25 best game day dips
A good dip is the center of any game day spread. These are the ones that disappear first: hot, cheesy dips straight from the skillet and cool, creamy dips you can make ahead. Every one is ready in 20 minutes or less, so you can make two or three before kickoff.
Updated October 2026 · ranked by popularity
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1. Classic guacamole
Chunky, zingy guacamole with ripe avocado, lime, tomato, red onion, chile and plenty of cilantro. Made in one bowl in ten minutes.
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2. Buffalo chicken dip
Shredded rotisserie chicken in a tangy cream cheese, hot sauce and ranch dip, topped with cheddar and broiled until bubbling. Celery and chips for scooping.
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3. Stovetop spinach artichoke dip
Creamy, cheesy spinach and artichoke dip made in one pan on the stove with frozen spinach and canned artichoke hearts. Serve warm with tortilla chips.
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4. Restaurant-style salsa
Smooth, scoopable blender salsa like the kind that comes with chips at Mexican restaurants, made with canned tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, cilantro and lime.
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5. Skillet queso dip
Silky white queso made with deli American cheese and Monterey Jack, studded with green chiles and topped with fresh pico de gallo. Ready in 12 minutes.
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6. Bacon ranch dip
Cream cheese and sour cream whipped with ranch seasoning, crispy bacon, cheddar and scallions. A cold, creamy dip for chips, crackers and veggies in 15 minutes.
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7. Hot bean dip
Creamy refried beans warmed with taco seasoning, salsa and cream cheese, then smothered in melted cheddar and Jack. A hot, cheesy crowd-pleaser in 15 minutes.
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8. Rotel dip (sausage queso)
Creamy melted cheese, browned sausage and tomatoes with green chiles stirred together into a warm, scoopable queso. The three-ingredient game-day dip.
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9. Seven-layer dip
Spiced refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese, black olives and scallions layered in one dish. No cooking, just grab the tortilla chips.
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10. Cowboy caviar
Black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, peppers and tomatoes tossed in a zesty lime vinaigrette. A colorful, scoopable dip with tortilla chips.
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11. French onion dip
Deeply golden, jammy onions folded into tangy sour cream with a little garlic and Worcestershire. The real-onion version of the classic chip dip, ready in 20 minutes.
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12. Five-minute hummus
Smoother, lighter hummus than the tub, made from a can of chickpeas, good tahini and a splash of ice water. Ready in five minutes flat.
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13. Dill pickle dip
Tangy, crunchy dill pickles and fresh dill stirred into cream cheese and sour cream with a splash of pickle brine. A cold, zippy dip that takes 10 minutes.
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14. Stovetop nacho cheese sauce
Silky nacho cheese made with sharp cheddar and evaporated milk that stays smooth, never grainy. Spiked with jalapeño brine and served with tortilla chips.
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15. Hot crab dip
Lump crab folded into a warm, creamy cheese sauce seasoned with Old Bay, lemon and garlic. A Maryland-style party dip made on the stovetop in 15 minutes.
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16. Mexican street corn dip
Charred corn, jalapeño and scallions folded into a warm, creamy cheese dip with lime, chili powder and cotija. All the flavor of elote, scoopable with chips.
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17. Jalapeño popper dip
Everything you love about jalapeño poppers in a skillet: creamy cheddar and cream cheese, fresh jalapeños and bacon under a crisp, buttery panko top.
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18. Whipped feta dip with hot honey and chili
Salty feta blitzed with Greek yogurt until silky, then finished with warm chili honey. Serve with toasted pita chips for scooping.
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19. Beer cheese dip with pretzel bites
A smooth, sharp cheddar and lager cheese sauce made on the stove, with a kick of mustard and cayenne, served warm with oven-warmed soft pretzel bites.
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20. Pimento cheese dip
Classic Southern pimento cheese with freshly grated sharp cheddar, creamy mayo, sweet pimentos and a kick of cayenne. Scoop with crackers and celery.
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21. Tzatziki with crispy pita chips
Thick Greek yogurt with squeezed cucumber, garlic, dill and lemon, served with oregano pita chips straight from the broiler. Cool, crunchy and garlicky.
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22. Hot pizza dip
A garlicky cream cheese base topped with marinara, melted mozzarella and crisp-edged pepperoni, broiled in a skillet and scooped up with toasted baguette.
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23. Bacon cheeseburger dip
A hot skillet dip with all the cheeseburger flavors: browned beef, crispy bacon, melty cheddar, ketchup, mustard and chopped pickles. Made for chip scooping.
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24. Pumpkin cream cheese dip
A fluffy, sweet pumpkin pie dip whipped from cream cheese, canned pumpkin and warm spices, served with gingersnaps and crisp apple slices for dunking.
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25. Spiderweb taco dip
Seasoned refried beans, cheddar and guacamole layered in a dish and topped with a piped sour cream spiderweb and a black olive spider. Serve with chips.
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For an easy spread, pick one hot dip, one cold dip and one fresh one like guacamole or salsa. Keep hot dips warm in a small slow cooker on low, nestle cold dips in a bowl of ice, and set out plenty of chips, crackers, pretzels and cut vegetables.
Common questions
What are the most popular game day dips?
Queso, buffalo chicken dip, Rotel dip, spinach artichoke dip, seven-layer dip and guacamole are the classics. All of them are on this list, and each takes 20 minutes or less.
Which dips can I make ahead?
Cold dips like French onion, bacon ranch, dill pickle and seven-layer dip are better made a few hours ahead and kept covered in the fridge. Hot dips are best made fresh, but you can mix them ahead and heat them just before serving.
How do I keep dips warm during the game?
Transfer hot dips to a small slow cooker set to low or warm and stir now and then. A splash of milk loosens cheese dips that thicken as they sit.
How long can dips sit out?
Food safety guidance is no more than 2 hours at room temperature for dairy-based dips, or 1 hour above 90°F. Set out smaller bowls and refill from the fridge or stove.