Sausage cream cheese dip with tortilla chips is the perfect hot dip to serve at a party because you can keep it warm in a slowcooker for hours. From mild to spicy, you can customize the dip for your own heat level and make it ahead the day before for easy party prep.
With football party season in full swing and the holidays rounding the corner, who needs a three ingredient, make ahead party recipe?? ME!
This easy sausage cream cheese dip is always a HUGE hit, especially if you've got a house full of hungry guys.
The recipe starts on the stovetop in a skillet but can be finished in a slowcooker if you need more time.
It travels well and can keep warm for hours on a buffet table. Your friends and family won't be able to resist that creamy, savory, spicy dip with salty tortilla chips and it only takes you 10 minutes to make!
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Why This is the Best Recipe
I love hearty and filling hot dip recipes for parties and holidays. I think this is the best sausage cream cheese dip recipe because:
- Just 3 Ingredients: The shopping list couldn't be easier.
- Just 10 Minutes: Brown the sausage and you're most of the way there.
- Make Ahead Friendly: You can prep the whole dip the day before and just reheat it.
- Travel Friendly: Heading to a potluck? This is a great appetizer to bring because it travels so well.
- Guy Friendly: I love to make fancy appetizers for my friends but my husband LOVES to eat rich and meaty dips. This is a great choice if you're feeding a big group of guys.
Ingredients
You'll love how easy this sausage dip is to make, it only needs three ingredients!
- Bulk Sausage: I used Italian sweet sausage but you could use mild or hot sausage, too.
- Cream Cheese
- Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Chiles: I used the Original flavor but mild or hot would work, too.
Make the Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
First, you'll need to brown the bulk sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Break it up into crumbles as it cookes.
Sausage is not like ground beef, you don't just cook it until it is no longer pink, you need to keep cooking it until it is toasted and golden brown.
This helps prevent the sausage from being chewy when you eat the dip.
Once the sausage has deep brown toasted color, add the canned tomatoes and their juices.
Then add the cream cheese and stir it all together until the cream cheese has completely melted and the sauce is smooth.
Crock Pot Instructions
If you want to make the sausage dip in the Crock Pot, you'll still need to brown the sausage in a skillet.
You can add the sausage, tomatoes, and cream cheese to the slowcooker and let the cream cheese melt in there.
I usually just go ahead and prepare the whole dip in the skillet and then scrape it into the Crockpot to keep warm for serving.
Make Ahead Tips
Sausage cream cheese dip is an awesome make ahead hot dip for a party and it actually travels really well.
Just prep the dip as instructed and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can take the dip with you to a party and then just heat it up when you get there in a small slowcooker.
Variations
Even though there are only 3 ingredients, there are still several ways you can play with this recipe:
Turkey Sausage Dip: Substitute a batch of my easy turkey breakfast sausage for a lighter, healthier appetizer. You can even use lighter cream cheese if you like.
Spicy Sausage Dip: Use hot bulk sausage and hot Rotel tomatoes. Or use a milder sausage but add crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne, or your favorite hot sauce.
Sweet Sausage Dip: Add sweet bulk sausage and a sprinkle of maple sugar to the browned meat before adding mild diced tomatoes.
Serving Suggestions
Our favorite way to serve this hot sausage and cream cheese dip is with a big bowl of salty tortilla chips.
It would also taste great with crispy cold celery sticks or even bell pepper "chips" if you want a carb-free appetizer.
More Hot Dip Recipes
Hot dips are such a cozy appetizer to serve for a football party or holiday party. They are very filling for hungry appetites.
Here are a few more of my favorite hot dip recipes:
📖 Recipe
Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 1 lb bulk sausage hot or mild depending on how spicy you like it
- 2 (10 oz) cans diced tomatoes with chiles like Rotel
- 2 (8 oz) bricks of cream cheese
Instructions
- Add the sausage to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Breaking it up into crumbles as it browns and continue to cook until the sausage is a toasted golden brown color. This helps give it a better texture.
- Add both cans of diced tomatoes with their juices and stir. Add both bricks of cream cheese and break them up into the warm sausage and tomato mixture. Continue to stir until completely melted and smooth.
- To keep the cream cheese sausage dip warm for serving at a party, you can transfer it to a slowcooker set on the Keep Warm setting.
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