Cream Cheese Sausage Dip
Posted Sep 09, 2020, Updated Feb 15, 2023
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This cream cheese sausage dip is an easy appetizer made with 8 ingredients, in one skillet in 20 minutes. You can easily adjust the spice to make it mild or hot! Serve it with chips, crackers, or veggies for a delicious, low-carb, warm appetizer that will be the hit of any party.
My Aunt is known for being an amazing hostess, and always makes the best dips. I have so many fond memories enjoying time with family during the holidays, sitting in her kitchen snacking on our favorite appetizers, like this Sausage Dip!
This sausage cheese dip has always been one of my favorites. It’s easy to make with only 8 ingredients in 20 minutes, so it’s perfect for impromptu guests. Serve it with crackers, chips or crisp veggies and it’s sure to be the hit of any party.
Cream Cheese Sausage Dip: Ingredients & Substitutions
This sausage dip is easy to customize to your specific tastes. Here are a few suggestions:
- Breakfast Sausage. I typically use a mild breakfast sausage (like this variety) because I have lots of kids and we aren’t really into super spicy foods. However you can use a hot or medium breakfast sausage, or Italian sausage works well too.
- Minced Garlic. Garlic powder can be used in place of minced garlic, just add it with the salt and pepper. Fresh roasted or diced garlic is great too.
- Onion. Choose your favorite onion variety, yellow, red, sweet, you can’t go wrong.
- Cream Cheese. I prefer full-fat cream cheese for the tastiest end result. However, you can use a lower fat option if desired.
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles. Rotel is a popular brand of diced tomatoes with green chiles (many people call this kind of appetizer a Rotel sausage dip), however I have used other brands with great success. Choose mild, medium or spicy depending on your spice-level preferences.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese. As always, I recommend sharp cheddar for the best flavor. However other cheese varieties work well too: Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, mozzarella, mild cheddar, etc.
How to make Sausage dip
This sausage dip recipe is really easy to make in one skillet in 20 minutes! We’ll walk through the process step-by-step, and don’t forget ot watch the video!
Brown sausage
The first step in this sausage dip recipe is to cook the sausage, onion and garlic until the sausage is browned. Be sure to stir occasionally, and break the sausage into small, bite-sized pieces.
Add tomatoes & cream cheese
Once the sausage is browned, add the tomatoes and cream cheese and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring until the cheese is melted.
Add cheddar & salt and pepper
Once the cream cheese is melted, add the cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Then, be sure to taste test the sausage cream cheese dip and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Some sausage varieties can be really salty, so you may not even need that much salt.
Serve
One you’ve dialed in the salt and pepper, it’s time to serve! Serve this sausage dip with chips, crackers, crisp veggies, etc. I promise it’ll be the hit of the party! Plus it’s hearty, so if you’re doing an “appetizer for dinner” type of party this sausage cheese dip is ideal since it’s full of protein. You can serve it alongside some of our favorite appetizers like:
- Cowboy caviar
- Homemade Guacamole
- Homemade Hummus & Pita Bread
- Layered Greek Dip
- Black Bean Dip
- 5-Minute Homemade Salsa
Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat to enjoy them!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You are in charge of the heat in this recipe. It can vary from mild to hot depending on the type of sausage and canned tomatoes you use (use mild or spicy for your preferences).
Yes, freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
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Cream Cheese Sausage Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. breakfast sausage mild, medium or spicy
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 cup onion finely diced (1 small onion)
- 8 oz cream cheese cut into 1” cubes
- 28 oz diced tomatoes with green chilies (e.g. Rotel or Muir Glenn) (two 14 oz cans)
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ to ½ tsp sea salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cover & cook sausage, onion and minced garlic in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until sausage is browned, stirring occasionally, breaking up sausage into small pieces.
- Once the sausage is browned, add the tomatoes and cream cheese and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring until the cheese is melted.
- Add cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve warm with crackers, chips, vegetables etc.
Video
Notes
Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat to enjoy them!Ingredient Substitutions
- Breakfast Sausage. I typically use a mild breakfast sausage, however you can use a hot or medium breakfast sausage, or Italian sausage works well too.
- Minced Garlic. Garlic powder can be used in place of minced garlic, just add it with the salt and pepper. Fresh roasted or diced garlic is great too.
- Onion. Choose your favorite onion variety, yellow, red, sweet, you can’t go wrong.
- Cream Cheese. I prefer full-fat cream cheese for the tastiest end result. However, you can use a lower fat option if desired.
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles. Rotel is a popular brand of diced tomatoes with green chiles (many people call this kind of appetizer a Rotel sausage dip), however I have used other brands with great success. Choose mild, medium or spicy depending on your spice-level preferences.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese. I recommend sharp cheddar cheese. However other cheese varieties work well too: Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, mozzarella, mild cheddar, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More delicious recipes
- Cheesy pretzel bites are another great game-day appetizer!
- Another one of my aunt’s famous dips is this 7-Layer Greek Dip. It’s a fresh and healthy cold appetizer everyone loves.
- For the holidays, I love making this Cranberry Goat Cheese Appetizer.
- We love this balsamic sausage and peppers for a healthy and easy weeknight meal.
- This cheesy sausage gnocchi is a cozy comforting meal perfect for chilly fall nights.
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