Dining & Entertaining
Take a Dip: Delicious Summer Dips With Appetizing Presentation Ideas
Dips are a fresh, fun, and festive addition to summer gatherings—whether you make them for a few family members or a large crowd. They add zest to outdoor living and keep hunger at bay while the chef preps the main course on the grill. We’ve collected our favorite easy summer dip recipes, as well as charming serveware ideas for your next porch or patio soirée.
Let’s Dive In
When serving dips, try offering two or more options. That way people who avoid dairy or beans have a dip or two they can enjoy, too. These dips are easy and fast to prep, and they’re delicious with a range of dippers, including:
- Tortilla chips
- Pretzels
- Potato chips
- Vegetables
Salsas
Nothing wrong with popping open a jar, but you can make your own salsas easily enough. And it’s worth the extra effort. These three salsa recipes also make excellent additions to grilled, make-your-own fish tacos and grilled chicken or steak with a Southwest dry rub.
1. Regular Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 jalapeño peppers, deseeded and chopped (remove ribs for a milder salsa)
- 3 lbs. of tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
- 1/2 a red onion, chopped
- 1 or 2 garlic cloves, minced
- A large handful of cilantro, roughly chopped
- Juice from 1 lime
- 1 tsp. red wine vinegar
Directions:
Add all of the ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until broken down into your favored salsa texture (chunky to saucy). Serve.
2. Mango Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 jalapeño peppers, deseeded and chopped (remove ribs for a milder salsa)
- 3 lbs. of tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
- 1/2 a red onion, chopped
- 1 or 2 garlic cloves, minced
- A large handful of cilantro, roughly chopped
- Juice from 1 lime
- 1 tsp. red wine vinegar
Directions:
Add all of the ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until broken down into your favored salsa texture (chunky to saucy). Serve.
3. Pico de Gallo
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 fresh tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
- 1 small jalapeño, deseeded and chopped (remove ribs for a milder salsa)
- 2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 small white onion, chopped
- 1 or 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice from 1/2 a lime
- Salt, just a pinch
Directions:
Toss together and serve.
Serving Ideas for Salsas
- Amplify the south-of-the-border theme of these dips with a rustic, Mission-style chip and dip server with glass bowls suspended by banded metal frames. Blue corn chips add a nice contrast.
- Serve all three of these salsas together in black glass bowls on a matching long tray. The bright, vibrant colors in the salsa pop against the dark glass.
Bean Dips
Again, store-bought is an excellent option when you’re pressed for time. But you can make these yourself, without much fuss.
4. Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1, 2, or more garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and black pepper, just a pinch or two.
Directions:
For Thick Hummus: Blend all of the ingredients in a food processor until they make a paste. For Thin Hummus: Blend chickpeas, oil and garlic. Add lemon juice, tahini, or the liquid from the chickpeas by the teaspoonful until it reaches the consistency you like.
Set out flavored oils, pesto, or olive tapenade so people can customize their hummus when serving.
5. Cowboy Caviar
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 oz. can of black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup of frozen sweet corn, thawed
- 2 Roma tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 2 avocados, chopped
- Handful of cilantro, chopped
- Juice from 1/2 a lime
- Salt and pepper, just a pinch
Directions:
Toss ingredients together and serve.
6. Five-Layer Dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz. of sour cream
- 8 oz. of cream cheese (room temperature)
- 2 tbsp. taco seasoning
- 3 to 4 fresh tomatoes, chopped
- Juice from 1/2 a lime
- Salt, just a pinch
- 2 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 2 cups cheddar or pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 1 can of your favorite refried black or pinto beans
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together tomatoes, lime and salt. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, drain off the liquid. In a separate bowl, mix sour cream, cream cheese and taco seasoning together.
In a serving dish, layer the prepared ingredients starting at the bottom and working your way up:
- Refried beans
- Sour cream, cream cheese, and taco seasoning mixture
- Fresh tomato, salt, and lime mixture
- Shredded cheese
- Shredded romaine lettuce
Garnish with a few extra diced tomatoes and cilantro.
Serving ideas for bean dips
- The five-layer dip looks fantastic served in a clear crystal trifle bowl. Set tortilla chips nearby on a wooden tray or in a large serving bowl.
- Scoop hummus into individual serving-sized wooden salad bowls so you can set the dip in more than one spot. Accompany with a mix of soft and hard pita chips in matching wooden bowls.
Classic Dips
These are creamy and flavorful, and they’re always the first to disappear during a party.
7. French Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cream cheese (softened)
- 3 tbsp. mayonnaise
- 1-1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. salt
Directions:
Sauté the onions and garlic until softened and lightly browned. Cool completely. Blend the sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, and salt in a food processor or high-powered blender. Transfer to a mixing bowl and fold in the onion and garlic mixture. Chill and serve.
8. Chilled Crab Dip
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- Fresh dill, chopped
- 1 cup chopped cucumber, seeded and chopped
- 6 tbsp. lemon juice
- 16 oz. cream cheese (softened)
- 6 tbsp. mayonnaise
- 1 lb. lump crab meat
Directions:
Mix the red onion, dill, lemon juice, cream cheese, and mayonnaise until well combined. Fold in the chopped cucumber and the crab meat. Refrigerate for 1 hour and serve.
9. Cold BLT Dip
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz. package bacon
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp. Chives, chopped
- 1/2 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup of sour cream
- 1 cup mayonnaise
Directions:
Cook bacon in a pan until crispy. Cool completely and crumble. Mix the bacon, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Chill. Just before serving, mix in the tomatoes, chives, and romaine lettuce.
Pro-Tip: Make this recipe even easier by using microwave-ready bacon. Cook in the microwave instead of a pan on the stove.
Serving ideas
- The BLT and French onion dips both look appetizing in a stainless steel chip and dip bowl. Instead of chips, you can substitute pieces of toasted Italian bread.
- The crab dip is at home in a vibrant blue serving dish, whether it’s made of glass, stoneware, or metal with an enamel finish. Baguette slices or breadsticks work well for dipping.
Dessert Dips
Summer days should be relaxing—make entertaining easy with these simple and sweet dips.
10. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1/4 cup of butter (room temperature)
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugars using a handheld or stand mixer until creamy. Fold in the chocolate chips. Serve immediately.
11. Sweet Yogurt Dip
Ingredients
- 4 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1-1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Directions:
Chill and serve.
Serving ideas
- Cookie dough dip looks gorgeous served in colorful ceramic ramekins. Serve with graham crackers and pretzels (for a savory/sweet option) on a wood tray or platter.
- A red, white, and blue chip and dip server is a cheerful option for the yogurt dip. Fill the ‘chip’ section half-and-half with biscotti and strawberries.
Serving up delicious dips for summer entertaining is a breeze with these simple recipes at the ready.
