Appetizer Categories

Dips, Salsa and Sauces

Dips can be made with an endless variety of ingredients, and can certainly brighten up any party, holiday or event! Dips can also add amazing flavor, texture and color to all sorts of foods used for dipping, including crudités (bite-size fresh raw vegetables), Baked Crostini or Broiled Crostini, Pita Chips, Tortilla Chips, potato chips, corn chips, naan bread and more. Dips, salsa and sauce recipes are all included on these pages, simply because they all essentially share the same purpose - to add flavor and texture to other foods.

Dip recipes can be all over the map, and can be made creamy, cheesy, thick or somewhat runny. The basic ingredients of dips (before meats, vegetables or other
ingredients are added) can vary greatly, and can include sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, and one or more variety of cheeses, including cheddar, Monterey jack, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, Parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, and the list goes on! When it comes to the filler ingredients that truly define each dip recipe, the sky's the limit! Meat (including chicken, turkey, beef or pork), seafood (such as crab, shrimp or even salmon) and vegetables (such as red or green bell peppers, spinach, artichoke hearts, tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and onions (yellow, purple or green) can add color, flavor and amazing texture to dips. Dips can also be served chilled (referred to as cold dips) or hot after having baked in the oven (referred to as hot dips), both of which are usually still delicious even when cooled to room temperature. Leftover hot dips are also easily reheated in the microwave. Let's also not forget those wonderful dips that contain avocado, chick peas or garbanzo beans (as with hummus) and olives (as with Tapenade). One thing is for certain, when planning for a party, holiday or any event, dips are one of the easiest appetizers to prepare. Once you decide on the best dip recipe to suit your event, all you'll need is some accompanying crackers, plain crostini (baked or broiled), fresh raw vegetables (crudités), or other dippable food, and you're set to go!

Dip, Salsa and Sauce Recipes ▼

Hot Artichoke Crab Dip
Hot Artichoke Crab Dip is a fresh, healthy and wonderfully flavored dip, featuring a mixture of lump crabmeat, chopped artichoke hearts, cottage cheese, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings, topped with mozzaerlla. The crab, artichoke and cheese mixture is placed in a baking dish and topped with the shredded mozzarella, then is baked until hot and melted. This dip is perfect served with crackers or crudités.
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
This delicious Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip is made with thawed frozen spinach leaves, canned artichoke hearts, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, roasted garlic, and is combined with sour cream and mayonnaise for the perfect creamy consistency. This mixture is baked for a short time in the oven until the top turns golden brown in color around the edges. This dip can be served directly from the casserole dish it's baked in or in a serving bowl.
Jalapeno Artichoke Dip
This Jalapeno Artichoke Dip recipe is made with pickled jalapenos, marinated artichoke hearts, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and Tabasco Green Jalapeno Sauce, creating a wonderful combination of spice and flavor. This festive dip is a huge hit at parties and other events and tastes perfect accompanied by assorted crackers, tortilla chips, corn chips, a variety of fresh raw vegetables and more. This dip is loved by all ages!
Marinara Sauce
This traditional Marinara Sauce recipe is made with tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes , diced onion, minced garlic, red pepper flakes and dried crushed basil and oregano leaves, and can be used for a large variety of Italian dishes. It also is wonderful served as a dipping sauce for Cheese and Garlic Breadsticks, Mini Calzones, pizza crust, crispy-fried breaded cheese sticks, crispy-fried breaded zucchini sticks and more.
Peach Salsa
Peach Salsa is a fresh and colorful salsa with a mildly sweet and ever-so-slight spicy flavor. It can be served as a sauce or garnish for most any type of fish, chicken or pork (see Orange Glazed Salmon with Peach Salsa). This gorgeous salsa is made with diced peaches, red and orange bell peppers, red onion, jalapeno, sliced green onions and chopped cilantro leaves, and is tossed with some apricot preserves, then chilled in the fridge.
Peanut Sauce
This incredibly delicious Peanut Sauce recipe (also sometimes called satay sauce, Thai peanut sauce, bumbu kacang or sambal kacang) serves as a fabulous dipping sauce for a variety of foods, including chicken, pork, spring rolls and more, and can also be used as a salad dressing. This peanut sauce recipe is mildly spicy, though can be made spicier simply by adding a little extra chili garlic sauce (see recipe).