The dad entered a chili contest at our town’s Winter Chill Festival this weekend and came home with just a small container of leftovers for us to share. His two batches of chili (one super-spicy and one mild) were among the most popular of the 15 business entries, which explained the lack of leftovers. The winner still has not been announced, but he is hoping to place somewhere close to the top. He wants bragging rights.
Because there wasn’t enough to make a meal out of, we settled for our new favourite chili dip. We’ve made it several times during the holidays and it has been devoured quickly each time. It fits my criteria for party recipes – fast, few ingredients and easy.
3-Ingredient Chili Dip
- 1 package cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups of chili (or one can of chili)
- 1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Heat oven to 350F. Spread the softened cream cheese evenly on the bottom of a small casserole dish, 9″x9″ cake plate or a deep pie plate. Layer the chili on top of the cream cheese and top with the grated cheddar. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.
This is an easy dip to take to a workplace potluck as well and can be easily heated in a microwave for 5 minutes instead of in the oven. It can be made spicy or mild, depending on the chili that you use and or whether or not you use a spicy cheddar cheese for the topping.
lightlycrunchy 
Sounds ‘yummy’ .. hope he wins! Diane
Strangely, the prize money doesn’t even cover the cost of the groceries, but he is mostly hoping for bragging rights over some of the other local businesses. He’s made friends with other local business owners through the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. It keeps him out of trouble.
As our temperatures prepare to plummet to -24C again, chili dip sounds really, really good. This is the only post I’ve commented on today while mentioning the weather. That’s pretty amazing, since weather makes up about 85% of Minnesotan conversation.
You must have more interesting stuff to talk about than we do then. I think it makes up even more of our conversations. Especially when it’s this crazy cold outside.
So easy, but sounds to good. Definitely gonna have to try it. Good luck to your husband, I think he has a good chance. The chili cook-offs I have been to usually have top honors go to a super spicy chili.
The super spicy chili had no leftovers, which I thought was odd. Though I heard some of the other entries had pineapple, mango and even duck meat. Odd enough that someone with a normal chili might have a fighting chance.
I have a couple of sons-in-law who would just love this- and the very spicy version! I shall bookmark it. Thank you 🙂
It’s a new favourite around our house. I got the recipe from a co-worker at a potluck. It’s always a hit at the office potluck.
We’re having a party in a few weeks, and I’ll have to remember this. Thanks!
You’re welcome. Hope you like it if you try it.
Yum!! Thanks Heidi!
If there’s no chilli handy, you can do the same but sub in salsa instead: )
I thought of using some taco meat and salsa too. Either way it would be pretty good.
It’s perfect food for this idiotic weather we’re STILL getting (hadn’t realised it, but apparently it hasn’t been above zero* the whole month!(?)
But I’d truly rather have the bitter cold than this crazy whiteout stuff we’re getting right now… (401 has been terrible in this area today.):
It’s pretty cold and snowy here too – though we did have a few days above zero, just to melt the snow and ice down a little.
Oh my goodness this looks delicious. And easy too? My kind of recipe! Thanks so much for sharing. Cheers, Gina
[…] wrote about chili dip and brownie cookies, and have thoroughly enjoyed eating both while I am still […]