This 3-Ingredient Dip Is Gone in 20 Minutes Every Time I Bring It to a Tailgate

As we get deeper into football season, you might be feeling as though you’ve run out of new recipes to bring to the tailgate. While we all love Buffalo chicken dip and ham and cheese sliders, it’s nice to have something new on the menu to really switch things up. 

It’s, of course, not a requirement that tailgating recipes utilize few ingredients and minimal time spent making them—but it is a plus. It’s why I love my mom’s four-ingredient pizza dip, the three-ingredient queso found on the side of the Ro-Tel can, and even an old-fashioned walking taco. Those recipes are a breeze to whip up, yet they’re always one of the first things gone at the tailgate. 

Even though I have my favorite recipes, I enjoy mixing it up at the tailgate every so often. That’s why when Allrecipes Editorial Operations Director Victoria Heydt mentioned she has made a three-ingredient dip for years that’s always fully eaten within 20 minutes, I knew it would make an appearance on Sunday. 

The 3-Ingredient Dip Everyone Loves

Similar to the Ro-Tel queso, Heydt’s dip starts with a pantry staple that she jazzes up with two more ingredients before baking. However, instead of Ro-Tel and Velveeta, Heydt uses Hormel Chili with Beans, cream cheese, and Cheddar cheese. 

“This three-ingredient app has been a go-to staple for all types of gatherings since I was a little kid. Birthdays, holidays, game days; you name it, and we’ve made this bean dip for it. Without fail, it always goes within the first 20 to 30 minutes that guests arrive,” she says.

While many chili dips—including Hormel’s—use canned chili without beans, Heydt opts for the extra hearty can of seasoned meat with beans. However, true bean haters could easily make this recipe without them. 

Not only is this dish low-ingredient, but it also requires very little prep. Each ingredient is layered into a baking dish—starting with the cream cheese, followed by the can of chili, and topped with cheese—before being baked until warmed through and the cheese is melted. Additionally, no true measurements are required. Heydt says she uses one can of chili, one package of cream cheese, and one package of Cheddar cheese for the dish. 

“Since it takes less than 5 minutes to prep, it’s a simple solution for larger gatherings and/or if you have last-minute guests. I seriously keep a can of Hormel chili in my pantry at all times, so it’s simple to make. It doesn’t hurt that it doesn’t break the bank either,” she says.

How To Make Chili Bean Dip

Heydt serves the dip with tortilla chips, though you could accompany it with Fritos, pretzels, crackers, and even veggies. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• 1 (8-ounce) package plain cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 (15-ounce) can Hormel Chili with Beans
• 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
• Tortilla chips, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Spread cream cheese evenly along the bottom of an 8×8-inch baking dish.
3. Pour chili over the cream cheese layer.
4. Cover with Cheddar cheese.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted, approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Serve with tortilla chips.