when it melts it doesn’t always melt beautifully together. If you want it to melt, grate your own. I love this dip with cheddar cheese but you can definitely mix it up if you want to try a different flavor. It would be delicious with some colby jack or pepper jack.
- Garnish with: Green onions, jalapenos, onion, or none at all!
