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Hosting your gang’s football party this weekend? Holiday cocktail party coming up? Got invited to Aunt Gertrude’s book club this Saturday and don’t want to show up empty-handed? No matter what kind of gathering you’ve got on the calendar, Simply Recipes has a dip for you.
Stock Your Pantry for Easy Dips
The real beauty of dips is how fast and easy they are to make—that is, as long as you have everything you need to make them. Luckily, many of the ingredients most commonly used for dips are either common kitchen staples or can be stocked well in advance for any last-minute party needs.
Here’s a checklist of some ingredients to keep on hand:
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Shredded cheese
- Canned artichokes
- Canned crab or frozen lump crab meat
- Canned pimentos
- Frozen spinach
- Frozen shrimp
- Beer brats (keep a few in the freezer!)
You’ll also need snacks to serve with the dip, of course! Don’t forget to grab some crackers, pretzels, or chips for the pantry. If you’re at the store, pick up a veggie tray or fresh baguette.
Bake Until Bubbly…
Most hot dips just need to be baked until they’re bubbly, so feel free to toss them in the oven alongside anything else you might have cooking. As long as the oven is within 50°F or so of the temperature recommended in the recipe, you’ll be fine. Keep an eye on the edges of the dip and pull it out when you see bubbles.
…Or Chill Until Needed
Other dips can be served room temperature or chilled, and often taste better when made in advance. This gives the dip a chance to firm up a little and allows the flavors to meld. Pull these dips out of the fridge 15 minutes or so before guests arrive to take the chill off.
