Creamy Appetizer Dip (Printable)

Velvety, smooth dip combining cream cheese and fresh herbs for ideal party accompaniment.

# What You Need:

01 - 1 cup cream cheese, softened

02 - 1/2 cup sour cream

03 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped

05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

06 - 1 small garlic clove, minced

07 - 1/4 cup red bell pepper, finely diced

08 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

11 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

01 - In a medium mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy.

02 - Add chopped chives, parsley, minced garlic, and diced red bell pepper to the mixture and stir to combine evenly.

03 - Stir in lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika if using. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

04 - Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to enhance flavor integration.

05 - Present chilled dip with fresh vegetables, crackers, or chips for dipping.

01 -

It comes together in ten minutes, which means you can make it while guests are still on their way over.
The flavor deepens as it sits, so you can actually prep ahead instead of scrambling at the last second.
It's so versatile that you can dress it up or down depending on what you're serving with it.

02 -

Cold dip tastes less seasoned than room temperature dip, so always taste it before serving and adjust your salt and lemon juice if needed.
If you're making this more than a few hours ahead, the herbs will start to brown and lose their brightness—so make it the morning of or day-of for the best color and flavor.

03 -

Softening your cream cheese at room temperature is non-negotiable—try to use a hand mixer or go slow with a spatula because overmixing can make it grainy and weird.
The thirty-minute rest in the fridge isn't just about temperature; it's when the flavors actually come together, so don't skip it even if you're in a rush.