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Cheesy, spicy, and lick-the-bowl delicious, my Creamy Garlic Dip just might attain GOAT status in the dip category. Made in just 10 minutes using 6 simple ingredients, this is a zesty addition to any appetizer buffet!
Why I Love This Recipe
If you’re anything like me and my family, no amount of garlic is ever TOO MUCH garlic. It’s easily one of my most used ingredients.
Aside from being addictively delicious, this creamy dip is:
- Made With Just 6 Ingredients. Don’t you just love short grocery lists? Me too.
- Meal-Prep & Budget-Friendly. You can easily prep this shareable app up to a week in advance, and a big ol’ bowlful won’t cost more than $5 to make. I call that a win-win.
- Takes Just 10 Minutes To Make. Or even less if you buy pre-peeled garlic and use a garlic press!
- Super Versatile. Yes, this is a dip that tastes great with all the snack table regulars like raw veggies, pretzels, crackers, or potato chips. But it’s ALSO an excellent spread for sandwiches and falafel, is easy to turn into a dipping sauce for pizza, and can even be served with smoked salmon and eggs for a fancy breakfast.
What you need
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese – Full-fat will forever be my favorite way to do any dairy, but you can swap in Neufchatel cheese or plant-based cream cheese if you prefer!
- Sour Cream – You can easily substitute plain Greek yogurt, or any dairy-free sour cream or plain yogurt you please.
- Garlic Cloves – This is a garlic dip, after all, so make sure to use fresh cloves for the best flavor.
- Fresh Chives – I love the delicate allium flavor and tender stems of fresh chives. Feel free to use thinly sliced scallions, finely chopped scallions, or your favorite tender herb(s) instead.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper – Don’t forget your seasonings!
How To Make Garlic Dip
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
This creamy garlic cheese dip comes together in no time. Here’s how it’s done:
- Beat cream cheese and sour cream with an electric hand or stand mixer until well combined.
- Stir in garlic, chives, salt, and pepper.
- Serve. Pour into a serving dish and garnish with fresh cracked black pepper and a few chopped chives. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions + Pairs Well With
I like to serve this garlicky dip in a bowl with a fresh sprinkling of chopped chives, and maybe a drizzle of EVOO if I’m feeling extra. It pairs well with all sorts of foods including but not limited to:
- Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus – This is some serious flavor-on-flavor magic.
- Crudites – This creamy dip is practically begging for crunchy raw veggies so try adding it to your next veggie tray.
- Chips, Crackers, and Crostini – Salty crispy things are also an excellent choice.
- Smoked Salmon or Cured Meats – Feel free to use this on your next charcuterie platter, or serve it with your favorite pescatarian breakfast.
- Steamed Artichokes – Nutty, sweet steamed artichoke petals are immediately livened by this zesty dip.
Variations
- Roasted Garlic – Try roasted garlic first for a whole new level of flavor. The spice level will mellow to non-existent, but the nutty sweetness of roasted garlic will shine through!
- Garlic Yogurt Sauce – Lighten things up a bit by swapping in Greek yogurt for the sour cream.
- Make It A Dipping Sauce For Pizza – Thin your dip out with a few tablespoons of cream, milk, or buttermilk to make a creamy garlic sauce that perfect consistency for serving with your favorite Za.
- Fresh Herbs – Add several tablespoons of your favorite fresh herbs. Mince some fresh dill, parsley, cilantro, or mint and stir it in. While you’re at it, try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to take your garlic herb dip up a notch.
Storage Tips
What to Do With Leftovers
The prepared dip will keep in the fridge for up to a week. For the best presentation, don’t add the fresh chives until right before serving.
Try using the leftovers on your next sandwich or wrap in place of mayo, use it to garnish your favorite grain bowls, or serve it as a spread on lox and bagels.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened or the dip will end up looking a little curdled. If you forgot to take it out of the fridge in time, you can zap it in the microwave in 10-second increments until it’s soft.
- Use a garlic press to cut back on prep time. Mincing can take some time, so a garlic press is your friend here. Remember, the smaller the garlic, the more pungent it is, and we want ALL that spicy flavor.
- Pre-peeled garlic is an excellent shortcut. Otherwise…
- The easiest way to peel large amounts of garlic is to separate the head into cloves, plunge them in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then drain and peel. The skins should pop right off!
More Garlicky Recipes
Garlic Dip
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 cup Sour cream
- 10 medium-large Garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced Chives plus some for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and sour cream with an electric hand mixer until well combined.
- Stir in garlic, chives, salt and pepper.
- Pour into a serving dish and garnish with fresh cracked black pepper and a few chopped chives. Serve with raw veggies, pretzels and/or potato chips.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
