Healthy Dips

It's party time! For impressive and satisfying nibbles that are sure to be a hit at even the most discerning celebration, try one of our delicious dip recipes.

We'll start you off with Caramelized Onion, Gruyère, and Bacon Spread. Serve with crackers or bread slices. If you can't find Gruyère, substitute raclette, fontina, or Swiss cheese.

Serve this salsa with chips, or spoon it atop sautéed chicken breast or fish. If you want to make the salsa ahead, omit the cilantro and avocado, and stir them in just before serving. If you find blood oranges, substitute them for regular oranges for seasonal color.

Here's a great game-day party dip: You can make it ahead and reheat it when you're ready to serve. Chipotle chile powder is spicy, so adjust the amount to suit your taste.

Don't let the peanut butter trip you up; this savory dip still packs all the great flavors of hummus with an unexpected, nutty note that provides thickness, creaminess, and flavor. Hummus is made more kid-friendly with the addition of peanut butter. Top with crushed peanuts for extra crunch. Serve with vegetables or pita chips. To easily measure 7 tablespoons water without losing count, pour 1/2 cup into a measuring cup and remove 1 tablespoon.

Spoon this dip into a baking dish up to a day ahead, but top with panko and chives just before baking. If it's chilled, leave the dish out at room temperature while the oven preheats. Scoop into multiple bowls that you can set at different tasting stations.

All you need is a blender to serve this miso aioli dip with your next platter of fresh crudités.

Make the romesco sauce and tapenade up to three days ahead, and keep them chilled separately.

This warm, tangy twist on fundido is perfect with sparkling wine; the bubbles help cut through the richness. We pair with veggie chips, but you can also serve with crudités for a fresher take. The dip is very easy to put together. One note on mixing: Blend the beans until they are completely smooth and puréed for the silkiest, creamiest results. You can’t overblend it, but if you stop too soon, the dip might have a few lumps. The great thing about this dip is that it can be made ahead and rewarmed when you’re ready to serve it. To reheat, stir gently over low heat until hot. For an herby version, add a generous 1⁄4 cup of a mix of chopped herbs, such as parsley, chives, and a little basil.

Because fresh herbs are increasingly available, you can make this tangy, peppery dip year-round.

This recipe has been a staff favorite since we first tried it 13 years ago. It's rich, savory, and super creamy, with a nice hit of garlic. We made a few small tweaks—increased the amount of spinach and decreased the mozzarella to lower the sat fat to an acceptable level.

We took this classic warm, creamy dip and improved it with smoky bacon, because bacon makes everything better. Make sure to serve this in a central location―it's sure to attract a crowd at any party.

Incorporating green peas into this tasty summer snack not only reduces the amount of fat but also adds sweetness and further brightens the green color.

This Middle Eastern dip is traditionally made with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil; it lends itself to several variations. Prepare and refrigerate it a day ahead; let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving at your gathering. Garnish with a lemon wedge and fresh parsley sprig, and serve with Spicy Baked Pita Chips. Feeling adventurous? Try these variations on Traditional Hummus: White Bean and Roasted Garlic Hummus, Spicy Red Pepper Hummus, Feta-Baked Hummus

You can prepare this all-purpose dip up to a day ahead. Serve it with cauliflower and broccoli florets, carrot and celery sticks, and bell pepper strips.

Here we’ve lightened a favorite. Serve with hearty crackers or slices of French bread and we promise nobody will know this is the healthy cousin to dip that’s usually loaded with sodium, fat, and calories.

This dip is best with something nice and crunchy; slice baguette very thin and toast well, or use fancy crackers. You can make it ahead of time and pull out for last-minute guests.

Creamy beans and sweet sun-dried tomatoes offer the perfect texture and flavor combo in this simple dip. You can prepare a day ahead and bring to room temperature before serving. For a more formal presentation, serve on bagel chips garnished with rosemary sprigs. For a casual gathering, serve in a bowl with crackers or bagel chips for dipping.

The smoky-sweet flavor of roasted red peppers makes a perfect combination with creamy cannellini beans in this Mediterranean dip. It's similar to the Spanish classic romesco, making it a great addition to a

Serve with sweet mini bell peppers or sliced summer squash. If you can find roasted garlic cloves at the salad bar in your grocery store, sub for raw garlic and skip the 8 minutes of cooking in the skillet.

We add a little lime juice to smooth out the beans and enhance the flavor. This dip comes together quickly for parties or as an appetizer course.

Canned pumpkin makes it easy to whip up this sweet dip. Make sure to purchase 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. This kid-friendly dip is the perfect treat for a crisp Fall day. Bring it to a potluck or serve it as an appetizer and the guests will swoon over this seasonal creation. Dip in apples, smear it on toast, or top it on whole grain pancakes. If you're into the Fall pumpkin craze, this dip is sure to satisfy that craving.

A common craving among CookingLight.com users is chips; our homemade tortilla chips keep fat and sodium in check. This snack quells an oft-cited yearn for Mexican fare and has protein, complex carbs, and fiber.

Eating edamame straight out of the pods is a great snack, but the little bean's culinary possibilities go far beyond that. When pureed, it makes a smooth and flavorful dip. Here, white beans are added to create a sophisticated flavor.

Full-flavored Parm adds cheesy goodness to this delectable dip. Light cream cheese and mayo save 340 calories.

Increase the ground red pepper to add a kick, or omit it for a tame batch. Blend regular flour, whole-wheat flour, and corn tortillas for a mixture of taste and texture, if you like. Try them with our Orange and Avocado Salsa.

Serve this dip with assorted vegetable dippers for a great appetizer at your holiday party or your dinner spread. Spread it on a sandwich made of leftover meat the next day for a simple and delicious lunch.

These crunchy crisps make the perfect dipper for our Baked Feta with Romesco and Olive Tapenade.

This recipe is full of flavor and oh-so-easy to make. We bake our pita wedges until they're crisp, and then blend together roasted red bell peppers with almonds and other high-flavor ingredients. The result is a healthy, full-flavored snack.

This popular party dip gets a face-lift with a few simple changes. Keep fat and calories to a minimum by swapping whole-kernel corn for the customary layer of ground beef.

Serve this creamy dip with carrot and celery batons, sliced bell pepper, or pita chips.

Serve this dip with rice crackers or mixed fresh vegetables. Making the recipe a day ahead allows the flavors to meld.