Nacho Dip with Cream Cheese
Equipment
- 1 medium mixing bowl
- 1 9x9-inch baking dish or similar
- 1 Silicone spatula
- 1 cheese grater if using block cheese
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Chef's knife
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
- 225 gram cream cheese softened
- 120 gram sour cream
- 120 gram salsa medium
- 60 gram canned green chilies drained
- 120 gram shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 120 gram shredded Monterey Jack cheese divided
- 1 gram garlic powder
- 1 gram onion powder
- 2 gram ground cumin
- 2 gram chili powder
- 2 gram salt or to taste
- 1 gram black pepper or to taste
- 15 gram sliced black olives optional; drained
- 20 gram sliced green onions optional
- 10 gram chopped fresh cilantro optional
- 1 large bag tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Add sour cream, salsa, green chilies, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to the bowl and mix until fully combined.
- Stir in half of the shredded cheddar cheese and half of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking dish using a spatula.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top of the mixture.
- Top with sliced black olives if using.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let the dip rest for 5 minutes.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped cilantro if desired and serve warm with tortilla chips.
Notes
For best results, make sure the cream cheese is fully softened so it blends smoothly and doesn’t stay lumpy, and taste the mixture before baking to adjust salt or spice levels according to your salsa and chilies. You can make the dip slightly ahead, cover, and refrigerate, then bake a few extra minutes until hot in the center. If you like a spicier version, add finely chopped jalapeños or use hot salsa, and for a thicker, heartier dip, fold in cooked seasoned ground beef or refried beans before baking. Serve it hot so the cheese stays melty, and stir gently from the center as it’s eaten to keep every scoop creamy and well mixed.
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